BOSTON — The Boston Bruins, once again, struggled to close out a game in the third period as they fell 2-1 to the Edmonton Oilers in overtime Tuesday night at TD Garden. The Oilers pulled their goalie in the final minutes, Danton Heinen hit the post on what would have been the game-winning empty-net goal, and Edmonton capitalized with the extra skater with 1:20 left in regulation.
It’s been a troubling trend for the Bruins this season — giving up a lead in the third period — but Jim Montgomery wants his team to use the loss as a learning experience, especially with the playoffs fast approaching.
“We’ve got to find a way to close out game. It’s a great opportunity for us to realize we can’t take anything for granted,” Montgomery said after the game. “Because in a couple of months it doesn’t matter how tired you are at the end of the game. We’ve got to find a way to push through. We didn’t find a way.”
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The Bruins were playing their second of a back-to-back after beating the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday at Scotiabank Arena. Getting in late from travel and having a quick turnaround will certainly take a toll on the players, but Montgomery noted Tuesday’s loss was due to “mental fatigue” and not physical fatigue. And he’s not using fatigue as an excuse because, come playoffs time, “everybody’s on an equal playing field.”
“You’re playing the same team that has the same many days off (for) rest. That’s where you got to dig in and find a way,” Montgomery said. “So for me, it’s an opportunity to start growing for the playoffs — the mindset and the physical execution you need.”
Despite another overtime loss — Boston’s 15th of the season — Montgomery liked the overall game from the Bruins, save for overtime. While he acknowledged Boston did a good job on its chances Tuesday night, he knows his team “didn’t have the jump” it did Monday against Toronto.
“We’re creating turnovers and we were not as good as yesterday,” Montgomery said. “And that’s where I could see that we’re a little bit tired was that we were not transitioning to offense.”
The Bruins will be off Wednesday before welcoming the Maple Leafs to TD Garden on Thursday night. It will be an opportunity for them to bounce back and get back in the win column, and learn from Tuesday’s loss.
