Bruins Plus/Minus: Winning Streak Stops At 12 In Anticlimactic Shootout
BOSTON (CBS) - It was a playoff atmosphere Monday night at the TD Garden with the rival Montreal Canadiens in town, but the Bruins would not able to increase their winning streak to a baker's dozen.
The B's were handed just their second loss in the month of March, and it was by the final score of 2-1 in a shootout.
The Bruins still possess a comfortable division and conference lead, and their 49-17-6 record is still the NHL's best, but that doesn't make losing to your rival any easier - especially in a shootout.
Adam Jones was on air following the game to recap with Dave Goucher and Bob Beers and it's clear to them, despite their recent head-to-head struggles, who's the better team.
"Five-on-five it really wasn't much of a contest. The Bruins outshot the Canadiens 20-6 when it was even strength tonight. We thought maybe early on the Bruins' emotions got the best of them with those retaliation penalties and six Montreal power plays, but then it got evened off in the third period where the Bruins got four power plays of their own," said Goucher.
Beers is in agreement with Goucher, and he feels that on the whole the Bruins' losing record to Montreal this season is attributed to their own lack of execution. He doesn't feel like the hometown team has been outplayed in these contests.
"A lot of people questioned [the team's confidence] after the way they played in those first two games. But the Bruins, to a man, right from Claude Julien on down, they firmly believe it was from their own doing. They didn't play very well against the Canadiens in those first two games. Now the Bruins have outplayed them these past two games. The Bruins are confident they can play against anybody. I firmly believe that. Doesn't matter who it is," said Beers.
Adam Jones also provided his three highlights and lowlights from the game in a segment we call "Plus/Minus."
Plus
1. Patrice Bergeron's re-direct goal at 14:34 in the third period: The Bruins alternate captain evened the score at one apiece and finally got the team on the scoreboard with a deflection from Dougie Hamilton on the power play.
2. Bruins penalty kill: They did allow a goal, but the Canadiens had six power plays and only managed one goal from it. The B's were most impressive killing off a 5-on-3 midway through the second period.
3. Heavyweight bout between Kevan Miller and Travis Moen:
Minus
1. The Bruins in the shootout: They were good in the overtime but once again the game got away from them in the shootout.
2. Alexei Emelin's power play goal
3. Referees: 12 goals is too much in any game. Not the way you wanna see it go down, "But that just seems to be the way it goes when you face the Canadiens."
Listen below for the full postgame analysis:
The Adam Jones Show: Bruins Recap
MORE BRUINS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON
