Bruins Fall to Edmonton 3-1, Snap Four-Game Home Win Streak

BOSTON – The Boston Bruins played host to the Edmonton Oilers tonight, in the second of a five-game homestand for the black and gold. The game marked the return of 2016 first-round pick, Trent Frederic, who was honored with a video tribute during the first TV timeout. Going into the game, the Bruins held a four-game home win streak, but after falling to Edmonton, 3-1, that streak is no longer.

The Oilers opened the scoring on Thursday night at the TD Garden, and it fittingly happened on the power play. Going into this game, Edmonton boasted the league’s best power play (32.6%), and the Bruins penalty kill had faltered in the last five games. It went, and you can act surprised, from Draisaitl to McDavid, who, from behind the net, set up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for his eighth of the year, and fourth power play goal this season.

Shortly after, the special teams battle continued when the Bruins went to their first power play of the night. Elias Lindholm fed the puck to Pavel Zacha, who broke through and was in on Jarry all alone. Zacha, for his ninth goal of the season, went high and tied the game for the Bruins with 3:33 remaining in the opening frame. Elias Lindholm picked up his 11th power play point of the season and his 13th point in the last ten games. The first period would prove to be a special teams showcase, with both teams getting on the board while on the man advantage.

The special teams battle calmed down as the second period came around. The Oilers had one power play and did not click. But the second period was not entirely quiet. Former BU Terrier Quinn Hutson got on the board, scoring his first career NHL goal at the 14:38 mark, and giving the Oilers a 2-1 lead over the Bruins. Hutson picked up on Max Jones’ shot and got around Jeremy Swayman.

With just under four minutes remaining in the second period, David Pastrnak sent the puck across the zone to Morgan Geekie, the hottest shot in the league. The Geekie shot missed the frame. However, Tristan Jarry bit on it and hurt himself as he extended left to right across the crease. At the subsequent TV timeout, Jarry went to the Oilers bench and down the tunnel, giving the rest of the game to Calvin Pickard.

The third period featured special teams, again, but nothing that Bruins fans should be eager to hear. On an Evan Bouchard tripping penalty, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sprung Connor McDavid on a breakaway, and the Oilers picked up a 3-1 lead. That would be all of the scoring from tonight’s contest, and it would end 3-1.

When the game was five-on-five, the Bruins held on and fought hard, but the issues blossomed on special teams tonight. Although Pavel Zacha capitalized on the man-advantage for Boston, the Oilers picked up a shorthanded tally that put them up by two. The Bruins power play went one-for-three tonight, and the penalty kill went three-for-four. The shorthanded goal sticks out, however, because it was the insurance goal that the Oilers were looking for, and got.

Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves on 25 shots for the Bruins, but it was not enough for the Bruins tonight. He falls to 14-9-0 on the year. Tristan Jarry and Calvin Pickard each made 12 saves; Jarry did so on 13 shots, while Pickard faced and stopped all 12. Although he only played for 36:08 tonight, Tristan Jarry is credited with the win. He has gone 3-0-0 with the Oilers since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kris Knoblauch did not have any update on his injury after the game.

The Bruins are back in action on Saturday, and right back at the TD Garden to continue the homestand. They will host the 32nd-ranked and Quinn Hughes-less Vancouver Canucks at 7:00 PM.