When we compare ourselves we console ourselves: if the start of the season for the Canadiens arouses discontent in Montreal, things are not going much better for the Boston Bruins, who were dealing with much greater expectations.
The poor Bruins were thrashed 8-2 by the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night in Raleigh and are languishing in the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 4-6-1 record, the same as the Habs after 11 matches. They have lost six of their last seven games.
Jim Montgomery’s squad collapsed in the first period, conceding three times in 54 seconds. After 20 minutes of play, it was already 4 to 1.
Goaltender Jeremy Swayman, involved in a contract dispute with the Bruins before the start of the season, has struggled. He was chased out of the game when Jack Roslovic scored the Hurricanes’ sixth goal in the second period. WATCH IN MAIN VIDEO.
For Roslovic, this is already a sixth goal this season. The American forward, who had to settle for a one-year, $2.8 million contract on the free agent market this summer, ranks first among the Hurricanes’ scorers.
In this offensive feast, former Canadiens Jesperi Kotkaniemi took the opportunity to score his first goal of the season. Kotkaniemi has seven points in nine games so far this season.
The Bruins will look to bounce back Saturday in Philadelphia, where they will face the Flyers, low-threat rivals in the Atlantic as evidenced by their 4-6-1 record. However, John Tortorella’s men won 2-0 in Boston on Tuesday.
Nylander speaks and acts
In Toronto, William Nylander wanted to show why he demands more ice time. The Maple Leafs forward scored twice in the middle period in a 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken at Scotiabank Arena.
As reported by TSN journalist Chris Johnston, Nylander expressed dissatisfaction with his usage and responded in his own way to coach Craig Berube. He struck twice in less than eight minutes to give the Leafs a second straight triumph.
William Nylander completes his double against the Kraken –
For his part, Auston Matthews completed the score in an abandoned cage. It was his fifth success of the campaign. Matthew Knies also made the red light sparkle.
Eeli Tolvanen was the only visitors’ player to score. The Kraken humiliated the Montreal Canadiens 8 to 2 on Tuesday.
