Boston Bruins
Bruins Fans Chant ‘Fire Sweeney’ As Team Lays Egg in Fifth Straight Loss
BOSTON — There’s something rotting inside TD Garden, and it’s not the overpriced jumbo hot dogs. No, it was the Boston Bruins who reeked of sulfur on Tuesday night as they suffered their fifth straight loss, falling 4-0 to the Edmonton Oilers in a lifeless effort.
“They wanted it more,” Charlie Coyle said. “It’s pretty simple. I think it was kind of a lack of urgency and a lot of things that are embarrassing to say. They just wanted it more.”
That was clear when five Bruins defenders watched Adam Henrique walk into the low slot and put Edmonton on the board at 6:33 of the first period by roofing a shot over Jeremy Swayman’s shoulder.
Swayman finished the night with 35 saves on 38 shots and was the only reason the game was as close as it was. All night long, the Bruins left him in a perilous position by granting the Oilers free access to high-danger areas.
“We pretty much got what we deserved here tonight because of the way we played,” Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco said. “We didn’t do a good enough job of protecting our goalie tonight. Not even close.”
The Bruins made their own attempts to work the puck in close but didn’t have nearly the same result.
As Nikita Zadorov rounded the corner in the attacking end with the puck on his stick, he collided hard with Stuart Skinner, sending the Oilers netminder sprawling down to the ice.
Stuart Skinner leaves the game after a collision with Nikita Zadorov. pic.twitter.com/RsueGzI7Vf
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 8, 2025
Zadorov was handed a two-minute minor penalty for goaltender interference on the play. Skinner was forced to leave the game for the remainder of the period but did return at the start of the second after Calvin Pickard filled his place in the interim.
The Bruins successfully killed off Zadorov’s penalty but failed to generate any momentum afterward. It was one of several moments in the game that they failed to do so.
Another was Trent Frederic’ fight with Corey Perry midway through the middle frame, as the struggling forward dropped the gloves in an attempt to wake the Bruins up. He did, but only for a brief moment.
Trent Frederic asked for it. Corey Perry eventually followed through. 🥊🥊🥊 pic.twitter.com/HGhRqfADDZ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 8, 2025
Just as Pavel Zacha failed to capitalize on a breakaway chance, Connor McDavid took the puck the other way and scored on a breakaway chance of his own to make it 2-0 Oilers. By the end of the second period, Edmonton was outshooting Boston 29-12 and led by three after Henrique added to its total with his second goal of the night.
Viktor Arvidsson provided the final nail in the Bruins’ coffin with an empty net goal late in the third period, but they were already dead by then.
“There were a lot of things that weren’t going good for us tonight,” Elias Lindholm said. “A lack of compete and stuff like that. We weren’t even close tonight.”
Since returning from the holiday break, Boston has lost six of seven and collected just a single point in the standings.
“We understand the situation we’re in, and we understand we can’t give points away and that we need to be better,” Brad Marchand said. “But I don’t think we look at where we’re at and panic by any means.”
Just barely past the halfway point of their season, the Bruins are in need of life support. Even still, the lasting sense from Tuesday night won’t be the foul smell of their wretched play but the sound that accompanied it.
“Fire Sweeney.”
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Delphine Delormier
January 7, 2025 at 10:47 pm
Fire Sweeney. Finally. I’ve been saying that for years.
Johnny M
January 7, 2025 at 10:48 pm
Yup, this will be the final season for Sweeney!Terrible contracts, namely Swayman, Pasta, McAvoy,Coyle, Zadorov. There will be a new GM, unsure about Neely. They’re going to have to unhorse more than a few players to right this ship! The new GM will hire Quienville. Just my humble view.
Bobby
January 8, 2025 at 8:23 am
At this point I dont think whatever Saco does or say matters. It’s apparent the bruins need to do trades! There was absolutely no support for swayman and didn’t understand why they had 4 guys around the net? When it came time to pass they were so close Edmonton was on top of the bruins unable to clear the zone. The bruins need to watch that game over and over so they can see what a real nhl team does to win a game.
dean
January 8, 2025 at 11:34 am
it begs the question why sweeney hired a defensive forward to coach the power play. what value added did jay leach bring to this team, this needs to be evaluated, and whos decission was it.
i noticed P Bruins have Brett Harrison playing RW, kid was a C LW sniper in OHL, has skill to score. So why isnt he playing and developing to his strength, especially when Bruins need scoring depth now and in the future.
Swayman’ Frederic and Lysell for Gibson, Zegras and a first
or
McAvoy,, Frederic and Lysell for E. Petterson, 1st and 3rd round picks
JohnnyM
January 8, 2025 at 12:34 pm
Any proposed trade has to start with Swayman, with MacAvoy a very close second. If there’s a scotch of interest in Pastrnak, send him on his way. All 3 are horrible contracts and the main reason is Sweeney! Frédéric, Coyle, Zacha, talk about the epitome of underperformed!In only 2 short years,to witness how far the team and quite a few individuals regressed, is stunning!
Derek
January 8, 2025 at 5:40 pm
Zacha, Coyle, Lindholm and MacAvoy are all mis-cast in their roles. They are complimentary players and Sweeney cast them as “best” players.
Puck2Head73
January 8, 2025 at 8:55 pm
Why don’t the Bruins pickup Jesse Pulijujev ? He’s got high end talent/speed, decent defensively; contract is low; better than Wahlstrom, Frederic, or any of the other3rd4th line guys right now.
Zoneman
January 9, 2025 at 5:15 pm
Yup definitely agree Sweeney and Neely need to go !! Also offense and defensive coaches!! If your watching the same bruins playing hockey as I am then tell me why there are 3 players battling
for the puck in the offensive zone and nobody is at the net or high slot!! Same thing goes in the defensive zone: all 5 guys are at the faceoff circle or below it trying to defend the zone and your leaving 3 and possibly 4 guys open on the other team to score!! Plus your screening your own goalie!! DA !!