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The chances were there, but the Bruins just couldn’t capitalize when they needed to most.
The Bruins managed to secure just one point against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night at the Garden. Matt Ryan scored with 2:01 left, tying the game with a strike from the point. Anze Kopitar capitalized in overtime, beating Tuukka Rask short side to give the Kings back-to-back wins.
“All in all, it was pretty good,” said Bruce Cassidy, on the Bruins’ effort. “It seems every one we gave up went in the back of the net. Had plenty of chances to extend the lead in the third — we were playing the right way, seemed to be in control...”
And the Bruins were in control. They tested Jonathan Quick, peppering him with 39 shots on goal. Quick allowed some juicy rebounds, yet the B’s were unable to pounce on the second chance opportunities.
The Kings second goal, a breakaway tally by Adrian Kempe, was a byproduct of a loose puck that squirted out to Kempe. From there, he whizzed past David Pastrnak, who barely made an effort to challenge Kempe, even as the last man back.
This goal symbolizes the game in a nutshell. The Bruins had a great chance, a wicked one-timer from Marchand, couldn’t jam home the rebound and then couldn’t get a timely save when it was required.
“...some of it was we didn’t stop the puck at the other end, too,” said Bruce Cassidy, on his team being unable to finish chances offensively. “I mean, you don’t give up, you expect certain key saves at key times. We didn’t get them, and then we didn’t extend the lead at the key times, so I look at both sides. Certainly did enough offensively to win the hockey game, played well enough defensively, had some breakdowns that ended up in our net, but so did they.”
Overtime was a back and forth affair, featuring missed chances on breakaways from Anders Bjork and Patrice Bergeron. Bergeron’s shot cascaded wide right and the Kings were able to counterattack, resulting in the game winning goal.
Danton Heinen, Patrice Bergeron and Brandon Carlo were the goal scorers for the black and gold. The team next takes the ice Thursday night, welcoming the New York Islanders to town.