Bruins Drop Fourth Straight with Loss to Caps

WASHINGTON - The Bruins felt better about their game on Wednesday night, but ultimately it wasn't good enough to right the ship as the Black & Gold dropped a 3-2 decision to the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. It was Boston's fourth consecutive loss and its third straight in regulation, the team's longest such streak this season.
"Listen, we're all frustrated, but as a coach you like how the 60 minutes transpired better than some of the other nights," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "We're in the game, we're right there. We very easily could have won the game. Two or three things probably changed that. In terms of a 60-minute effort, I think we're getting close to where we want to be."

Boston jumped out to a 1-0 lead on David Pastrnak's 26th of the season, but surrendered two straight to the Capitals, who carried a 2-1 advantage into the third period. Sean Kuraly tied the game at 2 at 2:53 of the third when he tipped home a Torey Krug point shot from the slot, but Washington responded just 1:51 later to regain the lead for good on a blast from John Carlson.
"It was the third goal," Cassidy said of the turning point. "We were right there. We score and get a break finally. They come down a shift later on a simple D-zone coverage. We don't sort it out quick enough and bam it's in the net. After that, now you're chasing it again."

Another Wiped Away

While Cassidy believed the turning point came on the eventual winning goal early in the third period, the outcome of the game could have been different had Boston not had another goal wiped off the board for a video review.
Late in the first period with the Bruins on the power play, Patrice Bergeron punched home what appeared to be his 10th goal of the season from the top of the crease to give Boston a 2-0 lead. But Washington challenged for offside and after a review, it was determined that Jake DeBrusk crossed into the Caps' zone before the puck.
"I honestly had no idea until they started talking about it," said Bergeron. "Didn't really get a good look at it, but with all the angles they have and in Toronto, I'm sure they got the right call…obviously this year it's one of those where when you come up short every time and it happens 20 seconds after the play it's tough to swallow, but it is the rule and we have to live with it."
The Bruins have now had four goals negated this season following review, all of which have come in close losses.
"That's the game nowadays," said Brad Marchand. "It's frustrating, especially when you play for so long after the play. There's got to be something implemented where you're not playing for a minute. It just doesn't affect the play anymore.
"It's just frustrating when it goes against you, but they all kind of even out in the end. We'll get some going our way at some point here…that's just the way it goes."

Power Still Out

With Bergeron's goal negated, the Bruins ended up 0 for 5 on the power play, as their struggles with the man advantage continued. Boston, which had two PPs early in the third, is now 2 for its last 25.
"I thought they got impatient at the start of the third," said Cassidy. "Pasta ended up down around the net. I just think there's better ways and we've talked about better ways to free up his shot by moving the guys up top.
"Listen, they're good players. We're going to give them a level of freedom to do what they see fit on the ice, but I thought that was the one power play that we got out of our structure too much."