The Boston Bruins suffered a humbling 7-2 defeat at the hands of the Ottawa Senators on Monday night, a game that exposed several areas of concern for the team. The loss, Boston's seventh in their last eight games, highlighted deficiencies in their defense, special teams, and goaltending, overshadowing an otherwise strong start by Morgan Geekie. Here are three takeaways from the Bruins' frustrating night in Ottawa:
1. Special Teams Struggles The Bruins' special teams play was a major factor in their undoing. Boston failed to capitalize on their lone power-play opportunity, generating only one shot on goal against a Senators penalty kill unit that ranked among the league's worst. Conversely, the Senators' power play was lethal, converting on four of their five chances. This disparity in special teams performance swung the momentum firmly in Ottawa's favor and proved to be a critical difference in the game. The Bruins need to find ways to generate more opportunities and capitalize on them, as well as improve their penalty kill to prevent opponents from exploiting their mistakes.
2. Defensive Lapses and Goaltending Woes While the Bruins started the game strong with a goal from Morgan Geekie, they quickly unraveled, surrendering seven unanswered goals. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who has been a reliable presence in net for Boston, had a night to forget, allowing seven goals on just 24 shots. According to Sports Illustrated, Swayman's .708 save percentage was his worst showing since March 23, 2025. The defense in front of him didn't fare much better, as the Senators were able to generate quality scoring chances throughout the game. While Swayman took responsibility after the game, saying the performance was a "one-off" and "not who we are", the Bruins need to tighten up defensively and provide better support for their goaltender.
3. Morgan Geekie's Continued Success Despite the Bruins' overall struggles, one positive takeaway from the game was the continued strong play of Morgan Geekie. Geekie opened the scoring for Boston, extending his goal-scoring streak to four games. He now leads the team in goals early in the season, proving to be a valuable asset. His strong start is a significant improvement from last season, where he was a healthy scratch early on. Geekie's performance is a bright spot for the Bruins, but they need more players to step up and contribute if they want to turn their season around.
Overall, the Bruins' loss to the Senators was a wake-up call, highlighting the need for improvement in several key areas. With a quick turnaround and a game against the New York Islanders, Boston will need to address these issues quickly and show a much stronger performance to get back on track. The team's current record sits at 4-7-0, placing them in last place in the Atlantic Division, a far cry from their record-setting performance two seasons ago.
