Bruins open homestand vs. Blues, look for consistency

Four days after riding a memorable third-period comeback to victory in St. Louis, the Boston Bruins begin a three-game homestand Saturday with a rematch against the Blues.

The Bruins could not carry over the momentum of their 3-2 win versus the Blues on Tuesday. They became the second straight team to allow seven goals to the Dallas Stars in a 7-2 loss two nights later.

"Just got embarrassed (Thursday)," defenseman Nikita Zadorov said. "I thought we did a lot of good stuff in St. Louis, and (against Dallas) we ... just weren't there. Our effort wasn't there. ... We were not hard to play against."

Inconsistency in terms of both play and results has been a theme of the Bruins' season. Despite a 4-1-1 run prior to Thursday, Boston has won consecutive games only twice thus far, and only once have both of those games ended in regulation.

"It's been frustrating all year that we haven't been able to string like, three to four consistent games where we feel like our habits and details are consistently there," coach Jim Montgomery said.

Even star David Pastrnak falls into the inconsistent department, having broken a seven-game scoring drought with goals in each of the past two games. He leads the team with eight this season.

Charlie Coyle scored the Bruins' other goal Thursday after going without a tally in the previous four contests.

A chance for home cooking in Boston is ahead, though. Seven of the Bruins' next nine games will take place at TD Garden.

This time, a response is needed.

"We're going to make sure this is a building block for us, not a setback. That's on us to do that," goaltender Jeremy Swayman said.

Since Tuesday's loss to Boston ended a five-game homestand, the Blues have seen their winless run extend to four games (0-3-1), although they picked up a point with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

Brandon Saad scored twice to double his season goal total as St. Louis built a 3-2 lead after two periods, but Buffalo responded with goals in the third period and overtime to take two points.

"I think any point right now is a good point, but obviously we want to close out games and be able to hold on to the lead," Saad said. "But, like I said, it's nice to get anything when you're kind of on the skid there, so we'll take it."

As part of lineup changes before Thursday's game, Saad was moved up to the second line with Dylan Holloway and Brayden Schenn.

The Blues have been outscored 11-1 in the third period during the recent losing streak, so playing more aggressively in order to try to close games out remains a focus.

Against Buffalo, though, they did have an 8-6 advantage in shots on goal during the final frame.

It was a step in the right direction. Coach Drew Bannister was happier with his team's most recent effort.

"They looked much more confident," Bannister said. "We had opportunities, hit the post a couple times. But we've got to bear down on those opportunities, too, because there's not a lot of them a game right now. We've got to make sure (to capitalize) when we have those opportunities."

Defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph left Thursday's game and did not return due to a lower-body injury in the second period. He was set to be evaluated on Friday.

--Field Level Media