The struggling Bruins took another big step back on Monday.
It was one thing to get outplayed by the Rangers on Saturday. New York is in first place in the Metropolitan Division and had the best record in the NHL entering Monday’s action. It’s another to get smoked by Columbus.
The Blue Jackets came in with twice as many losses as wins and were in dead last in the same Metro Division. But they outplayed the Bruins as Boston dropped their third straight, 5-2 Monday at Nationwide Arena.
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After falling behind 2-0, Jim Montgomery yanked Jeremy Swayman, who has struggled of late, in hopes of sparking his team. But the Bruins were as out of sync with Linus Ullmark behind them as they’d been with Swayman as they fell behind 4-0, their first four-goal deficit of the season.
Down 4-1, Montgomery even tried pulling his goalie with over six minutes left, but that didn’t work either as Columbus scored an empty-netter. The Bruins have allowed five or more goals in each of the last three games.
The Bruins will try to snap their losing streak against the worst team in the NHL, the San Jose Sharks, on Thursday at TD Garden at 7 p.m.
Here are four takeaways from Boston’s third straight loss:
The Bruins are making a disturbing habit of falling behind — For the third straight game, the Bruins fell behind at least 2-0. This was also the third straight game and fourth in the last five that they allowed the first goal of the game. They’re 1-3-1 when they trail after the first period.
Captain slumping — Brad Marchand has now gone seven games without a goal as the captain’s struggles have reflected the team’s recent woes. Montgomery broke up the line with Marchand, David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha in vain hopes of getting the offense going. Marchand has seven goals and 12 assists this season.
Matt Poitras breaks through — Matt Poitras had no goals and two assists in his last nine games coming in, but 8:24 into the third period the Bruins’ 19-year-old rookie emerged from the drought with a goal that prevented the Bruins from being shut out. Both of the Bruins’ goals were scored by rookies as Johnny Beecher had the other. He has five goals and five assists this season.
Spencer Martin could be getting a call about a fine — One game after Rangers captain Jacob Trouba was fined for high-sticking Trent Frederic in the head, Spencer Martin could be getting a call from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. The Blue Jacket goalie drove his stick into David Pastrnak’s ribs after the whistle. There was no call on the play.
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