The Blackhawks’ longest winning streak of the season is over.
After seven straight victories, the Blackhawks lost 6-3 on the road to the Bruins on Tuesday night.
How it Happened
It all started so well for the visitors, too. Just over four minutes into the game, Alex DeBrincat fired a wrist shot on net from a few feet inside the blue line. The puck found its way through the pads of Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask and trickled over the goal line for a quick 1-0 Blackhawks lead.
Wacky? Yes.
But we’ll take it! #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/6VHKXl0lHg
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 13, 2019
Chicago had a golden opportunity to extend its lead a few moments later. A pair of Bruins penalties gave the Blackhawks an extended 5-on-3 power play. But Chicago spent too much time on the perimeter — and too much time forcing passes to DeBrincat — and failed to capitalize.
Those missed chances seemed to turn the momentum, as Boston then erupted for three goals in 4:12, taking a 3-1 advantage into the first intermission.
Boston got its own 2-man advantage in the second period and, though it failed to score during the power play, Jake DeBrusk redirected a puck past Collin Delia moments after the penalties expired for a 4-1 Bruins lead.
The Blackhawks didn’t go away quietly, though. Duncan Keith scored with 23 seconds remaining in the second, aided by an unintentional redirect from DeBrusk.
Duncan Keith’s shot goes off of DeBrusk’s stick and past Rask with less than 30 seconds left in the second period.
4-2 Bruins. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/1wa1L9ToIm
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) February 13, 2019
Chicago cut the deficit to one at the 4:48 mark of the third period when Erik Gustafsson ripped one past Rask.
Erik Gustafsson gets the #Blackhawks within one. pic.twitter.com/MiWJIZt1Ex
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) February 13, 2019
But the comeback would get no closer, as a nifty passing sequence by the Bruins resulted in a tap-in goal for Peter Cehlarik that made it a 5-3 Boston lead.
Krug serves some sauce to Heinen who feeds Cehlarik for the easy finish restoring the two goal lead! pic.twitter.com/zIl1wmKuJO
— Bruins (Guy Boston Sports) (@Bruins_GBos) February 13, 2019
David Krejci added insurance with his second goal of the game for the final tally of the evening.
Despite a slight possession edge to the Blackhawks in the third period, the Bruins owned the puck for the majority of Tuesday’s game:
FINAL: Bruins 6, #Blackhawks 3.
Shot attempts: 66-44 BOS
Shots on goal: 37-26 BOS
5-on-5 scoring chances: 27-15 BOS
5-on-5 high danger chances: 11-8 BOS pic.twitter.com/m9YySgZTMF— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 13, 2019
The Blackhawks will look to get back in the win column Thursday night against the Devils, who entered Tuesday’s action with the third-worst record in the NHL.
Three Stars
1. Brad Marchand (BOS) — 1 goal, 3 assists
2. David Krejci (BOS) — 2 goals, 1 assist
3. Jake DeBrusk (BOS) — 1 goal, 2 assists