Consistency has eluded the Boston Bruins almost all season long, but a Monday visit from the Buffalo Sabres offers a quick turnaround from perhaps a new low point.
En route to a 6-2 Saturday loss to the Atlantic Division rival Tampa Bay Lightning, the Bruins surrendered three consecutive goals while being held without a shot during a disastrous second period in which interim coach Joe Sacco said “a lot” went wrong, from the visitors’ push to defensive lapses and turnovers.
“It was embarrassing,” Boston forward Elias Lindholm said. “The compete level was nowhere to be found. … We deserved to obviously get booed. Second period is the worst I’ve seen us play this year.”
The overall showing was not much better, and Boston will need to improve before embarking on a five-game road trip beginning in Vegas on Thursday.
After Andrew Peeke brought the Bruins back even at 1-1 late in the first, Marat Khusnutdinov scored the opening goal of the third and his second goal in as many games to make it 4-2. But the Bruins finished with only four shots in the third and a season-low 12 for the game.
“You can’t play only one good period a game and win,” Bruins forward Pavel Zacha said. “That’s something we have to learn from. We had to play better, especially at home for our fans. It just wasn’t good enough.”
Strong showings immediately followed the trade deadline earlier this month, but both Saturday and the prior 6-3 road loss Thursday to the Ottawa Senators have left something to be desired.
“We need a better showing,” Sacco said. “We need to be able to dig in more and respond from a game that we’re obviously not happy with. … We have players that are still getting accustomed to how we play and whatnot, but that doesn’t matter.”
While Boston still has a slim playoff chance, sitting four points below the wild-card cut line, Buffalo sits in dead last, six points below any other team in the Eastern Conference. Still, the Sabres can look to build upon a 4-3 shootout win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
The Sabres had to overcome 2-0 and 3-2 deficits, but holding a 37-19 shot advantage and winning 48 of 67 faceoffs helped them to a second win over a playoff-eligible team in three games. They also beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 last Monday.
“We did a lot of good things, starting with managing the puck throughout the game,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. “Still made a couple big mistakes with the puck, but 90 percent of it gives you a chance to beat a good team.”
Captain Rasmus Dahlin scored the game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation, atoning for a turnover that had allowed Jack Eichel to put Vegas in front with 2:33 to go.
In the end, the response was most important.
“We’re trying to focus on how we want to finish the season as a team and building our group,” Buffalo forward Jason Zucker said. “I think this is a good step. Especially after the (Wednesday) game in Detroit, I thought this was a great response, and now we have to follow it up.”
The recent run has made a difference in the team’s psyche.
“It’s a different vibe right now,” Dahlin said. “Guys are stepping up, being really good leaders, and guys want to be here. We want to make a difference.”
Sabres forward Jiri Kulich (upper-body) took a hit from Vegas’ Brett Howden in Saturday’s second period and did not return.
“(Sunday) will be the story, but overall, he’s doing pretty good,” Ruff said of Kulich’s status following the game.
Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka each had a hat trick and an assist in the Sabres’ 7-2 home win over the Bruins on Jan. 28.
