LAS VEGAS — Too much time in the sin bin did the Bruins in in Sin City Thursday night.
Boston lost its third straight game on this Western swing, a 2-1 overtime decision to the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena.
Alex Pietrangelo scored just 46 seconds into the extra period to clinch the win for Bruce Cassidy’s Stanley Cup champions.
It was the third straight game Boston forced extra hockey, though nobody in the visitor’s dressing room was happy about salvaging a point.
The Bruins were whistled for five minor penalties, including two in the third period when Chelmsford-bred Jack Eichel gave the Knights a 1-0 lead with Danton Heinen in the box.
Though the penalty killers and Jeremy Swayman did yeoman’s work, being shorthanded for nearly 10 minutes limits a club’s offensive chances.
Penalties have been a problem all season for the Bruins, who dropped to 24-8-9.
“We’ve got like fourth most minors in the [league],” said coach Jim Montgomery. “It’s players unwilling to check with their legs to get above pucks and then using their sticks and arms to go through bodies. We reach a lot, and we don’t get above, so we’re trailing from behind. It leads to hooking and tripping penalties.”
Matt Grzelcyk’s second goal of the season salvaged the point for the Bruins, whose lead in the Atlantic Division is down to 1 point (57-56) ahead of the surging Panthers.
“We know we can win games. We have a great group of guys and a leadership group that has done a great job,” said Morgan Geekie. “It just speaks to the character of the guys in this room, and we’re not satisfied with this at all and know we got a lot more to give. So, when you look back on it, it’s good to get a point, but it still hurts, nonetheless. So, it’s good, I’m sure, at the end of the day, but a loss is a loss.”
The loss also spoiled a Herculean effort by Jeremy Swayman, who made 23 saves and kept the Bruins in the game with stellar play.
His spectacular right pad save on Ivan Barbashev shortly after Grzelcyk’s equalizer prevented Las Vegas from winning in regulation.
Already on his belly from making an initial stop, Swayman lifted his pad just enough to deflect Barbashev’s tester away. It was the save of the night and Swayman’s best of the season.
“I think it was just kind of a rogue tip in front. Hit a skate and I was a little far out, so I have to make saves like that in a timely manner,” said Swayman. “So, happy it happened, but we’ve got to finish these kinds of games. It’s just not acceptable at this point and I’m excited to get to work and do what we need to do to finish games because we will start finishing the games and it’s going to feel good.”
At the other end Logan Thompson was equally impressive, especially during the Bruins surge in the third when they landed 15 shots.
“It’s obviously a tough one to lose. I thought guys were competing, but obviously a little too undisciplined, and that’s kind of become a theme here,” said Grzelcyk. “We shot ourselves in the foot there and forced Sway to make too many big saves. He was great tonight but got to find a way to capitalize on the momentum there at the end.”
The Bruins have Friday off and have one more chance to get a win on this trip when they face the Blues in St. Louis Saturday night.
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him @globejimmcbride.
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January 12, 2024 at 01:49PM
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Bruins lose third straight, fall to Golden Knights in overtime - The Boston Globe
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