The Boston Bruins have just one win in their last six games and have been outscored 24-9 over that span.
Things got worse on Thursday when the Bruins suffered an embarrassing 8-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Boston currently sits in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 4-6-1 record, but head coach Jim Montgomery vowed after Thursday’s loss that the team would bounce back to make the playoffs for the ninth time in a row.
“Right now we are not happy. Nobody is happy with what is happening. But we’ll get through this. We will be better. Hopefully this will help us get better results in the playoffs.”
Montgomery opted to reshuffle the Bruins’ lines for Thursday’s game, but the changes didn’t have the desired effect. Boston was outshot 37-15 and couldn’t get more than five shots per period.
No. 1 goaltender Jeremy Swayman was removed from the game after allowing six goals on 22 shots. Arriving in relief, Joonas Korpisalo then allowed two goals on 15 shots in just over 30 minutes of play.
Bruins star forward David Pastrnak defended Montgomery’s changes Thursday, placing the blame on himself and his teammates.
« Monty just trying to move us forward. Trio shuffles happen. Personally, this poses no problem for me,” assured Pastrnak. “I can adapt to anyone. For now, it’s not a question of combinations. We’re not good enough as a team, and that’s where it starts.”
The Bruins beat the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime last weekend to get their only win in the last two weeks, picking up just three points in that six-game span.
After losing 2-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers on home ice on Tuesday, the Bruins will travel to Philadelphia on Saturday before finishing their week with a home game against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday.
