Bruins Return from Break with Rare Home Loss

BOSTON - The Bruins' return from their 10-day break did not go as planned on Saturday afternoon as Boston dropped just its second home game in regulation this season with a 2-1 setback against the Washington Capitals at TD Garden.

"Start was slow. Slow to react. Hesitant in our decision making, to be expected. That being said, it was their first game as well, and they were a little bit sharp and simpler in their plays. I thought as the game went on, it was definitely better, and we were getting better looks and better O-zone time."
The Black & Gold, who have now lost four out of five, fell into a 2-0 hole before Nick Foligno pulled them within a goal late in the second period. But despite a push over the final 40 minutes, Boston was unable to find the equalizer as it dropped to 22-2-3 on Causeway Street.
"I think our effort was there, I just think our urgency on execution wasn't," said Foligno. "There's no excuse for it, to be honest with you. I think that's something this group has always found a way to do, and I think every guy in there is not feeling great.
"It's a feeling that we're not used to in this room, especially in this building. So, I think it doesn't sit well with anybody, and we've got a good chance to go on the road now and get together after a break and find our game and make sure we have that desperation."
Foligno went on to say that the Bruins must be prepared for teams to bring an added level of intensity over the final two months, especially those that are battling for playoff positioning. Opponents are also prepared to give Boston - the NHL's top team - their very best night in and night out.
"I think what happens sometimes is you wait to see how they're going to play instead of just initiating, and I think that's kind of what happened tonight with us," said Foligno. "Or if it doesn't go your way right away, you kind of get away from it, because you're like, 'We've got to make something happen, we can't let them hang around,' and that's when you open yourself up and they capitalize.
"That's kind of what you saw tonight. We played a lot of good minutes, too, where we had the puck, had real good chances, just didn't execute to put them in. Then they get those little opportunities where we're not as sharp or clean with it that we need to be, and they capitalize.
"It's going to be that hockey, though, and I think it's a good learning lesson for us as we come out of the break. This is the type of game we're going to have, these 2-1 games, these tight games, and we're going to find ourselves on the right side of it. I'm not worried about that."

More news and notes from the B's loss at TD Garden:

Going with Sway: Jeremy Swayman got the start in net for the Bruins as coach Jim Montgomery opted to get the netminder some work after a lengthy layoff. Swayman, who had not started Jan. 28 in Florida, made 26 saves. "I thought he was good, he made a lot of saves. When they went up, 2-1, they had a couple more opportunities there," said Montgomery. "We thought they only had four chances in the second but they were really good chances because we were pushing, so you end up giving up a lot the other way a little bit. But Swayman's game was good."
Taking a Pass: While Montgomery preaches a patient offensive attack that doesn't necessarily entail peppering the net, he felt that the Bruins were over-passing a bit too much for his liking on Saturday: "Yeah for sure," he said. "The one that comes to mind is [Charlie] Coyle on the back door, he tried to pass it back across…that's habits that we have to get back to. You saw a lot of guys come to the middle of the net, and when you come to the middle of the net on a pass that's across the crease…you're going into the goalie's space instead of giving yourself more net to shoot at. Those are just habits we have to reinforce and get back to."
Power Outage Continues:The Bruins went 0-for-4 on the power play and have now gone 0 for their last 17 on the man advantage dating to before the All-Star break. ""I think it's puck movement, we just have to make quicker decisions, but I didn't like our decisions with puck movement on breakouts and neutral zone counters and O-zone play," said Montgomery. "Usually when I'm behind the bench, usually when I'm thinking, 'Move it now,' it's already moving and when I said, 'Move it now [today],' I could have said it two more times."