Talking Points: Letdown City For Boston Bruins In 1-0 Loss To Devils

Here are the Talking Points from a 1-0 loss for the Boston Bruins in another snoozefest with the New Jersey Devils. Once again, the Devils found a way to wake up at the right time, and the emotionless Bruins didn’t

GOLD STAR: Scott Wedgewood. In his first start against the Boston Bruins this season, the New Jersey Devils backup did exactly what starter MacKenzie Blackwood has done to the Boston Bruins in three starts this year and that’s frustrate the hell (pun intended) out of the B’s. Wedgewood stopped all 40 Bruins shots and it was evident in the third period that while the Bruins outshot the Devils 18-6, the more they shot, the more desperation took over and focus on the shot and creating chances in front, dwindled. Still, though, another Devils goalie got inside the Bruins’ collective heads again. If this keeps up, they may be seeing David Puddy in their heads soon!

BLACK EYE: The Bruins’ lack of emotion. Anyone could understand if the Boston Bruins came out of the gate slow Sunday night after the most emotional game and win of the season in a 5-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Friday night. However, one would’ve expected that after already losing to the Devils twice, the Boston Bruins would find a way to muster at least some of that emotion and unity they displayed after Tom Wilson knocked out Brandon Carlo. For whatever reason though, the Bruins just couldn’t dig deep enough and find that spark again, and they’re now 1-2-1 against the Devils.

“They’ve had our number this year. … We’re not ready from the start. And we have to be. We have to play like something’s on the line,” Bruins forward Charlie Coyle said after the game.

TURNING POINT: Can the opening faceoff or better yet, the whole game be termed a turning point? Obviously, in a 1-0 game, the only goal in the game should be the turning point so Kyle Palmieri’s game-winner at 15:23 of the third period will get the nod, but the Bruins never really had an edge even out-shooting the Devils 40-25.

HONORABLE MENTION: P.K. Subban. The longtime Boston Bruins nemesis played another solid game at TD Garden getting his second assist in as many games. As I’ve said here before, Subban appears to have reinvented his game and become better defensively but tonight he was creating offense with four shots and the helper on the game-winner by Palmieri. Subban also led his team in ice time at 23:34 and was second only to Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy who finished at 25:23.

BY THE NUMBERS: 452:24 – The time Jake DeBrusk has gone without a goal. One has to wonder how long that streak can be extended before DeBrusk is either dealt

QUOTE TO NOTE: “I don’t think there’s a magical answer. If there was, we would’ve used it this year, last year. .. We’ve seen him have a good release, second effort. Just gotta put it together every night.” – Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy on DeBrusk’s struggles.