Tough Third Period Costs Bruins Against Rangers

BOSTON - For years, the Bruins had a foundation stronger than almost any in the National Hockey League. The core group of players that helped Boston to a Stanley Cup title and two more trips to the Final was together for so long that any newcomers quickly learned to adapt to what the Black & Gold already had in place.
But this year is different. For the past couple of seasons, that core has slowly started to dwindle, leaving just Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand as the only Bruins with ties to a championship banner in the TD Garden rafters.

As such, the Black & Gold knew that it was likely to take time for them to find their form. And it's outings like Friday's 5-2 setback to the New York Rangers at TD Garden that make that clear.
"No concern at all," Bruins alternate captain Brad Marchand said of Boston's 10-7-0 start to the season. "It's early in the year. We have a lot of new faces in our group. It's a different year for us, a lot different from what we've had in a long time where we have to build something again. Whereas before we had such little turnover, whoever came in just kind of fit into the group. Everything was already established.
"Now with the amount of new guys we have…it's hard coming in a new team and learning new systems and building that chemistry again. And that's what we have to do, we have to build our chemistry with the goalie, all the forwards have to build their chemistry with their line, and then again with the defensemen breaking out plays. There's a lot of stuff we need to work on.
"I don't think we expected to come in and dominate from the start of the year. We knew it would be a process to get our game to where it needs to be. We're not concerned about game 17 or 18. We want to be playing our best down the stretch and that's what we're gonna build for. It's like building a house, you've got to build the foundation, and that's what we're gonna continue to work on and go from there."
Boston held leads of 1-0 (Craig Smith) and 2-1 (Bergeron0 on Friday afternoon, but the Rangers responded to tie the game on both occasions and eventually pulled away with a three-goal third period, including tallies from Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere that put New York on top, 4-2. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy viewed the third Rangers' goal - a defensive zone breakdown with some experienced players on the ice - as the turning point.
"I think the third goal is just a good example of guys didn't - we didn't play winning hockey for whatever reason," said Cassidy. "It was break down in the structure all over the ice. Usually when there's a structure issue, we look at ourselves. Do we not get the message across? You've got five guys on the ice that have been in the league a long time, so I think the onus has to be shared there as well.
"That becomes a turning point, and now you're chasing the game - a game I felt was back and forth for the most part. We had the edge in the first, they did in the second, and now you've got yourself a good hockey game. We kind of [let it slip] away to be honest with you, a chance to win."

More news and notes from Boston's 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers:
Third-Period Struggles:The Bruins have struggled to hold leads or remain tied in a number of their seven losses so far this season, a trend that Cassidy is hardly pleased with. Boston is being outscored, 21-16, in the third period this season - with the 16 goals ranking 27th in the league.
"I think there's too much of it in general," said Cassidy. "We just, as a group, we have to do a better job with that. Understand where you are in the game. There's going to be goals that are scored because guys are stronger than you or faster than you, and they make plays. That happens. But you've got to play winning hockey at the right time.
"I was asked the other day about our identity - that's when we get away, I think, from our identity, when we start having those breakdowns that are pretty straight forward."
Tweaks Coming?Cassidy acknowledged that after a game in which breakdowns in the defensive zone were prevalent, he'll consider making changes to his lineup ahead of Boston's Sunday night matchup against the Canucks.
"Well, we've got to get their attention, for sure, so yes," Cassidy said when asked if he's considering changes. "I've done that in the past, and it's something we will certainly look at. You can't be a role player and be pulling pucks out of your net on a consistent basis. That won't work. You have to do your part, whatever that is for the team, and if you're down in the lineup, that typically means some of the grunt work and some of the defensive responsibility where you're working really hard to get it out of your net.
"We certainly had enough good looks to score our share of goals to win in the third, but at the end of the day, we didn't."

Sticking It to Them:Jeremy Swayman made a number of stellar point-blank stops, including two highlight-reel stick saves - one in the first on Kaapo Kakko and another in the second on Mika Zibanejad's. Swayman, however, was disappointed in his rebound control.
"That's just trying to be in the right spot at the right time, but definitely a lucky save, so happy with that," Swayman said of his lunging stick save on Zibanejad. "They like to funnel pucks from all angles, think that's a game plan of theirs- they got good traffic in front, so do whatever you can to prevent those rebounds, but that's their identity, they're gonna get that on any goalie, so I think that's what I want to improve on and take positives from it."