The Bruins didn’t have it when it mattered most Saturday night.
Boston and Ottawa entered the third period of their tilt at TD Garden tied, but the home team failed to meet the moment. The B’s didn’t register a single shot on net in the final frame of regulation, and the visitors went on to win the Atlantic Division clash 21 seconds into overtime.
The lack of late-game execution clearly frustrated David Pastrnak, who lamented those woes after his team dropped to 7-7-2 on the season.
“In the third period, it was right there — tied hockey game,” Pastrnak said, as seen on NESN’s postgame coverage. “This is where we should drive and create offense and keep playing on our toes. I don’t know. We had nothing, pretty much, in the third. You’re just going up and down the ice instead of trying to hang onto the puck and put it deep and get it on the forecheck and stay strong and create some O-zone time.”
Pastrnak’s “I don’t know” remark was echoed by Jim Montgomery, who didn’t have an answer for the Bruins’ lackluster third-period play. Boston’s head coach offered his blunt criticism, though, noting the Bruins “weren’t good enough” in crunch time.
The Black and Gold will try to put forth a more complete effort Tuesday when they kick off a two-game road trip in St. Louis.
