It was an earlier start time on Saturday as the Bruins hosted the Rangers in a matinee at TD Garden, and the Bruins never seemed to wake up, sleep-walking their way to a 4-0 loss.
They were completely outplayed from start to finish and suddenly, the playoffs are no longer a guarantee as the Bruins approach the midway point of a condensed season.
Here are three key takeaways from a lackluster performance from the black and gold.
1. Bruins leave Halak out to dry
Tuukka Rask was given another game off due to his lingering injury, meaning Jaroslav Halak would start in goal for the third consecutive game.
Halak was the only Bruin ready to play from the drop of the puck and gave his teammates an opportunity to win, despite being outplayed.
Through two periods, the Bruins were out-shot 21-11, and out-chanced 14-4. Furthermore, they were out-battled in every way and would have been down more than just 2-0 if it weren't for the strong play of Halak.
The Bruins ended up being outshot 33-18 in a game where the black and gold had five power-play opportunities, showing how much pressure was on Halak to keep his team in the game.
Halak deserved better and deserves credit for stepping up in Rask's absence.
It doesn't matter how well or poorly a goalie plays, a team can't win if they don't score.
2. Another scoreless effort affirmation of trade deadline need
Once again the Bruins lost despite solid goaltending and defense.
It is completely unfair to expect the top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak to carry the team every single game.
Of course they will provide offense more often than not, but there will be occasions where they have an off-game and when that happens they need their fellow forwards to help carry the weight.
The top line has combined for half of the goals scored this season — considering the other half of the team's goals includes scoring from defensemen, it really proves just how little the bottom three forward lines have produced.
Charlie Coyle, Craig Smith, David Krejci and Anders Bjork in particular were all expected to contribute offensively and simply haven't, at least not consistently.
The fourth line changes almost every game and lacks identity.
Five goals scored in their last four games (including two shutouts) exemplifies a serious offensive problem after the top line and further emphasizes why GM Don Sweeney needs to acquire top-six help before the trade deadline.
Filip Forsberg, Rickard Rakell, Jakob Silfverberg, Kyle Palmieri and Anthony Mantha are some examples of wingers who may become available that would immediately upgrade the Bruins' top-six forward group.
If Sweeney wants to optimize the Bergeron, Marchand and Krejci window, he should do just about whatever it takes to improve.
3. Playoffs anything but a lock as offensive struggles continue
Inconsistent effort and execution, frequent lack of emotion, and an apparent lack of offense are all reasons why the playoffs are no longer a lock as the Bruins approach the midway point of the season.
While the Bruins need to add scoring before the trade deadline, they currently have too many proven scorers to be struggling so mightily.
Scoring doesn't just come from elite players, it comes from playing the right way and the Bruins forwards aren't doing what it takes to put themselves in position to produce.
Simplifying the game by forechecking with purpose, finishing checks, low-to-high-cycling and pucks and bodies to the net are all ways that forwards can create scoring chances every shift — this is how a team consistently plays with emotion.
Instead, many of the Bruins forwards skate along the perimeter of the ice, and are too soft when engaging in one-on-one battles.
Simply unacceptable.
The Bruins need to take a look in the mirror and as a team, play each and every shift with the determination, effort and emotion it takes to be an elite team in the league.
