Bruins admit uncomfortable truth after rare loss

Things didn't go according to plan for the NHL-leading Boston Bruins last night against the visiting Nashville Predators, who were able to dole the President's Trophy frontrunners an extremely rare regulation home setback thanks to killing off five power play opportunities. 

And after battles against top Eastern Conference foes in the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning, the Bruins admit they may have overlooked the Predators, who are battling for their playoff lives. Forward Brad Marchand admitted as much, but said that it's a good learning opportunity. 

“We obviously took them lightly. We seem to get up for the games [against the] teams that we could potentially face down the road,” Marchand said. “I think we were just a little disrespectful of the game tonight against this team, and I think definitely fatigue comes into it.

“But we’re going to run into situations where we are tired moving forward and we still need to be able to show up. It is what it is. Learn from it and move on.”

As far as captain Patrice Bergeron is concerned, the Bruins have nobody but themselves to blame for the loss on home ice. 

“Tonight was one of those nights where we did it to ourselves,” said Bergeron. “No disrespect to them because I obviously think they played a great game and they did what they had to, but we just didn’t execute and that’s what you’re going to get.

“To me it was just that we didn’t play to our standards and to our process, and our details. When you do that, you force plays and you don’t respect the way you want to play the game while getting away from what makes you successful. That’s what you get.”

Boston will have a chance to earn their 58th win of the season when they take on the tanking Columbus Blue Jackets.