BOSTON — Despite the Bruins suffering their 15th overtime loss Tuesday night, Pavel Zacha was a bright spot. The forward broke a scoreless tie with his third goal in two games in the third period. Boston ultimately fell, 2-1, in overtime to the Edmonton Oilers at TD Garden, but Zacha gave the Bruins a chance to win.
“It was good I could help the team like that,” Zacha said after the game. “My linemates made great plays the last couple games, so I was happy I could put some in.”
Zacha suffered a lower-body injury Saturday against the New York Islanders in the first period and missed the remainder of the game. Fortunately for the Bruins, Zacha returned for Boston’s next game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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He’s been on a bit of a tear since the injury scare, and Jim Montgomery thinks it’s simply because Zacha has simplified his game.
“I think he’s looking to shoot more,” the Bruins coach said Tuesday night. “It’s funny how he had a little bit of an injury there and he’s come back from the injury and he’s simplified his game.”
Zacha’s goal wasn’t enough, though, as the troubling trend of relinquishing a lead late in the third period continued. Montgomery sees it as a learning experience, and an opportunity to grow before the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin next month, and Zacha knows it’s something the team must fix sooner rather than later.
“We just have to find a way to win these games,” he said. “I think it’s been a lot of them like this this season. You’re winning and then the last five minutes we get scored on. It’s something we have to get better at and win those games.”
The Bruins can try to get back on track Thursday night when they welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs — a team they made easy work of Monday night — to TD Garden.
