Why Timing of Boston Bruins Win vs. Dallas Stars Matters

21/02/2024

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BOSTON — Coming out of a seven-game homestand, the Boston Bruins are looking at it much differently than they did going in.

What seemed like a perfect opportunity to take advantage of sleeping in their own beds, no travel and working in their own building in front of their home crowd wound up being arguably their worst stretch of the season.

Boston finished the homestand 2-3-2, with a four-game losing streak baked in between. The Bruins ended it on a high note with a 4-3 shootout win against the Dallas Stars on Monday, which avoided the losing streak extending to a franchise-worst five games in the same homestand, according to the Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont.

“Sometimes it’s nice to get a change of scenery when things aren’t going your way,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand said. “And now it’s good to get on the road and spend time together. When you’re at home, everybody has families and girlfriends and all that, so it’s a little bit tougher, but on the road you’re always together and it’s a good chance to bond again.”

The Bruins are on their way to Western Canada and Seattle for a four-game road swing, facing the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday before rounding things out against the Seattle Kraken on Monday.

Getting the win against Dallas on Monday, albeit in a shootout, allows the group to reset as they hit the road. Had the game ended in a loss, they would have the five-game losing streak hanging over their heads and completely affecting the mentality going forward.

“It’s an extremely important win,” said Jeremy Swayman, who made 43 saves against Dallas and stopped eight of nine shots in the shootout. “Every win in this league is important, but knowing that we’re not gonna be here for a week or two now, it’s something that we owe our fans. They support us through the ups and downs and we owe them a good two points every given night.”

Ultimately, it took efforts from everybody to end the losing streak. From the stars like Swayman making 43 saves and David Pastrnak scoring the tying goal late in regulation, to a couple fourth-liners who started the season in AHL Providence in Jesper Boqvist and Justin Brazeau — making his NHL debut — contributing to the scoring.

“Something has to happen to overcome, to get out of the malaise like we were in, results-wise,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “We got the great effort by our goaltender, and then our 6-on-5 [Pastrnak goal], and you know, our great players made great plays.”

With confidence restored in the lineup from top to bottom, and another familiar reinforcement on the way up from Providence, the Bruins have an opportunity to build on the Dallas win and carry themselves through a tough road trip.

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