The Bruins had chances to leave Dallas with two points, but one empty power play and one overtime burst from Mikko Rantanen flipped the night the Stars’ way.
Boston dropped a 3-2 decision to Dallas on Tuesday night inside the American Airlines Center, with Rantanen accounting for all three Stars goals, including the power-play winner in overtime. The Bruins were 7-2-1 after the loss.
What stung most for Boston was the man advantage. The Bruins went 0-for-4, and one of those missed opportunities came early in the third period with Boston ahead 2-1.
A second goal there could have put Dallas in a deeper hole, but the chance came and went. Boston entered the night eighth in the NHL on the power play at 25%, but that number is headed down after this one.
Even in defeat, there was plenty Boston could point to. Jeremy Swayman was outstanding again, stopping 22 shots and doing most of his work on dangerous looks. He kept the Bruins in position to win for much of the night.
The result also closed out a strong road swing for Boston. The Bruins picked up 7 of 8 possible points on the trip through California, sweeping all three teams there before Tuesday’s loss in Texas. They now head home first in the Atlantic Division and tied for first in the Eastern Conference.
The younger players kept making their case, too. Matthew Poitras found the net again, scoring his fourth goal of the season and his sixth point in seven games this year. The setup was a beauty from Frederic Brunet, with Tanner Jeannot and Mason Lohrei also helping create the opening.
Boston’s other goal came in the second period after Casey Mittelstadt drove the play on a strong rush behind the Dallas net. James Hagens stationed himself at the front, then powered through Miro Heiskanen to finish off Boston’s second goal of the night.
Boston also highlighted the play on social media, calling Mittelstadt’s wrap-around pass “an 11/10 🤌”
Hagens keeps piling up production as well. He’s now at three goals and seven points through the first 10 games of the season.
There were a few other notable lineup notes for Boston. Nikita Zadorov was back after sitting as a healthy scratch Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings, and he chipped in an assist while logging 20:48, second among Bruins defensemen.
Pavel Zacha also returned after missing one game with an upper-body injury; he played 21:22 and did not record a point. Marat Khusnutdinov, whose extension remains pending and has not been confirmed or announced by the Bruins, had a strong night but finished without a point.
Boston’s next stop is back home Thursday night, when the Bruins host the Nashville Predators at TD Garden.
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Bruins Gave Fans One More Reason To Watch Khusnutdinov Closely
The Bruins wrapped up a four-game road trip at 3-0-1, a solid stretch that still ended with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Stars in Dallas. Boston had enough going in the right direction to leave the trip with positives, even if Mikko Rantanens hat trick ultimately swung the night for the home team.
Amid that backdrop, theres a reason to keep a closer eye on Marat Khusnutdinov, who has become part of the conversation around Bostons roster beyond just the immediate results on the ice. The Bruins are also being linked to a possible move involving Dylan Larkins trade landscape, while a few other familiar names around the league have recently found themselves back where they started, adding to a busy stretch of NHL storylines. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Suddenly Have A Real Chance In A Surprising Trade Watch
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Edvinsson has not formally asked out, but the longer talks drag on, the more likely a move starts to look if no deal comes together. Detroit still says it wants to keep him, yet there is clearly enough outside interest to make this one worth monitoring, with the Bruins one of the clubs that could benefit if the Red Wings decide to revisit the market. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Showed One Late Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Boston wrapped up its four-game road trip with seven of eight points after a 3-2 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars, a result that still left plenty to like and a little to worry about. Matt Poitras and James Hagens scored for the Bruins, Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves, and the club continued to look competitive away from home even as the night ended with a familiar sense that a few key details might have cost them.
The Bruins also came up empty on the power play, going 0-for-4 against a Dallas team that had enough firepower to punish mistakes and make every late shift matter. For a group that has built this trip on resilience, the final stretch of the game carried the kind of frustration fans can spot right away, especially when the margin stays tight and the offense stops generating the one extra look that can change everything. [Read more 🡒]