Defensive Struggles Continue On Road Trip

New York - The Bruins dropped the second of their back-to-back games on Friday night at Madison Square Garden after a 6-2 loss against the New York Rangers.
As the B's search for answers in the midst of their defensive woes, Coach Bruce Cassidy already has his eyes set on the B's rematch with the Rangers on Sunday afternoon.
"The message was we're right back here on Sunday, so we got to keep playing, keep playing our game," Cassidy said. "If we're able to get the next goal, put them on their heels a little bit, you got to think bigger picture here and find your game…it's a bit of a mental battle."

Physical Play

As Jeremy Lauzon and Kevan Miller remain out of the lineup, the Black & Gold lack some of the physical presence on their own blue line. The team's recent back-to-back losses has highlighted the absence of the bigger bodies.
"Knowing that we have some valuable guys out, the stiffness out in front of our net with Lauzon and Miller and the puck mover in Griz, one in each pair." said Cassidy. "As a team, you have to pick up that group and that means an extra save along the way. That means secondary scoring and working hard to get back in your own end as forwards to limit the damage. Winning your wall battles so that we don't have to defend a lot."
With the lack of physicality on the back end, players such as Jakub Zboril, Urho Vaakanainen, John Moore, and Connor Clifton are developing their roles as they go. Cassidy emphasized the importance of the younger defensive core understanding their strengths and weaknesses, rather than 'replacing' those physical players who remain out with injuries.
"That's not the strength of [those players] right now," said Cassidy. "We need to get them to understand that the puck play becomes so much more valuable so that you're out of your end and moving and your up ice and not having to play in your end."
Patrice Bergeron acknowledged the importance of the bigger presence on the blue line that is currently missing, but made it clear that there are no excuses for the team's recent performance.
"We're missing them, but it's been the motto in our locker room for many years that it's about the next guy up," Bergeron stated. "We believe in them and we have to do their job, bottom line…it's the five guys on the ice defensively."
Despite being disappointed in his team's overall effort in New York, Cassidy noticed several opportunities for his players to showcase their true grit.
"The guys in the middle have an opportunity…put a little onus on themselves to impact the game whether it's offensively, whether it's physically…tonight's a good example of that," said Cassidy. "Where they can push through a little bit, some younger legs and impact the game a little bit better and I didn't think we got that either. That's where I look internally at our team and expect better."

Coming Together

After being outscored 13-4 in their last two games, it can easily transform into a blame game, as to who is responsible for the team's struggle on the scoreboard, but the B's know better.
"It's not about finger pointing right now, it's about everyone coming together and being better," said Bergeron. "Hockey is about staying together as a team when things are up and when things are down, it's about figuring out things you can be better at and right now it's five-on-five play defensively."
Defenseman Brandon Carlo echoed Bergeron's thoughts by staying focused on how the team can come together ahead of their rematch on Sunday.
"I think it's all about just being a group of five on the ice," Carlo said. "Working together at all times and when things start going this way just simplifying and doing the right things. For the guys who have been here for a while, we need to start by leading and giving that example, going out there and doing the right things. You've got to understand that there are going to be ups and downs and it's difficult when things aren't going as well, but you've got to have the next shift mentality, next game in this case and move forward."
At the end of the day, it comes down to getting the two points and staying at the top of the standings, whatever the cost may be. Every team goes through a stretch of difficulty finding points during the season, but the B's are focused on keeping their struggles and frustrations as brief as possible.
"This doesn't happen here and it can't go on any further than this," Carlo explained. "There's been times in my first couple years where we've had games like that but we've always bounced back. This is definitely unacceptable and we've got to look in the mirror and move forward, but recognize and learn from the past two days."

Bergeron & Marchand Hit Milestones

Although the B's only found the back of the net twice during Friday night's loss at Madison Square Garden, both goals proved to be memorable ones.
Patrice Bergeron added yet another accomplishment to his resume by scoring a goal in the first period, breaking his tie with Bobby Orr for fifth place on the Bruins all-time scoring list with 889 points. He joins company such as Ray Bourque (1,506), John Bucyk (1,339), Phil Esposito (1,012), and Rick Middleton (898) at the top of the Bruins' point ranks.

In the third period, Brad Marchand also penciled himself into the books by scoring his 300th goal of his career, becoming only the seventh player in Bruins history to reach that mark.