Instead, they hosted an improved New York Rangers bunch that entered the day after Thanksgiving a mere two points behind the Capitals and Hurricanes atop the Metropolitan Division.
The defensive breakdowns continued even after the Bruins regained a 2-1 edge on Patrice Bergeron’s eighth of the season.
They encountered some tough breaks in those losses.
Aside from their third-period come-from-behind win against the Panthers on Halloween eve, the Bruins haven’t risen to the occasion during crunch time.
There are going to be goals that are scored because guys are stronger than you or faster than you and they make plays.
The Bruins witnessed some of their old reliables from previous years continue their careers elsewhere.
The slow developments in the prospect ranks coupled with the Islanders exposing Boston’s bottom-six and defensive depth in last year’s second-round exit forced Don Sweeney’s hand this past summer.
As the newer players, including Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar — acquired from the Sabres at last year’s trade deadline — find their comfort level within the system, the Bruins find themselves over-relying on their top weapons like Bergeron, Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Charlie McAvoy to get them out of this rut.
“I’m not concerned at all.
As Swayman did everything he could to keep his team afloat with a couple of diving stops, the former University of Maine netminder finally fell victim to an assertive Rangers attack.
In the closing seconds, the talented Russian playmaker took exception to a few of Marchand’s chirps from the bench.