The Bruins, as Hall described, went toe to toe with the Hurricanes at even strength, but the power play struggled mightily to cash in, going 0-for-5 on the evening, while Carolina struck once in five tries of its own. Boston had three power plays in the third period alone, including a minute-long 5-on-3 early in the final frame.
Overall, the B's man advantage is now just 2 for 16 (12.5%) on the season, ranking 26th in the NHL.
"We're just not in sync right now," said Brad Marchand. "I just think that we might be forcing it a little bit where we get pucks back and maybe we're trying to rush to make the play instead of settling down, kind of getting to our spots, and getting set up. And then we get frustrated and it kind of snowballs from there. I think we just have to kind of calm down out there and win battles. It starts from there."
Marchand, a staple of Boston's top unit for years, believes the Bruins must get back to winning loose pucks.
"We've always been a power play that we thrive when we win battles, get pucks back and to the net, win another battle…the PK gets tired and we capitalize," said Marchand. "We've got to get back to doing that and realize what kind of power play unit we are and hopefully we'll start connecting."
Hall, meanwhile, added that another part of the problem is the lack of a shooting mentality.
"Easy to say that when you see plays and you see guys open, you want to make that extra little play, but at this point in the year, you just want to get some momentum and some confidence on there," said Hall. "I think the best way to do that is get pucks back after shots and play that way."
The winger had Boston's best power-play chance of the evening in the third period as he parked out at the top of the crease and had a wide-open net in which to deposit a Marchand feed that would have pulled the Bruins within a goal. But the puck went back through the blue paint and out the other side.
"I don't know if their guy kind of whacked my stick a little bit at the end or if I just literally shot it out of the net," said Hall. "Bit of a mistake there, but I think if you notice we're a little bit tight with our sticks, gripping our sticks a little bit tight. I think if everyone, myself included, is feeling uber confident, that's just an easy play, easy backdoor tap in and right now those aren't being given to us.
"We have to work for it and we have to put our heads down and keep grinding and figure out a way to produce - but without cheating the game."