With the playoffs approaching, complacency might have crept in for the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.
For the first two periods, the league’s best team sleptwalked to a 1-0 deficit against the Nashville Predators. While their defensive layers looked okay in front of goaltender Linus Ullmark, the Bruins weren’t showcasing an assertive attack in 5-on-5, with their passing game, in particular, looking less crisp with each entry into the attacking zone. Their checking game wasn’t as stout, either, compared to their thrilling weekend victories over the Lightning and Hurricanes.
Above all, the power play’s ongoing struggles continued after the Bruins fired a mere five shots on net in five opportunities.