The Boston Bruins saw a five-game winning streak come to an end Tuesday night, dropping a 3-2 overtime decision to the Dallas Stars and falling to 7-2-1 on the season.
Boston struck first and did it early. Matthew Poitras buried a one-timer at 2:09 of the opening period, with Frederic Brunet and Tanner Jeannot picking up the assists. The Bruins carried that 1-0 edge through the rest of the first, helped by a pair of penalty kills after each side had a power-play chance.
Dallas answered quickly in the second. Mikko Rantanen tied it at 2:50 off a setup from Jason Robertson, but the Bruins punched right back. James Hagens restored the lead at 7:30 with his third goal of the season, finishing a wraparound sequence from Casey Mittelstadt, who earned an assist along with Nikita Zadorov.
Boston had chances to extend the lead with the man advantage later in the period, but the Stars kept things even at five-on-four. Miro Heiskanen was called for cross-checking at 13:17, and Rantanen went off for interference at 18:39, sending the Bruins to another power play that spilled into the start of the third. Still, the score stayed 2-1 Boston through two periods.
The third period turned into a special-teams grind. Sam Steel was penalized for holding just 43 seconds in, but Dallas killed it.
Charlie McAvoy was called for tripping at 6:55, and the Stars couldn’t cash in there either. Through regulation, the two teams combined to go 0-for-6 on the power play.
Rantanen then swung the game for good. He scored again at 13:37 to bring Dallas level at 2-2, with Roope Hintz and Harley on the assists, and neither team could break through the rest of the way.
That set up overtime, where Rantanen finished off the comeback with a power-play goal at 3:52 for the hat trick. Dallas was up a man after a slash by Pavel Zacha.
The Bruins are back at TD Garden on Thursday night against the Nashville Predators. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on NESN.
In Other News...
Stars Lose A Key Defensive Piece At The Worst Time
The Stars are already dealing with a frustrating injury hit on the blue line, with Esa Lindell expected to be out at least a week because of a lower-body injury. For a Dallas team that leans heavily on its defensive structure, losing one of its most trusted minutes-eaters in the middle of the schedule creates an immediate hole in the lineup and a reminder of how quickly depth can be tested.
Lindell was hurt blocking a shot in Saturday's win over Chicago, a play that underscored both his value and the risk that comes with those heavy defensive assignments. Dallas will now have to manage without one of its steadier pieces for at least the short term, and the timing could hardly be worse as the Stars try to keep their rhythm intact. [Read more 🡒]
Roope Hintz Just Put Dallas' Scoring Decision Under A Spotlight
Roope Hintz did not hide where his loyalties sit when the subject turned to Patrik Laine, his longtime friend and one of the leagues most intriguing unsigned scorers. Hintz said the two talk every day, and he made clear he is bothered that Laine still has not gotten a tryout, especially with the kind of finishing touch that has always made him a dangerous offensive option.
It comes at a time when Dallas has been looking for more punch, particularly on the power play, and the timing of the clubs roster moves has only sharpened the discussion around how the Stars chose to address their forward depth. Laine is still working his way back after core muscle surgery, but the bigger question now is whether Dallas passed on a player Hintz clearly believes could still help solve a scoring problem. [Read more 🡒]
Stars Comeback Put Bostons Coaching Trust In The Spotlight
Bostons early-season surge has given Marco Sturm a lot to feel good about, especially with the Bruins leaning on young players in bigger roles than many expected. The clubs 7-2-1 start has reflected that trust, and for much of the opening month, Sturms willingness to let emerging talent grow on the job has looked like a strength rather than a gamble.
The late-game choices against Dallas added a different layer to the conversation, though, because the Bruins were trying to protect a lead and the Stars kept pressing until the game flipped on them. Sturm has earned the benefit of the doubt with how the season has begun, but the finish against Dallas also hinted at the kind of bench-management questions that tend to surface once the standings tighten and every decision gets magnified. [Read more 🡒]