The Boston Bruins welcomed Zdeno Chara, Jake DeBrusk and Kevan Miller back to the lineup in their final home contest of the 2018 calendar year. The lowly New Jersey Devils, meanwhile, came to TD Garden without reigning Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall.
It didn’t go according to plan.
Fresh off the three-day holiday break, the Bruins came out rusty from the get-go. Two quick first period goals by Damon Severson and Kyle Palmieri put Boston behind the proverbial 8-ball against a New Jersey squad that sits last in the Eastern Conference.
“We’re chasing it the whole night.