The Bruins lost their first game of their three-stop trip against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, 3-1. They have slipped to 2.58 goals per game, fourth-fewest in the league. The Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks and Nashville Predators, the three clubs with even less firepower than the Bruins, have practically waved the white flag on 2024-25.

At the other end of the ice, Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick produced an incredible 32-save performance and showed why he’s one of the best of his generation and a two-time Stanley Cup champion when he played for the Los Angeles Kings. “Their goalie played amazing,” Bruins’ David Pastrnak told reporters after the game.

The opponent doesn’t seem to matter much for the Boston Bruins right now. It could be the best team in the Eastern Conference like the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, or it could be the worst team in the Metropolitan Division,