Bruins losing streak hits double digits

Hoping to avoid their 10^th consecutive loss, the Boston Bruins entered their Saturday matinee against the Vancouver Canucks with high hopes and lots of energy.  However, Roberto Luongo proved to be too much for the defensive minded Bruins beating them 3-2 in over time.

The Bruins came out flying, scoring less than two minutes into the game with a power play goal scored by their captain Zdeno Chara.  The power play struck again with five to go in the first when Michael Ryder put home his 13 goal of the season.  Marc Savard tallied an assist on both power play goals.

After playing so well in the first, the second period was a different story.  Despite getting a few chances on Luongo, he was very quick to rob any potential Bruins goal. Mason Raymond got the Canucks back into the game as he beat Tuukka Rask for his 21 goal of the season.  Pavol Demitra, who was playing in his 10 game of the season, scored his first of the year.

The final minutes of the third period saw a great exchange of chances by both teams.  Rask and Luongo were both up to the challenge and truly were the reasons that the scored was tied at two and eventually led a shootout.

The Bruins dreams of breaking their season high losing skid came to an abrupt halt.  Demitra scored the only goal of the shootout and really showed the Canucks what they were missing while he was out.

The Bruins struggles come at a time when other teams in NHL are enjoying double digit wins in a row.  The Washington Capitals are sitting at first in the league and have rolled to 13 straight wins.  While the Ottawa Senators are charging up the standings and currently enjoy 11 consecutive wins.  Honorable mentions go out to the Los Angeles Kings who have picked up eight straight.

Despite today’s loss the Bruins did show signs of the team of old.  They took a rare two-goal lead in to the second and even a one goal in to the third, but once again couldn’t hold the lead.

Ryder, who has been on the blunt end of most Bruins rumors, increased his value for scoring a goal and playing a good game.  Ryder had a chance to win the game with two seconds remaining, but Luongo was quick to glove the puck.

Currently the Bruins sit ninth in the conference and are only two points out of seventh.  If things continue we will continue to see them fade from the playoff picture and move in to the cellar.  This team is too good to be down there.  They are only a few pieces away from becoming the team they were last year.  Defensively we are ranked with the bigs in the NHL, but that’s not the root of the problem.  Once Boston can acquire a few scoring wingers, either before the deadline or through the draft, there will be change in the standings. That change will be the Big Bad Bruins rising once again.

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