The Boston Bruins made it close against the Ottawa Senators, but ultimately came up short in six games, with all four of their defeats coming by one goal - and three of them in overtime.
After Boston's elimination Sunday, head coach Bruce Cassidy said missing three of the team's top defensemen caught up with the club, according to Joe Haggerty of CSN New England.
Torey Krug, Adam McQuaid, and Brandon Carlo missed the entire first-round series with their respective injuries, and a quick glance at their regular-season stats indicates how important they were to the Bruins.
| Player | GP | Goals | Points | Blocks | Average Time on Ice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krug | 81 | 8 | 51 | 82 | 21:36 |
| McQuaid | 77 | 2 | 10 | 144 | 20:48 |
| Carlo | 82 | 6 | 16 | 115 | 18:14 |
Cassidy said Carlo and McQuaid would have been assets for the team's penalty kill, and Boston missed Krug's puck-moving ability.
The depleted Bruins made the Senators work, and one can't help but think that a healthier Boston back end could have made a significant impact on the series.
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