Krug: Forever 'embarrassed about Winter Classic'

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FOXBORO – The Boston Bruins used a lot of appropriately harsh words that they normally save for their most disappointing moments after dropping a 5-1 decision to the Montreal Canadiens at the Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium.

The Bruins gave up a goal in the first couple of minutes in the game, they allowed the Habs players to camp out around the net for the majority of the first two periods and they somehow looked flat, maybe even a little nervous, while losing a one-sided game to their arch-rivals on the biggest stage the NHL can provide.

Other than that things were great for the Black and Gold on New Year’s Day.

“I think with so much on the line I just think, uh, we weren’t prepared. We weren’t ready. They were obviously ready to play, and it showed,” said Torey Krug. “They were first to the puck the whole first period and for most of the game, even in the second period. It really almost felt like we were waiting for someone to take control, and that’s really unfortunate and tough for the stage that we were on today.

“Forever now it’s going to be a game we’re not very proud of, and we’re always going to look back and be embarrassed about. We just didn’t do a good job of responding. I thought emotionally it was there for them, and it wasn’t for us. When the other team scores a goal or a big play happens we need our best players to step up and make something happen for us. Unfortunately we were just waiting around tonight. It’s not acceptable.”

Other Bruins players used words like “unacceptable” and “embarrassing” to describe such a lame loss to the Canadiens after talking up how intense the rivalry was headed into the Winter Classic. They finally showed fight and urgency in the third period trailing by three goals, and some attitude when Jimmy Hayes dropped the gloves with Danish forward Lars Eller.

But it didn’t matter after they dropped such a giant ineptitude bomb in the opening 20 minutes, and then couldn’t regain their composure afterward. It all started with getting outshot 14-3 in the first period, and losing just about every puck battle to a faster, hungrier and more impassioned Canadiens hockey club.

“I don’t know…I just think we just mentally were not there I guess. We weren’t executing the game plan like we wanted to in skate. When a couple little things go wrong like that it becomes big and then that’s what it looked like,” said Tuukka Rask. “We gave them a ton of scoring chances in those two periods, which is unlike us. The chances you give up then you have to create some scoring chances, you know? We didn’t do that. 

“We looked flat out there, and they kind of caught us off guard. And it’s just disappointing… it’s very disappointing. I really don’t know what else to say.”

Well, Matt Beleskey knew what else to say after a Winter Classic loss that sent Bruins fans home very disappointed.

“We just didn’t respond well to the big stage, I think. We were a little hesitant, and it showed in the first period. They kind of got their momentum, and it’s tough to come back on them like that,” said Beleskey. “It’s just that I wish we would have come out more assertive. We just were on our heels from the get-go and it showed, I mean with three shots on net in the first period. We’ve got to be ready for a big stage. When it comes down to the playoff season, these are the types of games you have to play. I hope we learned a lesson and learned that we got to be better.”

The Bruins know they will need to be a lot better if they hope to fare any better against the Eastern Conference’s best team when the Washington Capitals come to town for a showdown next on Tuesday night.

The B’s will get humbled once again, just like the Winter Classic, if they’re not ready to play.

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