Following the video, Lightning defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and Bruins forwards Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand each issued pre-recorded messages promoting social justice and equality. He'd also just scored two goals the day before the trade, which helped disguise a not-very-good season as a good one.Nevertheless, the Bruins took the bait on Ritchie and, in an effort to upgrade from Heinen, downgraded. You should have expected more from the Bruins' decision-makers.Let's revisit the trade, which in many ways doomed the Bruins' season. Focus on that next game. The move to take Clifton out of the lineup was a bit of a head scratcher given that he’s been one of Boston's more effective defensemen in the physicality and offense department and has the only goal among Bruins defensemen this postseason.Kuhlman will skate on the third line with Charlie Coyle and Nick Ritchie and will effectively replace Anders Bjork among the forward group.More importantly, the Bruins are making some adjustments on the penalty kill after they were dinged for three power play goals in Game 3 following a Tampa adjustment that switched Nikita Kucherov to the opposite side of the ice. Sean Kuraly is out for the second straight game with an undisclosed injury and is “day-to-day,” according to head coach Bruce Cassidy. Lightning highlights: Lackluster Game 4 pushes B's to brinkPatrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand make social justice statement before Game 4Bruins vs. Bergeron has zero points in each of the last three games and just five shots on net, Marchand has just one even strength point and four shots on net in each of the last three games and Pastrnak has just one even strength assist in the last three games, despite 13 shots on net.Pastrnak missed a wide-open net in the third period after a sweet Bergeron dish that could have eventually made it a one-goal game late in the third period. We need to be more assertive in those areas. Maybe it's because Anders Bjork and Jack Studnicka provided questions of their own.Whatever the reason, the Bruins went back to Ritchie and stuck with him. Lightning Talking Points: B's miscues pile up in Game 4 lossBruins vs. And they may have a long upcoming offseason to think about it.It stinks that we keep dwelling on Nick Ritchie, but when you tell the story of the 2019-20 Bruins, he will unfortunately be a major, major part of it.When the Lightning made real upgrades at the trade deadline, the Bruins got Ritchie. “We addressed what happened [in Game 3]. They took advantage of it and that's what good teams do. Lightning Game 4 postponed as players protest racial injusticeBruins' Bruce Cassidy thinks Game 4 will be 'different animal' than Game 3's blowout lossBruce Cassidy explains Bruins' lineup changes in Game 3 loss to LightningNHL Playoffs: Bruins aren't this bad, but their circumstances could beThere's no reason to overreact to Bruins' crap sandwich in Game 3Bruce Cassidy explains decision to play goalie Dan Vladar in Bruins-Lightning Game 3Bruins vs. It should be obvious, but given the Bruins' commitment to the player so far, maybe they really will go down clinging to him.In this unusual circumstance, it's very hard to see the Bruins coming back from 3-1The Bruins should have never put Nick Ritchie in a situation to cost the teamPerhaps in desperation, Bruce Cassidy backs Nick Ritchie's nasty hit Bruins vs.
But so much remains the same, including Tampa’s strengths of depth and skill, and Boston’s sheer inability to score even strength which has been their downfall in each of the last three postseasons, including this one.After Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak were the driving forces behind the offense in the Game 1 win, they have been effectively contained during even strength play just as they were two years ago vs. Tampa Bay’s big defenders. It should have been met with skepticism.Since he's been in the lineup this postseason, it's been clear that Ritchie was not a useful piece. Boston Bruins Video NESN Diary: Pumping The Brakes On The NBA’s Return (And Other Random Thoughts) NESN Newswire June 12. We’ll always talk about the things we do well and correct the things we don’t. “You turn pucks over against Tampa, it starts there. When the lineup had questions, the Bruins stuck with Ritchie. He jammed in a goal in Game 2, but his contributions mostly ended there.