Bruins Musings: Bruins Lay Stinker In Detroit. Lose 4-2 To Red Wings.

It appears the Boston Bruins have come back down to earth. After showing signs that their game was slipping in a 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Monday, things got worse in Montreal in a sloppy but hard-fought 5-4 loss to the Canadiens. On Friday, though, the Bruins just flat out stunk losing 4-2 to one of the worst teams in the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings. The Bruins have now lost two straight games in regulation for the first time this season.

The Red Wings took advantage of a Bruins team that was clearly in a malaise, not playing their game and from the looks of it, thought they would motor through the Wings with ease after Bruins center David Krejci put the Bruins up 1-0 1:09 into regulation. Peter Cehlarik got his first point of the season with an assist on the Krejci goal but the lead was short-lived. Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin tied the game just 1:32 later and the Wings never looked back.

New Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri scored the next two goals, a power play tally at 11:49 into the first period and then another goal on the man advantage at 1:30 of the second period.

Bruins defenseman Torey Krug scored a power play goal for the Bruins to make it 3-2 at 17:52 of the second period and it appeared the Bruins may have had a chance but Jonathan Bernier (26 saves) robbed David Pastrnak late in the period and then the Wings put the clamp on in the third period, holding the Bruins to just four shots. Anthony Mantha sealed the deal with his tenth goal of the season, an empty-netter at 18:52 of the third period.

Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask was solid and gave his team a chance to win making 27 saves, but still suffered his second straight loss in regulation.

Bruins Undisciplined And Lazy 

The Bruins were absolutely listless in the first period and were lucky to be down just one goal headed into the first intermission. Shots were even but the Bruins didn’t have man real scoring chances other than Krejci’s goal and that was one Bernier likely wanted back anyhow. Both penalties the Bruins took in the opening frame came in the offensive zone and the Bruins played lazy, undisciplined hockey. One of those penalties, a Marchand interference penalty led to a Red Wings Fabbri’s first power play goal.

ROBBY. FABBRI. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/wBxQlCkzYt

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 9, 2019

Things didn’t get much better to start the second period as another offensive zone hooking penalty by Pastrnak led to Fabbri’s second power play tally 1:30 into the middle frame.

That's 2 PPG's for newly acquired Robby Fabbri. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/BHpfDQqyBf

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 9, 2019

With Perfection Line Not So Perfect, Marchand Decides To Fight

The Bruins ‘Perfection Line’ Of Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak appears to be hitting a bit of a lull. None the top trio registered a goal or an assist at even strength, and Pastrnak had the sole point with an assist on Krug’s second period powerplay goal. Marchand- who had his point and assist streak snapped at Montreal Tuesday night – figured if he can’t spark the team on the scoreboard, he’d try and wake them up with a fight. The pesky wonger dropped the mitts with Red Wings defenseman Filip Hronek at 11:16 of the second period. The 5’9, 181-pound Marchand held his own with the 6-foot, 187-pound Hronek and seemed to achieve his goal as the Bruins played better for the remainder of the second period.

Friday night fisticuffs ft. @Bmarch63 and Filip Hronek. 👊 pic.twitter.com/XKBo6AIkaW

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 9, 2019

Krejci

Missing his go-to guy with DeBrusk out, Krejci did his best to make up for the lack of scoring punch on the second line by scoring himself. It was Krejci’s second goal of the season. Krejci did eventually get some scoring punch on his left wing though as head coach Bruce Cassidy had David Pastrnak double-shifting on the second line. The Czech winger finished the game with a goal and an assist. He now has six points in five games since returning October 29 against the Sharks.

David Krejci snaps one by Bernier but Detroit gets a quick one back and ties it 1-1.
pic.twitter.com/3hP9hCpubC

— Wicked Take (@WickedTake) November 9, 2019

Kampfer Fills In On The Wing

With Byron Ritchie (infection) a late scratch and Joakim Nordstrom (infection), Par Lindholm (upper body) and Jake DeBrusk already out, the Bruins decided to dress seven defensemen and that meant Steven Kampfer slotted in on the right wing of the ‘Grind Line’ with Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner. However, Kampfer never saw a minute of ice time as Cassidy double-shifted the rest of his forward group all night.

Cassidy also tried to spark some offense from the back end as well by pairing former BU blue line mates Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk together. McAvoy finished with two shots but no points in 23:31 and Grzelcyk had four shots but no points in 21:21.

Here’s what the lineup looked like in Detroit:

Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak
Peter Cehlarik – David Krejci – Danton Heinen
Anders Bjork – Charlie Coyle – Zach Senyshyn
Chris Wagner – Sean Kuraly – Steven Kampfer

Zdeno Chara – Connor Clifton
Torey Krug – Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk – Charlie McAvoy

Tuukka Rask