Marchand has perfect reaction to Bruins’ embarrassing loss vs. Jets

Marchand has perfect reaction to Bruins’ embarrassing loss vs. Jets originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins’ improvement under interim head coach Joe Sacco, including a 7-2-0 record since the change behind bench, was going to be put to the test in a major way during this five-game road trip out West.

And the Bruins failed the first test in embarrassing fashion Tuesday night in Winnipeg. The Jets, who entered the game tied atop the NHL standings, beat the Bruins 8-1. Winnipeg led 2-0 after 20 minutes, 3-1 after 40 minutes and then outscored Boston 5-0 in the third period.

The result itself is a sharp reversal from what we’ve seen from the Bruins since they fired Jim Montgomery on Nov. 19. The Bruins under Sacco have been one of the league’s best defensive teams. They went into Tuesday ranked No. 2 in shot attempts against, No. 5 in shots on net against, No. 2 in scoring chances against, No. 1 in high-danger chances against and No. 5 in goals against over his first nine games as interim head coach.

That improved defense was nowhere to be found as the Jets, who have plenty of elite offensive talent (most notably Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor), took advantage of the Bruins’ defensive mistakes and punished a penalty kill that’s struggled throughout the season.

The Bruins were undisciplined under Montgomery and still lead the league in minor penalties taken. They were undisciplined Tuesday, which gave the Jets’ No. 2 ranked power play six opportunities, and they cashed in on three of them.

Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman also took a massive step back, giving up a career-high eight goals on 35 shots (.771 save percentage).

He posted a lackluster .884 save percentage in 14 appearances while Montgomery was the coach. Before Tuesday, Swayman had a .918 save percentage in his first six appearances since Sacco took over, but that number now stands at .890 after Tuesday.

Swayman, for the whole season, now ranks dead last among qualifying goalies with minus-11.6…