Bruins
“We can’t afford to have games like this where we’re not prepared. We need every point.”
COMMENTARY
Nikita Zadorov didn’t mince words on Saturday.
Fresh off of a comeback win over the Colorado Avalanche, the Bruins’ defenseman pushed back against talk that a pedestrian Boston roster was primed to hit the links by mid-April.
I’m not planning to miss the playoffs. That’s why I’m here,” Zadorov said. “I’m here to play in the playoffs. I want to see Boston Garden buzzing.
“So I think that’s definitely extra motivation for us. I mean, you guys are doing a good job of writing us off, so I think that’s additional motivation as well for this group. Because we got a lot of characters. We got a lot of people who want to compete and play in the big stages. So I think that’s our mindset every day.”
It was far from a surprising retort from Zadorov and the Bruins, who are still clinging to a playoff spot as of Tuesday night.
If only they backed up that impassioned sentiment with their play on the ice against the worst team in the Eastern Conference.
Handed a prime opportunity to extend their win streak to three games — and build themselves some breathing room in a compacted wild-card race — the Bruins completely face-planted against the Sabres at KeyBank Arena, dropping a lopsided 7-2 result.
It’s the type of uncompetitive showing that unfortunately has been far too common this season.
Tuesday marked the 13th time in just 52 total games this season that the Bruins lost a game by three or more goals. Their minus-25 goal differential stands as the second-worst mark in the entire Eastern Conference.
For all of their gutsy performances at TD Garden as of late, Boston has been pushed around repeatedly on the road this…