The Boston Bruins’ challenging four-game road trip against Western Conference opponents continues Tuesday night against the Arizona Coyotes in Tempe, Ariz.
The game also marks the second half of a back-to-back for Boston, which looks to recover after a 4-3 shootout loss at Colorado on Monday in Denver.
Still, the Bruins did well to record a point to begin the week-long swing out west, battling back to tie the score in the third period despite being outshot 36-26 for the game.
“That’s when I thought we were at our best,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said.
Boston is 5-1-1 since a season-long losing streak of four games (0-2-2) from Dec. 16-23 and had scored at least four goals in six straight games since resuming play after the NHL’s holiday break.
“We’re building here,” forward Morgan Geekie said before the trip. “I think we’re taking steps in the right direction. Our compete level is just going up and I think we’re starting to execute along those lines, too. So, we’re going to take that on the road with us and just try to get better each day we’re out there.”
After being scratched in two of the previous three games, rookie John Beecher replaced Jakub Lauko on Boston’s fourth line on Monday and rewarded Montgomery with a game-tying goal in the second period.
Captain Brad Marchand had Boston’s two bookending goals in regulation, passing Rick Middleton for fifth on the Bruins’ all-time point-scoring list.
“The faceoffs have been a little bit of an issue. Beecher’s excellent at it,” Montgomery said before Monday’s game. “It’s an opportunity for him to get back in the lineup.”
The Bruins finished Monday’s game with just five defensemen, as Brandon Carlo missed the third period due to an upper-body injury.
With a 6-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, Arizona has lost three straight to begin the calendar year and a five-game homestand.
The Coyotes, who have just two wins (2-4-0) since a four-game win streak in December, are in the midst of their third skid of at least three games this season. However, they are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games.
There’s no time for coach Andre Tourigny’s team to dwell on the most recent stretch as a tough slate continues with the top team in the Eastern Conference paying a visit.
“There’s no need to feel sorry for ourselves,” Tourigny said. “We need to regroup, look ourselves in the mirror and be grown men. … Everybody’s digging in for two points in this league, so we need to be much better than we have been since the new year.”
Nick Schmaltz and Dylan Guenther scored against the Jets.
Guenther’s goal came in his first NHL game this season after being recalled from the AHL-affiliate Tucson Roadrunners, where his 28 points in 29 games lead the team.
“I thought I skated well (on Sunday), and I was kind of the beneficiary of that,” Guenther said. “I got into the game early. We had a good first shift. Got in on the forecheck, and I think that allowed me to get my nerves down and settle into the game.”
Justin Kirkland also made his Coyotes debut.
With a six-game win streak, Winnipeg has overtaken Boston for the top spot in the overall NHL standings by a point.
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