As someone who hasn't played a second of hockey, I probably don't know everything there is to know about the mechanics of the game. One thing I can take a good guess at is if your penalty minutes eclipse your shot totals, you might be in a bit of trouble.
NHL scores 2015: Too few shots, too many penalties doom Bruins against Predators
Boston spent more time in the penalty box than shooting in the 3-2 loss.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
The Bruins, to their credit, were tied with the Predators until the last five minutes of their 3-2 loss on Monday evening. However, a shot total of 17, including single digit figures in each period, almost guaranteed defeat. Boston did win the battle of penalty minutes, coming in four minutes under half the game at 26.
Many of those minutes came from two fights in the second period, a carryover from Nashville’s tying score that evened the game at 1-1 with 25 seconds to go in the opening frame. Regardless, two of the Predators’ three goals came with an extra man, both coming off the stick of Roman Josi and both shattering Boston leads.
Boston allowed Nashville seven different man advantage situations over the course of the game. When the Bruins weren’t spending time in the penalty box, they were unable to keep control of the puck, giving it away seven times on the home-biased scoresheet.
It wasn't a good effort all around for the Bruins, who also suffered from a horrendous defensive lapse in the final five minutes of a tied game. Kevan Miller couldn't keep up with the speedy Viktor Arvidsson, and goaltender Jonas Gustavsson missed a key poke check while two other Bruins just stood around watching the game get wrenched out of their hands.
Boston hasn’t had the best opening to the month of December, either, with a 1-1-2 record since the start of the final calendar month. With a visit to the league’s best in Montreal in a day’s time before taking a break until the weekend, it might not get better for the Bruins any time soon.
Scores
Nashville Predators 3, Boston Bruins 2
Colorado Avalanche 2, Minnesota Wild 1 (OT)
3 things we learned
1. Nashville's defensemen just keep on scoring
With Roman Josi's two power-play goals leading the way, the Predators lead the NHL in goals and power-play goals from defensemen. With the big shot of Shea Weber captaining the ship and Josi second in command, the pair have 16 of the Predators' 23 goals from defensemen. The power play statistic isn't surprising, either, as the Predators' modus operandi is shots from high on the point from defensemen.
2. Semyon Varlamov has played as many games in an Avalanche sweater as Dan Bouchard
Varlamov has now moved into a tie for third place with 225 games played between the pipes in Colorado franchise history. The goaltender won't share the tie with Bouchard for long, however, and will probably pass Peter Budaj's 242 this year with just under three quarters of a season to go. Patrick Roy's record might take a bit more work to get to, however.
Most GP among goalies, @Avalanche franchise history: P. Roy - 478 P. Budaj - 242 D. Bouchard and S. Varlamov - 225 pic.twitter.com/DH1565P1H0
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 8, 2015 3. Tim Peel told James Neal to head to the penalty box with f-bombs
There are really no words to describe this altercation after Neal was called for an embellishment penalty. NSFW language because f-bombs!
Impact Moment
The Avalanche now have three wins in their last four games thanks to this overtime goal from John Mitchell.
Stat of the Night
Brian Gionta's goal was his fifth point (2G, 3A) in his last three games against the Canucks.
— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) December 8, 2015 See More:
