Power play dooms Bruins in Game 7

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BOSTONIt seems like the same old, sad story all over again.

The Bruins had their chances on the power play in their playoff run, but it was filed under the team liability category rather than considered anything close to something the hockey club could gather strength from. The Bruins finished 0-for-3 on the power play in the 2-1 overtime loss in Game 7 to the Capitals at TD Garden, and finished the best-of-seven series in a 2-for-23 funk that once again exposed a pathetic man advantage.Thats altogether too familiar after the Bruins went a hapless 0-for-21 in the man advantage against the Montreal Canadiens last season. They were able to move forward with some Game 7 heroics against the Habs in that series, but the reigning Stanley Cup champs werent quite so lucky this time around.

Boston managed only four shots during the three power play chances against the Capitals in Game 7, and the many wasted man advantage opportunities loom a little larger in a series where each of the seven games was decided by a single goal in the margin of victory.Its obvious that we had to be better on the power play and we didnt do that -- at least create some momentum out of it, said Patrice Bergeron, in a lament thats become standard for the Bruins during the playoffs over the last two years. I dont think we did that tonight. But, more than that I think its about especially Game 7, you have to find ways.Part of Bostons issue is the lack of legitimate goal-scoring snipers on the power play, but the Bruins need to keep their special teams from becoming a liability. A struggling team can sometimes derive energy from a dangerous power play, and thats seemingly not an option for a group of players that seem to be waiting around for a big Zdeno Chara shot from the point way too often.

The best part: the Bruins at least started making the kind of adjustments youd hope to see enacted as the series moved along with Tyler Seguin registering the second-most power play ice time in Game 7 after two strong games. Only Rich Peverley had more power play ice among the Bs forwards, but it didnt help matters any as assistant coachBs power play architect Geoff Ward and the Bruins couldnt get the man advantage angle churning during the postseason series. It appears one of the big area needs improvement check mark boxes now that the Bs season is over.

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