Following a disappointing 1-0 defeat in their most recent game against the New Jersey Devils, the Bruins traveled to Nassau Coliseum for the fourth and final time this season to face off against the East Division-leading New York Islanders.
It was a better performance from the Bruins and they were able to salvage one point, but lack of scoring continues to hinder them as they once again fell to the Islanders and lost ground in the standings.
Here are three key takeaways from the game:
1. Power play breaks through
After going scoreless on the power play over their last six games (0-for-12), the Bruins were finally able to light the lamp on the man advantage — and puck pursuit is the major reason why.
There are three key elements to a successful power play.
One is shooting the puck early and often. It's important to get pucks to the net as soon as possible on the man advantage because chasing after loose pucks and rebounds forces penalty killers out of position and opens up passing and shooting lanes for the power play.
Two is moving without the puck. Nothing makes a penalty kill unit's job easier than a stationary power play waiting for the perfect play to develop.
Three is puck pursuit. It's imperative on the man advantage that the power play out-numbers the penalty kill in all loose puck battles - and there's no excuse not to when there is literally an extra player.
With this in mind, Tuesday night against the Islanders the Bruins were much more aggressive and determined skating after and retrieving loose pucks when on the power play.
In fact, all five skaters on the top unit won a loose puck battle in the seconds leading up to David Pastrnak's opening tally.
Just before Pastrnak's goal, Matt Grzelcyk sprinted in from the left point to keep a puck in the zone and Brad Marchand won a battle beneath the goal line before sending it to Pastrnak at the right point.
The Bruins have all the skill in the world on their power play but without extra effort and relentless puck pursuit, the power play won't be as much of an advantage.
2. Rough night for Clifton
Connor Clifton is an easy player to root for. He works hard and looks to make an impact each time he's in the line up.
Unfortunately, "Cliffy Hockey" is oftentimes risky hockey as clumsiness and mental mistakes that can lead to strenuous defensive moments.
With the Bruins leading 1-0 in the second period, Clifton lost an edge retrieving a puck along the boards as Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom attempted to play the body — the sequence resulted in a retaliatory Brad Marchand penalty.
On the ensuing penalty kill, Clifton once again lost en edge leading to an easy Islanders zone entry. Once set up in the offensive zone, Mathew Barzal was able to trick Clifton with a no-look pass down to Jean-Gabriel Pageau on the goal line, and Pageau then found Brock Nelson in the slot to tie the game 1-1.
Not a great few minutes for Clifton, but his struggles were more than just dull skates.
He got beat wide a handful of times throughout the game and was a liability for most of the night.
Fortunately for Clifton, injuries on the blue line will ensure he stays in the lineup, but he will need to play with more poise and composure to gain long-term trust from the coaching staff.
3. Nassau Coliseum, house of horrors
For the fourth time this season the Islanders played host to the Boston Bruins and for the fourth time this season, the Islanders skated away with two points in the standings.
With the game tied and time winding down, it was almost a certainty that Jean-Gabriel Pageau would once again find a way to win the game for the Isles with a garbage rebound goal or by having a puck just bounce in off his skate.
Well, that did't end up happening as there was a new hero for the Islanders in this one.
After a hard-fought 65 minutes, this one came down to a skills competition as Anthony Beauvillier delivered the winning goal in the shootout.
Through four meetings so far against the Islanders, the Bruins have earned just one out of a possible eight points - considering they are six points behind the Islanders in the standings, it's safe to say the Isles have much to do with the Bruins' struggles over the last 10-plus games.
Since their loss to the Islanders on Feb. 13, the Bruins are 3-5-2 overall and have fallen to third in the East Division on points percentage.
With a depleted defense and very little five-on-five scoring, the Bruins are on the ropes and need everyone to step up, not just their top players.
