Takeaways: Slow start once again puts Bruins in familiar territory

For the second straight year, the Boston Bruins failed to secure a series win at the first opportunity.

Jim Montgomery’s squad failed to match Toronto’s desperation early and entered chase mode after Jake McCabe’s seeing eye-shot beat a screened Jeremy Swayman 5:33 in. 

Yet, in a 20-minute frame where the Bruins fired two shots on goal, generated little attacking zone time, committed multiple icings and won four of 20 faceoffs, they somehow went into their dressing room tied 1-1 after Trent Frederic capitalized on a friendly bounce for his third of the series.

The Bruins found their rhythm in the final 40 minutes, but they couldn’t capitalize on their quality chances, leaving room for the Leafs to extend the series.

Matthew Knies scored 2:26 into the extra session, burying John Tavares’ feed on a great individual effort to secure a return trip to Toronto for Game 6.

Here’s what we learned from Boston’s 2-1 setback.

The Bruins weren’t “good enough” from the get-go.

Montgomery emphasized the need for a productive start following the Bruins’ Game 4 win in Toronto. He reiterated that comment on Tuesday during his pregame media availability, hoping that his team would ride the energy from the TD Garden faithful.

But the capacity crowd of 17,850 simmered following a flat start. Simply put, the Bruins didn’t match the energy.

“We weren’t good enough. Just simple as that,” Montgomery said. “Toronto came out ready to play. They took it to us. We weren’t ready to match their desperation.”

The Bruins sewed doubt in the Leafs following Games 3 and 4. The Leafs faced immense blowback from a hockey-obsessed fanbase and media entering an elimination game without their bonafide superstar, Auston Matthews.

Yet, the Bruins didn’t establish that killer instinct against the wounded Leafs. They regrouped in time to find and sustain a decent 200-foot pace after allowing 12 shots and landing just two in the opening frame. Now, they put themselves in a familiar spot for the second straight season.

“We need to be better there. We needed to be able to see that they were gonna come and compete hard and be prepared. So we need to be better. But it is what it is, you know. You can’t dwell on it.”

The Bruins may move on to Game 6. But the questions surrounding some lineup decisions and their struggles in clinching scenarios will only intensify.

Montgomery’s lineup decisions draw questioning for the second year in a row.

A year ago, Montgomery broke up Marchand and a returning Patrice Bergeron to begin Game 5 before shifting course. Linus Ullmark remained in net after four productive starts prior.

This year, the Bruins stayed with the hot hand in Swayman for his third straight start. And unlike the switches following their Game 2 loss, the coaching staff didn’t make any changes at the top of the lineup.

But the tinkers on the bottom six and third defensive pair drew some deserved scrutiny.

Matt Grzelcyk filled in for Kevin Shattenkirk on the bottom pair, allowing a blossoming Mason Lohrei to take over point duties on the second power-play unit. Grzelcyk had a relatively productive night supporting Boston’s 5v5 attacking zone sequences but looked overmatched again during his shifts in the defensive end.

Johnny Beecher, one of Boston’s top faceoff performers of the series, watched from the press box in favor of a returning Justin Brazeau. The Bruins struggled at the dot in Game 5, winning just 21 of 53 draws.

Another round of lineup decisions awaits. Will Montgomery turn to Ullmark and give Swayman a breather? Or will he rely on Swayman’s track record against Toronto to carry the Bruins through one more appearance and risk another similar Game 7 scenario from last year with Ullmark?

The Bruins will only benefit from Beecher’s speed and faceoff prowess if they reinsert him in Game 6. At this rate, Shattenkirk and Derek Forbort remain more viable options than Grzlecyk on the back end. Amid a wasted opportunity in Game 5, Montgomery and the coaching staff may look back on their lineup decisions from Tuesday as an unforced error if things go sideways.

“We’ll have to reevaluate it and see how everybody did,” Montgomery said. “We’ll review the film and see if we’re gonna make different changes.”

Conversely, the Leafs benefitted from a fresh perspective in net.

Joseph Woll shined as Bruins fail to bury their quality chances.

With the middle of the ice hard to come by, the Bruins and Leafs generated limited scoring chances in high-danger areas. Eventually, the Bruins gained inside positioning in the third, leading to quality looks against Woll in his first start of the series.

Replacing the inconsistent Ilya Samsonov through the first four games, Woll remained poised in his first playoff duty since Game 5 of their second-round series with Florida last year. 

He received some luck during the final 40, watching Marchand whiff on a chance in front of the net and Charlie Coyle hit the post on a bid off the rush. Yet Woll also made his share of stops, notably a pad stop on Frederic’s net-front drive in the third to keep Toronto’s season alive.

“We had our chances,” Frederic said. “I know I had one in the third. I just gotta get it over the pad, and we’re sitting here talking about something different. A bunch of guys had chances, but you gotta give Woll credit.”

Like Sergei Bobrovsky last year, Woll shined in his first start of the series. By Thursday, they hope Woll is on the other side of the handshake line to offer congratulatory remarks.