Bruins drop preseason opener to Capitals, 5-2

One thing that popped for the Bruins in their preseason opener at the Garden was their sharp new uniforms that harken back to the 1980s vintage.

But the unis topped a very short list of positives for the B’s in their 5-2 loss to a Washington Capitals lineup that was lighter on projected NHLers than the Black-and-Gold side.

Considering he’s just laying the foundation for how he wants the team to play, new coach Marco Sturm wasn’t going to overreact to the result.

“Listen, do we like the ending? No, of course not. But having been there a lot of times, first preseason game at home, lots of excitement, lots of kids fighting for a spot, lots of information the last three days, we went through a lot… it was just a different voice I guess,” said Sturm, who wants to see improvement in the cohesion of the five-man units. “I don’t blame my players, they work hard but we were just not smart enough and that’s why we were down right away 4-1. I’m glad it happened because now it’s going to give me something to work with and I know exactly the areas we have to be better.”

The first preseason game is far from a make-or-break proposition for seasoned veterans, who are just trying to shake the rust off. But every game is important for young players trying to make an impression and none of those kids took a big leap forward. The B’s line of Matej Blumel, Matt Poitras and Alex Steeves were a minus-3. The line did play better in the third period and Steeves had a great chance off a broken play in the third period but he was stoned by Washington goalie Garin Bjorklund.

“These guys, they do care, they went all-out the last three days, I can tell you that. Today, I thought they looked a little bit tired. But it’s just experience. They try so hard, but then they don’t think. A lot of times, they just got caught,” said Sturm.

Fraser Minten (2 shots, three hits, 5-for-6 on faceoffs) and Fabian Lysell, on a line with veteran Tanner Jeannot, looked a little better and did not give up much in their own end, but they could not manage to get on the board.

The B’s best line of the night was the fourth unit of Jeffrey Viel, Patrick Brown and Riley Duran, all of whom are most likely earmarked for Providence. Brown scored a goal and Duran nearly had one in the third period but his tip hit the crossbar. Viel played his usual role of antagonist well.

“They did everything I wanted them to do,” said Sturm.

Goalie Michael DiPietro, who was hoped to push Joonas Korpisalo, allowed five goals on 21 shots.

The first period started OK for the B’s, but quickly deteriorated. The B’s scored first but then gave up four unanswered goals.

Sturm wants to up the shot volume this year and that mentality led to the B’s first goal. Charlie McAvoy, playing in his first game since having his season ended with the shoulder injury/infection at the 4 Nations Faceoff last February, fired a quick shot that was blocked out in front. But Morgan Geekie circled into the left side of the slot and beat Logan Thompson on a turnaround one-timer.

So much for the first period Bruin highlights.

Sonny Milano tied it up just 31 seconds later when his backhander got up over DiPietro’s glove shoulder. It was the first of two for Milano and the first of three with the defense pair of Nikita Zadorov and Victor Soderstrom on the ice.

Hendrix Lapierre gave the Caps the lead on a partial breakaway then Milano beat DiPietro to the glove side from the high slot.

Finally, Mason Lohrei lost the puck when he got picked in the low left circle by an official. Ivan Miroschnichenko pounced on the loose puck and sent it down for a redirect by Bogdan Trineyev in front of McAvoy to make it 4-1.

Sturm has said he wants to give Lohrei, who struggled last year in an elevated role, a clean slate this season and wants to work with him to clean up his game.

“Watching him in the past, there’s still turnovers. He just has to get better at that and a little bit of positioning. There were a few situations, especially in the D zone that he just has to recognize very, very quickly,” said Sturm. “It’s a hard league, and in this league things happen very, very fast. That’s why those things have to click and click right away.”

McAvoy, meanwhile, felt good physically and mentally in his first game back.

“It was good to play hockey again,” said McAvoy. “When the preseason gets going, there was a some good and some bad but it was good to get out there again and it was good to feel good. Body feels really good. Now it’s about getting the timing back and getting the legs under you.”

The B’s took 24 shots on the first period but landed only 10.

Brown got one back early in the second on a hard-working shift with his fourth line mates Duran and Viel. Duran eventually fed Brown for the goal.

But with the B’s pushing to get it to within a goal, they gave up an odd-man rush. Lohrei was the lone man back, but he couldn’t prevent Hendrix Lapierre’s pass from getting through to Ryan Chesley, who beat DiPietro for the goal.

The B’s pushed hard in the third, holding a 9-4 shot advantage, but couldn’t beat Bjorklund.