Third-Period Mistakes Cost Bruins Against Edmonton

BOSTON - The Bruins were in good shape entering the third period on Thursday night.
They held a one-goal lead and had kept the best player on the planet in check, which is all relative these days when you're dealing with Connor McDavid.
But once the final frame began, Boston's grip on the game began to slip away thanks to some costly self-inflicted wounds.
The Bruins surrendered three goals over the final 20 minutes and, despite a strong push to tie the game in the second half of the third, fell to the Oilers, 5-3, at TD Garden, marking their first loss on home ice this season.

"We absolutely beat ourselves, 100 percent," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "I've got to do a better job because…when a team beats itself that's on us as a staff. We've got to do a better job getting them ready to play and understanding the details of what it takes to win. A lack of not shooting is 100 percent on us, so we've just got to get that message across because we're not good enough to make some of the plays we're trying to make.
"That's on us to make sure we're playing the right way, the best chance we have to win. Because again, another good team found a way to beat us in crunch time. So, at some point it's not by accident. We've got to do a better job."
Boston's downfall began at 6:22 of the third when Brandon Carlo lost his handle on the puck in the slot where Leon Draisaitl was there to pounce on the giveaway and fire a wrister by Linus Ullmark to tie the game, 3-3. Draisaitl struck again just 3:04 later to put Edmonton ahead for the first time when he got free in front of Bruins' net and deposited a feed through traffic from Cody Ceci.
"Unfortunate mistake, for sure, but it's how you respond after that, and I didn't do a very good job there…that's just one of those nights, third period one of the worst ones I've had in my NHL career," said Carlo, who was also on the ice for Draisaitl's second goal and had earlier put Boston ahead, 3-2, with a blast from the point late in the second period.
"But overall, you've got to take it and learn from it. Things just got away from us a little bit, and I didn't respond very well. But overall, a great learning experience…I'll take the positive from it, that's all I can do at this point."

The Bruins pushed hard for the tying goal in the minutes following Draisaitl's go-ahead marker, producing several Grade-A chances, including a partial breakaway that Nick Foligno rang off the post and a wide-open chance from David Pastrnak that hit off Edmonton goalie Mikko Koskinen's skate as he sprawled out in the crease with around eight minutes to play.
"He saved it with his skates. I know it's obviously unacceptable, eight minutes left, tied game," said Pastrnak, who opened the scoring with his fourth of the season at 4:45 of the first period. "The whole rink is looking at you. It's frustrating, especially when you're used to burying the chances…be patient a little bit around and just pull it around…definitely frustrating, you could've tied the game and been a totally different outcome.
"For me, you get one chance and I bury it. Need to be a little more patient around the net and score, especially in times like that."
Yet another defensive miscue cost the Bruins late in the third as they got set to pull Ullmark for an extra attacker, as a Connor Clifton turnover in the corner ricocheted into the slot and eventually led to Ceci firing one into the net with the Boston netminder down on the ice to extend Edmonton's lead to 5-3 with 2:19 remaining.
"I'm sure there's games we've won where the other coach said, 'Jeez, you know, we beat ourselves,'" said Cassidy. "But we're the Bruins, we have some good players, and there's a lot that goes into beating yourselves. Some of it is the respect for the game of freaking hockey, right?
"Like, who you're playing against, how to play the right way. So again, like I said, that's on us to make sure that the message gets across that you've got to respect the game and play the right way and play the way you need to play to have success…it's just a lack of focus."

More news and notes from the Bruins' 5-3 loss to the Oilers:
Fourth Line Shines:Cassidy called Boston's checking trio of Anton Blidh - who returned after missing seven games due to injury and took the place of the injured Trent Frederic - Tomas Nosek, and Curtis Lazar "outstanding" for their work keeping McDavid relatively quiet for most of the evening.
"I've got no issue with their line," said Cassidy. "Did a terrific job; they checked well, managed the puck well, got above people, limited the damage, D-zone coverage was solid. Now, I know McDavid got in a couple times, but I think some of those were broken plays. One was a line change and our guy knew it. He changed at the wrong time. Even though he's fatigued, he had good possession. That allowed McDavid to get through the middle of the ice.
"The other times, I think, at times our [defense] got beat at 1-on-1, which is gonna happen. With McDavid, you've got to really guard against trying to stand him up. You've got to just take him out of the good ice. You've got to lead him outside. But I thought they did a really good job. Their line was excellent."
Shooting Mentality Still Lacking:Cassidy, once again, lamented the lack of a shooting mentality from his club, particularly when it came to the middle six, which combined for just eight shots on goal.
"That goes back to guys trying to make plays that aren't there, or they don't have the ability to make," said Cassidy. "It's 11 games, so you don't want to [over-analyze…some guys have been in the league for a while, so you assume they're going to make them but they're not. So, you have to get the message across that there's different ways to score goals. Not everyone can be Bergeron's line. Not everyone can play like McDavid.
"We have to - as a staff - we have to do a better job of getting the players to understand what they can be successful at, how they can help the team win. Then the offensive part of that is just getting a little bit more shot mentality. We have addressed it, but clearly, it's fallen on deaf ears, so we've got to do a better job messaging that."
Pastrnak, who despite landing a game-high eight shots on goal, noted that even the B's top line was guilty of some over-passing.
"Fefinitely, especially in the third," said Pastrnak. "We had plenty of opportunities for us to shoot the puck. Definitely overpassed today a little bit and I know that's unacceptable, especially in crunch times like in third today. Just got to get the shooting mentality in our heads and be a little bit more aware of the situation and the score."

Foligno Returns: The veteran forward was back in the lineup for the first time in eight games and, in addition to his golden chance in the third, landed two shots on goal and six hits in 14:58 of ice time while riding with Taylor Hall and Charlie Coyle.
"Tried to be physical. Tried to play his game," said Cassidy. "Obviously, there's some rust there, but I thought he tried to play the way Nick Foligno plays, which is a positive."