There was no California Dreamin’ for the Boston Bruins to start a three-game swing through the Golden State. Instead, a nightmarish trend continued.
After allowing a game-winning goal in the final six minutes of regulation for the second time in four games in a Wednesday setback to the Anaheim Ducks, the Bruins will look to get back on track when they visit the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night.
Morgan Geekie’s two power-play goals helped Boston rally to tie in the third period, but despite outshooting Anaheim 39-33, first-year coach Marco Sturm felt his team lacked on the defensive end of the ice.
“Frustrating leaving here without a point,” Sturm said following the 4-3 loss. “I think offensively, we did a good enough job that we could’ve won the game.
“If you can’t defend or don’t want to defend, then you are going to end up with a game like (that),” concluded Sturm, who had worked in the Kings organization since 2018 before taking over the Bruins.
Geekie closed Wednesday — which was his second multi-goal performance of the season — in a three-way tie for the NHL lead with 14 goals. After Thursday’s games, Geekie is tied for second. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon is the leader with 16.
Of course, the indefinite loss of Charlie McAvoy does not help Boston’s defensive state. The 27-year-old underwent successful facial surgery earlier this week after taking a slap shot to the face last Saturday at Montreal.
Friday will mark McAvoy’s third consecutive game missed. There is no timetable for his return.
Michael Callahan joined the team from AHL affiliate Providence to take the veteran’s roster spot, while the rest of the Boston pairs took on a different look in Anaheim. Nikita Zadorov and rookie Jonathan Aspirot made up the top unit.
“I think we’re all ready and excited to play with new guys and jump at the opportunity,” blueliner Andrew Peeke said earlier this week.
The date with Boston marks the Kings’ first home game since Nov. 6 and the second half of a back-to-back following a 4-3 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
As part of a new-look lineup, coach Jim Hiller retained the combination of Kevin Fiala, Quinton Byfield and Adrian Kempe after putting them together in a 2-1 Monday loss at the Washington Capitals.
“We’d always like to create more offense. I think that’s where the opportunity lies with our team,” Hiller said before Thursday’s game. “We’re playing pretty close to our identity, but I think not unlike last year, there’s room for us to score a little bit more.”
Andrei Kuzmenko, who has just three goals in 18 games this season, returned after spending the previous three games as a healthy scratch.
“Hopefully this reset gets him going the way he was at the end of last year,” Hiller said.
Offense has come in waves lately for the Kings, who had a four-game win streak snapped Monday. Prior to Thursday, they had scored one goal in each of back-to-back games after totaling nine across the previous two.
Kempe said tweaking the lineup could be a benefit throughout the dressing room. He responded with his first goal since Nov. 4, a game-tying, extra-attacker tally in the final minute of regulation.
“Maybe a shake up is good for everybody,” said Kempe, who signed an eight-year contract extension on Monday.
Anze Kopitar led the Kings with a goal and an assist.
Los Angeles is 1-4-2 on home ice as compared to a sparkling 9-2-3 on the road.
The Bruins are not alone in the key injury department, as Los Angeles placed defenseman Drew Doughty on injured reserve Thursday after taking a shot off his left foot.
Doughty is week-to-week according to Hiller and will miss a third straight game on Friday. Jacob Moverare has played the last two in his place.
