Yahoo Sports Bruins Could Repeat History If Brutal Skid Continues
This is the worst losing skid for the Boston Bruins since the 2014-15 season.
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After dropping a 4-1 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., the Bruins are winless in six consecutive games. The game was closer than the final score indicates, but the fact is the Bruins are not in a good place right now. At least the energy level was better against the Lightning. However, Boston continues to suffer too many brain-freeze moments, and it led to another loss.
"It's hard to play catchup hockey in this league," Joe Sacco told NESN after the game. Our guys were digging in right to the end, but we weren't able to get it done."
It’s also tough to compare past records because so many things change from season to season, and team to team. But a losing skid is a losing skid.
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In 2015, the Bruins posted a pair of six-game losing skids. The first one occurred Feb. 8 to Feb. 20. Boston lost to the Canadiens, Stars, Canucks, Flames (overtime), Oilers (shootout) and Blues. Less than a month later, the Bruins lost another six consecutive games to the Capitals, Sabres (shootout), Senators, Panthers (shootout), Lightning and Ducks (overtime). As a result, the Bruins missed the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons.
The aftermath was ugly, which makes one ask: will history repeat itself?
After that disastrous season, the Bruins fired general manager Peter Chiarelli, who helped guide the team to its first Stanley Cup win in 39 years in 2011. Ownership described missing the playoffs as an incredible failure and was unacceptable. So, changes were made, and Don Sweeney was promoted to GM. Fast forward to this past Tuesday. While the Bruins were in the midst of being shutout by the Oilers at TD Garden, fans began to chant, “Fire Sweeney.”
In fairness, Sweeney has produced more positive results in his role than negative ones. Sure, there have been some serious mishaps, but the Bruins had a legitimate chance to win two Stanley Cup championships (2019 and 2023) under his guidance. This could turn into a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately scenario depending how this season ends for the Bruins. The organization already made a coaching change when it fired Jim Montgomery and promoted Sacco.
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The worst losing skid in recent history for the Bruins occurred during the 2009-2010 season when they lost 10 consecutive games in January, including 14-of-16 in that span.
Oh, and now the Bruins face the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers Saturday in Sunrise, Fla., in an attempt to snap the skid. Should be another interesting game.
"At some point you have to decide enough is enough," Sacco said. "That's the attitude we have to have. You need to find a way to win a hockey game -- bottom line. It might not be pretty, but we're capable of doing that."
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