BOSTON — A common theme in Boston’s locker room after it’s game against the Canadiens was the talk of the penalties the Bruins took.
The Bruins were assessed seven penalties in the 6-2 loss at TD Garden.
“A lot of games this year have been penalty trouble. I think that’s gotta stop,” Viktor Arvidsson said after Tuesday’s game. “We’re not gonna go anywhere if we keep taking that many penalties every game. It’s gotta be better.”
The Canadiens capitalized twice on the power play. And while things could have been worse on Tuesday, Boston still allowed its longtime rival to be on the man advantage at seven different points during the game.
“It’s not what we want to show our fans,” Nikita Zadorov said. “We have a three-day break, we gotta get it together.”
Coach Marco Sturm knows his players are battling mental and physical fatigue. But he also knows penalties can be a reason a team wins or loses.
“I think we’ve addressed it many many times. It’s up to the players a little bit,” he said. “Everybody has to ask themselves, ‘Do I really have to take that penalty?’ It can cost us games, points. It has to get better.”
The Bruins go into the holiday break losers of four straight. On the other end of that break is a five-game road trip that begins against the Buffalo Sabres — who have won seven consecutive games — and ends in Seattle.
“We didn’t get it done at home so now we’re going to have to go out and get it done on the road,” David Pastrnak said.
With a condensed schedule this season, any rest the Bruins can get is crucial. Boston is currently on the outside looking in of the playoff picture, but only six points separate the Bruins from the first-place Detroit Red Wings in the Atlantic Division standings.