The Boston Bruins took on the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday evening and Vegas’ offensive prowess proved to be too much for the B’s. Vegas won 4-1 and Boston ended their five-game point streak in the month of December.
Going into the game, Vegas had been road warriors. They averaged 3.55 goals per game and the highest shooting percentage on the road. That trend continued as they hammered into the Bruins without Brad Marchand nor Craig Smith, as they were placed in Covid protocol.
The Golden Knights scored three goals in the first period and all came in bunches. Throughout the first half of the first period, the score was still tied up 0-0. At 13:04 into the first period, Shea Theodore ended the scoreless tie with his fourth goal of the year.
Then, just two minutes after Theodore, Max Pacioretty scored his 11th of the season. Chandler Stephenson notched his 18th and 19th assists of the year from the first two goals including a beautiful tape-to-tape pass that gave Pacioretty an odd-man-rush on his goal.
Jonathan Marchessault added to the bone-crushing lead on the power play just before the clock hit triple zeros. Marchessault scored his second power play goal and 12th goal overall in 2021-22 on Jeremy Swayman thanks to a puck that deflected off of two different Boston defenders. Former Bruin Reilly Smith earned his 400th career NHL point off of that Marchessault goal.
The second period started and the Bruins continued to struggle to find the back of the net while the Golden Knights added to the deficit. Pacioretty scored his second goal of the game and increased his point-per-game production to 1.727. With that percentage, Pacioretty ranks third in the NHL, behind only Connor McDavid and Leon Draisatl. Stephenson also acquired his third assist of the game from the Pacioretty goal.
The third period allowed the Bruins to end the shutout, but not much else. Patrice Bergeron scored his 10th goal of the year and Hall notched his third point in three games.
Swayman had a horrendous outing and had his worst start since mid-October. In this game, he accumulated a .840 save percentage and let in four goals. Swayman has lost his last five of his last seven starts as well as three consecutive starts. Though he’s struggled to find a win lately, he hasn’t been horrible recently. In the month of December, Swayman has a .935 save percentage, 2.01 GAA and one shutout.
The Bruins will travel to Elmont, New York to take on the New York Islanders on Thursday. It will mark the beginning of a three-game road trip that the Bruins will hope to sweep. The B’s will play three struggling teams in the Isles, Canadiens and Senators. Puck drop will take place at 7:30 pm in UBS Arena.
(Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)