Buried by Avalanche, Bruins drop to 2-1

The Bruins suffered their first loss of the young 2013-2014 season, falling to the undefeated Colorado Avalanche, 2-0 on Oct. 10.

The scoring was unspectacular, with the Avalanche scoring a power play goal late in the first period and again towards the end of the third on a empty Bruin net.  Ryan O'Reilly scored the first Avalanche goal, a tip past Bruin goalie Tuuka Rask on a shot from Andre Benoit.  Matt Duchene tallied the empty netter, after the Bruins pulled Rask for the extra skater.

Penalties were abundant, with the both teams looking like a bunch of goons.  The Bruins had 28 minutes worth of penalties, with 18 of those minutes served for fighting, including a 10-minute misconduct penalty against Milan Lucic, roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct.  Of the 16 penalty minutes the Avalanche faced, 8 of them were for the same reasons- fighting, roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct.

I am a fan of the roughness of hockey.  I like seeing big, solid hits.  I even enjoy a fight or two.  But 26 minutes worth of stupid, undisciplined rumbling?  That's a bit much.

Time to head back to the drawing board, for both coaches.

Bruins now stand at 2-1, while the Avalanche improve to 4-0 on the season.