Bruins Pick Up Point in Return from Break

BOSTON - The Bruins returned from their nine-day break with plenty of jump on Tuesday night, but a 34-second sequence in the third period turned out to be Boston's downfall in an eventual 4-3 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets at TD Garden.
Boston led by a goal entering the final frame, but back-to-back tallies from Kyle Connor quickly shifted momentum. Patrice Bergeron's second of the night with 9:21 to play sent things to overtime, but Connor struck again in the shootout to send the Bruins to their fourth loss in five games.

"I thought it was very good, for most of the night," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said of his team's effort in its first game since Jan. 19. "I thought we had the better of the play when you look at the big picture, that part of it. A lot of positives. We were physical, answered the bell when we needed to. I don't think we had any passengers. Generated a lot of good looks.
"We just had some breakdowns. You have to be careful you don't beat yourself, and I think there was a little bit of that tonight. No disrespect to Winnipeg, they're one of the best teams in the National Hockey League. But I think some of it was self-inflicted, and the good teams don't do that. So, we have to correct that."

The Bruins did get their usual production from the top line with Bergeron (two goals), Brad Marchand (three assists), and David Pastrnak (goal, two assists) connecting on all three goals and combining for eight points, but once again failed to generate any secondary scoring.
"Listen, we need secondary scoring, so you look at the scoresheet and you don't get it. You get one and it might be the difference in the game," said Cassidy. "Having said that, I thought our D were trying to be involved. They got a lot of shots that the other team was able to block. [David] Krejci's line, I thought Jake [DeBrusk] was flying around, doing a nice job. Krech had a couple of chances that they were able to step in front of.
"We needed more out of them, obviously - that's stating the obvious. But I don't think they were completely quiet either, so I guess I'd rate it…they were generating some looks, but they were unable to finish."

Sudden Impact

Trent Frederic skated in his first NHL game and wasted no time endearing himself to the TD Garden faithful. With 3:44 to go in the second, Frederic took a shot from Tyler Myers and after a scrum developed in front of the Winnipeg net, the 20-year-old dropped the gloves with Jets forward Brandon Tanev.
Frederic pounded away, landing a number of heavy rights before taking Tanev down to the ice.
"It was good to get my feet wet and it lived up to the hype of a first NHL game. It was a lot of fun," said the former first-round pick. "[The fight] just kind of happened naturally. It just kind of got chippy a little bit at that point of the game, just kind of happened naturally. I wasn't really going in trying to get one tonight but it just happened."
The rookie's efforts were certainly appreciated by his teammates.
"That's part of the game that's not always there these days, and to see it back, I loved it," said David Backes. "Again, kid holds his own…he's a big, tough kid that I think he got his feet wet today…the sky's the limit for him moving forward."
Frederic manned the middle between Backes and Danton Heinen on Boston's third line, landing two shots on goal in 8:29 of ice time.
"I thought he played very well," said Cassidy. "He's as advertised, played between the dots, strong on pucks, played behind their D, made a few plays. If he had a chance to shoot it he did, great scrap, good for him. We need some of that."