Bruins Notes: Improving Secondary Scoring Key Focus After Shutout Loss

David Pastrnak didn’t provide the Bruins with any scoring and Boston’s secondary options couldn’t pick him up in a 1-0 shutout loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.

It marked the sixth shutout loss of the season for the Black and Gold, which is tied for the second-most in the NHL. It wasn’t made any easier given the Bruins were playing the second night of a back-to-back and without captain Brad Marchand.

“I just think we have to have the mindset that we’re all going to help contribute here down the stretch,” Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco told NESN’s Andy Brickley when asked about secondary scoring after the game.

The Bruins outshot the Wild 28-22 in the game and 13-6 in the third period, however, Boston didn’t have a ton of Grade-A chances. The group struggled to gain offensive momentum all while Minnesota moved the puck better on its own forecheck.

“Take responsibility when you’re out there you can provide same offense for us,” Sacco said. “And I think some of that stems from just being more shot-ready. I think we have some opportunities to, when the puck is there, to be shot-ready. We’re not quite thinking shot. We’re thinking grab the puck first and make a play. We have to play off the shot more at times, I feel, and that’ll give us a better chance to score.”

Charlie Coyle agreed with Sacco’s take.

“It’s a mindset thing. Everyone’s got to have that belief that you can put the puck in the net,” he told reporters, as seen on NESN. “We need that secondary scoring. We need guys to take responsibility, including myself, and contribute that way.”

Here are more notes from Bruins-Wild:

— Pastrnak entered the contest with a 17-game point scoring streak, but that was snapped at Xcel Energy Center. The star winger recorded 33 points on 15 goals and 18 assists during that steak, which was the eighth-longest point screak in franchise history. It marked the first game since Jan. 9 that Pastrnak didn’t find the score streak.

Though the streak ended, Pastrnak was one of the team’s stars of the game Sunday. He was noticeable on both ends of the ice.

— Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo has liked working with fellow defenseman Nikita Zadorov.

“His confidence, it’s definitely something I’m learning from,” Carlo told reporters, as seen on NESN. “I have a lot of respect for him and his game. I feel like we’re finding our groove together.”

— Brad Marchand is dealing with an upper-body injury after he exited Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marchand, who was in Minnesota with the team, will be evaluated by the Bruins medical staff Monday.

— The Bruins remain two points back of the Detroit Red Wings, who possess the second wild-card spot. Detroit, however, has 22 games remaining while Boston has 20.

— The Bruins are 5-2-1 on back-to-backs.

— The Black and Gold return to home ice and host the Nashville Predators at TD Garden on Tuesday. You can catch full coverage on NESN starting with pregame an hour before 7 p.m. ET puck drop.