B’s go down in history
Never escaped 3-1 hole
OTTAWA — Twentytwo times the Bruins have been down 3-1 in a playoff series during their nearly century-long history. They have come back to win a series when facing that deficit exactly zero times.
This does not bode well for the possible extension of their 2016-17 season.
But a couple of Bruins do know that the large task can be completed, because the trick has been turned on them.
Patrice Bergeron can remember all the way back to his rookie season as the Claude Julien-coached Canadiens won three straight against the Bruins to claim the series. And then there was the infamous series against the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010, when the B’s blew a 3-0 series lead.
Does this current bunch of Bruins have that kind of turnaround in them?
We’ll learn — or at least start to learn — tonight, when the Bruins play the Ottawa Senators in Game 5 at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Bruins are down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series and need to win three straight against a team that has beaten them seven out of their last eight meetings.
“The message from us is: We need to win one in a row, three times,” said interim coach Bruce Cassidy. “We’ve also been a team that, as recently as the end of the year has won six in a row. So guys know we’re capable of stringing together wins.
“We’ve done it recently. And the way we’ve lost these games, it’s the difference of a play or two. It’s not like they’ve dominated. . . . it’s a matter of a play or two here or there that we haven’t been able to make.”
That much is true. But, then again, that’s usually what turns a playoff game — just one play — and reputations are forged by those who can make them.
The B’s also have a few players who have made those plays in the past. Bergeron scored two goals in Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup finals. David Krejci had great playoff runs in 2011 and 2013. Brad Marchand scored 11 times in the Stanley Cup-winning run of 2011, including two of his own in that same Game 7. Tuukka Rask, you may remember, was spectacular in the 2013 run to the Cup finals, especially in the Eastern Conference finals against Pittsburgh.
So if you’re looking for intangible playoff mojo, certain Bruins possess it. But they need more.
Many people are criticizing Marchand right now and that’s understandable. He hasn’t had a point in the last three games and, if he’s blanked tonight, it would be his first four-game point-less streak of the season. Bad timing.
But at last check, he also is the only Bruin with a game-winning goal in this series.
Meanwhile, David Pastrnak, a 34-goal scorer in the regular season, has scored just once in this series, and that essentially came on a 5-on-3. That goal is one of just two shots on net for Pastrnak against the Sens. He’s missed the net 11 times and had his shot blocked eight times. His one-on-one magic has dried up against the Ottawa defenders. To be fair, the 20-year-old phenom leads the B’s in playoff scoring with three points, yet he hasn’t truly left his mark.
“He’s a dynamic player that relies on his one-onones. We’ve seen it when it goes well and it’s enjoyable. When it doesn’t, then, well, you want him to take a different approach. Certainly that’s part of his game,” Cassidy said. “Where I think he can be better is when he doesn’t have his top-end speed, it’s hard to beat guys one-on-one and that’s where he needs to protect pucks and try to get inside a little bit more. And obviously, hitting the net is important.
“He’ll be the first to tell you, he’s trying to hit the net and he’s trying to score goals against a good goaltender. That’s where our team as a whole needs some second-chance opportunities. We’ve been lacking in that area. ... Some of it is on us to hit the net and get some second chances. That’s what as a team we’ll focus on. Shoot for rebounds, from some off angles and hit the net and get people there. And I think you get on the power play, too. You get some calls going to the net.”
The challenge in front of the Bruins is difficult, but it’s not necessarily Herculean. One win, as Krejci has seen, can change the whole complexion of the series.
“In the playoffs, you never know. Momentum can change pretty quickly,” said Krejci, who suffered a broken wrist in the 2010 Philly series. “All it takes is one game. If we win (tonight), I think we’re in good position, coming back (home) for Game 6. And that’s where we want to be.”