Browns

“We just weren’t good enough. You can write what you think is the malaise in the team and what is going on.”

The Bruins have had several issues during a lackluster 7-7-2 start to the 2024-2025 season.

But the battle in the third period was fierce for a team that has built a reputation in recent seasons for protecting leads and getting back in crunch time.

Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Ottawa might have been a new low for the Bruins when it comes to their woes in the final 20 minutes of regulation time.

Entering the third period, the Bruins and Senators found themselves in a 2-2 deadlock, with Boston burying a pair of goals just 15 seconds apart against Linus Ullmark in the middle frame.

After Mark Kastelic landed a shot on goal at 13:13 of the second period against Ullmark, the Bruins didn’t bombard Ullmark with another puck until Elias Lindholm tested him with a Class-A shot just 13 seconds into overtime.

Yes, the Bruins finished the entire third period with zero shots on goal, with Ottawa holding a 12-0 lead in those twenty minutes.

According to Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Sphere, it marked the first time the Bruins had zero shots in a third period since a game against the Vancouver Canucks on December 21, 2006.

By the time Lindholm finally landed a puck against Ullmark in overtime, it was far too little too late for Boston – with Brady Tkachuk firing a puck past Jeremy Swayman just seconds later to seal the win for Ottawa.

Speaking after the defeat, a frustrated Montgomery could only offer so much during a press conference that lasted 91 seconds.

“I don’t have an answer,” Montgomery said when asked why third periods were a problem.

What can the team do to find out?

“Talk about it,” Boston’s bank boss added. “We are going to look at why and what we do in sports science. I don’t have an answer for you at this time.”

While the Bruins have struggled all season when it comes to generating offense, an already struggling approach in the O-zone has dried up especially in the third period.

Through sixteen games, the Bruins currently have the worst third-period goal difference in the NHL (-11), while also having the second-worst third-period goal difference (-41).

“Sometimes when you’re not confident or you’re thinking too much about the game, your execution is slow,” Brad Marchand said of Boston’s third-period slump. “We have to get out of our heads and stop thinking. Just start playing.

“Like I said, right now it comes down to wanting and competing. We have to start understanding that we have to be better. So that’s part of it. Sometimes when you think about where you should be and you’re half a second late, it’s too slow in this competition.”

The pressure continues to mount for the Bruins and Montgomery amid this early-season slump. Not only are the Bruins operating with high expectations after a busy offseason, but Montgomery also has the added stress of coaching on an expiring contract.

Montgomery was asked if he wondered whether or not the Bruins had listened to his messages during this slow start.

“No. I don’t doubt it,” he replied.

He was then asked another question about what prevented that message from reaching the players.

“You guys have to figure that out and come up with a reason,” Montgomery said. “We just weren’t good enough. You can write what you think is the malaise in the team and what is going on. We’re just not playing well enough.”

That’s it for Montgomery, who will look to right the ship for a Bruins team that has continued to take on water through the first five weeks of a new season.

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Conor Ryan is a staff writer for the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.

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