A battered Boston Bruins defense faced a difficult task entering their four-game road trip without Hampus Lindholm. After the opening shift, they had to labor on with only five defensemen upon Matt Grzelcyk’s exit a mere 65 seconds in.
Any fully healthy blue-line core would have their hands full against star-studded talent like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the rest of the Edmonton Oilers. Asking a shorthanded defensive squad to keep that Uber talent in check for over 60 minutes is an even taller order.
The Bruins even endured a stretch of over five minutes with just four defensemen after Corey Perry instigated Parker Wotherspoon into a round of fists at the 6:20 mark of the middle frame.