Recap: Bruins blanked by Devils, 1-0

The Boston Bruins were shut out by the New Jersey Devils, 1-0, tonight at the TD Garden, as the Bruins couldn’t generate enough offense to break through Mackenzie Blackwood’s net.

“Not a lot of puck luck for us,” Bruce Cassidy said. “Really have to work to score goals.”

The Bruins have struggled with secondary scoring and tonight was no exception. Despite another third period momentum swing, the team struggled on 5v5 and couldn’t capitalize on power plays.

The Bruins had a hard time getting going in the first period, as the Devils outshot the Bs early on. But the Bruins had some bright spots despite struggling offensively.

The Bruins defense used the boards to advance the puck and gain the neutral zone. But throughout the first frame, the Devils outshot the Bruins, 12-9, and were bound to put one in despite Jaroslav Halak looking strong.

The Devils opened the scoring at 16:37 in the first period. Ty Smith pinched down to the top of the right face-off circle for a wrist shot towards net where Kyle Palmieri, from the low point, redirected the puck top-shelf over Halak’s glove. 1-0 Devils.

Well, the good news is the Devils didn’t score in the second period. The bad news, neither did the Bruins. The Bruins had plenty of chances to even things up, but had a hard time coming up with anything that could get through Blackwood’s crease. Not to discredit Blackwood though who had a great game.

Halak came up big to stop several opportunities that slipped through to him. He kept it a one goal game.

Anders Bjork had a chance to pot a shorthanded goal, but threw the puck into Blackwood’s chest paddings. You could tell he was frustrated with the attempt, but the effort was there on Bjork’s end. He just couldn’t finish it.

Power play woes continued for the Bruins, as they had three man-advantages and it was the same story each time. Too much passing.

Charlie McAvoy took a high-stick to the face from Janne Kuokkanen and the Bruins had a four-minute power play early in the third period. But the Bruins continued to pass when they should have shot, and when they did shoot a few times, the Devils got in front and blocked shots.

The Bruins closed out the game with offensive pressure and the chance to tie the game late in the period.

“It was another solid effort in the third period, tried to generate second and third chances against this guy,” Cassidy said.

It was a wild ending with two goals called back/challenged.

First, Patrice Bergeron jammed in a loose puck from an effort by David Pastrnak with 1:10 left in the period. David Krejci was battling in front and New Jersey challenged goaltender interference on the play. No goal. Lame.

Then, the Bruins challenged that this goal that deflected off Jesper Bratt crossed the goal line. But after review, it was ruled no goal.

So after two no-goals, the Bruins dropped the game, 1-0, to the Devils.

The Bruins are back in action Tuesday night against the Devils.