Cassidy returns to TD Garden as Vegas ends Boston’s home winning streak

BOSTON — Bruce Cassidy’s return to TD Backyard was overvalued as a possible Stanley Cup Remaining preview and it did not disappoint.

The Vegas Golden Knights took a commanding 3-0 lead early within the second interval, however the Bruins stormed again with two targets within the second interval and a power-play tally within the third interval to pressure extra time. After a scoreless OT interval through which Boston could not rating with the person benefit, former Bruin Reilly Smith gained the sport for Vegas within the shootout.

The 4-3 defeat ends Boston’s record-setting house win streak to start the season at 14.

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Golden Knights rookie goalie Logan Thompson made 40 saves for his eighth street victory of the season, whereas Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman made 21 stops. 

The B’s start a three-game street journey Wednesday in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche. However earlier than we look forward to that matchup, listed below are 4 takeaways from Bruins-Golden Knights.

1) Terrible begin places B’s in early gap

The Golden Knights got here out with a ton of power, which was not shocking given the significance of this recreation to their head coach. Vegas was sooner, sharper and extra opportunistic than Boston over the primary 20 minutes and its effort was rewarded simply 96 seconds into the sport when Paul Cotter put his workforce on high.

The Bruins could not win possession of the puck behind the web and Cotter was left on their lonesome within the slot for an important scoring likelihood that he buried.

The Golden Knights doubled their benefit lower than 4 minutes later when David Pastrnak coughed up the puck with a completely brutal turnover that Jonathan Marchessault capitalized on. Swayman made an excellent save on the preliminary shot however could not thwart the rebound.

The Bruins have been an excellent first-period workforce all season, giving up a league-low 13 targets within the opening 20 minutes by means of their first 23 video games. They have been unable to take care of that early-game success Monday evening.

2) Boston’s record-setting house win streak ends

The Bruins broke the league file for probably the most consecutive house wins to start a season with 12 and prolonged that streak to 14 earlier than the Golden Knights put an finish to Boston’s historic run.

The B’s additionally have been simply the third workforce in league historical past to win 21 straight house video games between seasons, together with the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Earlier than Monday evening, the Bruins’ final loss on the Backyard was April 14 of final season (a 3-2 defeat to the Ottawa Senators). Although the win streak is over, the B’s nonetheless have a 22-game level streak on the Backyard relationship again to 2021-22.

The Bruins will attempt to create a brand new house win streak once they return to Boston for a five-game homestand that begins Dec. 13 in opposition to the New York Islanders.

3) Boston’s energy play stays purple scorching

The Golden Knights misplaced their cool early within the third interval and took two penalties over a 25-second span, giving the Bruins a 5-on-3 energy play for 1:35. 

Though the B’s failed to attain throughout that two-man benefit, proper after the primary penalty expired Taylor Corridor scored from proper in entrance of the web on his personal rebound to tie the rating 3-3.

The Bruins energy play has now scored in 10 consecutive video games. This unit entered Monday with the second-best energy play at 29.5 %, behind solely the Colorado Avalanche at 32.5 %.

This is a take a look at this dominant stretch for the Bruins energy play:

• Nov. 12 at Buffalo Sabres: 1-of-3
• Nov. 13 vs. Vancouver Canucks: 2-of-6
• Nov. 17 vs. Philadelphia Flyers: 2-of-4
• Nov. 19 vs. Chicago Blackhawks: 2-of-3
• Nov. 21 at Tampa Bay Lightning: 2-of-4
• Nov. 23 at Florida Panthers: 2-of-6
• Nov. 25 vs. Carolina Hurricanes: 1-of-6
• Nov. 29 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: 1-of-1
• Dec. 3 vs. Colorado Avalanche: 1-of-5
• Dec. 5 vs. Golden Knights: 1-of-4

The Bruins are 15-of-42 (35.7 %) on the facility play over their final 10 video games, and people 15 power-play targets are tied with the Lightning for the league lead throughout that span.

The B’s haven’t been a dominant 5-on-5 workforce this season with simply 21 targets in 24 video games. Their energy play has saved them over the past couple weeks. It is protected to say a 35.5 % success fee on the facility play isn’t sustainable, so Boston might want to work out its 5-on-5 points quickly.

4) Native favourite absent

There was no homecoming for Jack Eichel on Monday evening.

Eichel is having a superb season for the Golden Knights with a team-leading 29 factors (13 targets, 16 assists) in 26 video games, however he suffered a decrease physique damage in final Saturday’s win over the Detroit Crimson Wings and did not play versus the Bruins.

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The North Chelmsford, Mass., native and former Boston College standout hasn’t performed in opposition to the Bruins in Boston since Dec. 19, 2019. Eichel has handled neck and again points over the past two years, however except for his latest decrease physique damage, he is been fairly wholesome this season. 

The 26-year-old middle will not return to TD Backyard till the 2023-24 marketing campaign until the Golden Knights and Bruins meet within the 2023 Stanley Cup Remaining.