Still without both Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, the Boston Bruins need to tread water until their franchise icons return to the lineup.
In a sense, it was mission accomplished on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers, as the Bruins picked up a point in a 2-1 loss that went all the way to the ninth round of a shootout against a good Blueshirts team.
You can't help but feel as though Boston left a second point on the table after entering the third period with a 1-0 lead, however, as Filip Chytil scored for the Rangers at 6:45 of the final frame to force the extra session.
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The Bruins are now 1-1-1 without Marchand and Bergeron, the former of whom is still out for three games -- but the latter of whom could return to the lineup as soon as Thursday night against the New York Islanders.
The suddenly offensively challenged team desperately needs a shot in the arm up front, but there's reason for renewed optimism between the pipes after the showing in Manhattan. Here are some takeaways from the effort for the Bruins, who are now 27-16-4 on the season:
Jeremy Swayman settling back in
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Following a 24-day exile to AHL Providence to accommodate Tuukka Rask's ill-fated return, it took Swayman a few games to regain his bearings in Boston.
Safe to say he's now back up to speed, as the 23-year-old netminder followed up his 30-save shutout of the Ottawa Senators on Saturday with a 33-save performance against the Blueshirts. Ottawa is terrible, but New York is a team the Bruins could well face in the postseason.
Not that shootouts are a great measuring stick for a goalie's performance, but after Swayman gave up two goals on his first three attempts, he stoned New York on its next five chances before finally succumbing to a K'Andre Miller offering in the bottom of the ninth.
Charlie Coyle checks back in
Coyle scored Boston's lone goal in regulation, his first in six games, at 3:39 of the first period.
Before returning to the game in the third period -- and scoring in the third round of the shootout to prolong Boston's night -- Coyle had scary moment in a collision with Swayman in front of the net which wound up requiring stitches.
Coyle had an assist on Trent Frederic's goal against the Senators on Saturday as he tries to refine his offensive game. Along with David Pastrnak and Taylor Hall, Coyle is one of several players the Bruins need to contribute more on the offensive end not just with Marchand and Bergeron out, but to ensure Boston can go on a deep postseason run this spring.
Clean game cancels out power play chances
No penalties were called against either team until the third period, with the Bruins getting one man advantage at 11:48 after Miller tripped Coyle, followed by a Rangers power play at 16:32 after McAvoy tripped Miller.
Neither team scored with the advantage in numbers, with Boston's power play struggling to maintain possession of the attacking zone and surrendering a few shorthanded chances at the beginning of its sequence.
Part of that is a result of not having Marchand or Bergeron available, of course. Along with power play staples Pastrnak, Hall and McAvoy, Coyle and Erik Haula skated at the opening of the man advantage. Matt Grzelcyk, back in the lineup for the Bruins on Tuesday, could make sense as a second natural defenseman alongside McAvoy to open things up on the power play while the team waits to return to full strength.
The Bruins travel along the Long Island Railroad to face the Islanders in their new home at Belmont Park on Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.