BOSTON – These are interesting times for the Boston Bruins.

After another blown opportunity during a 4-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights Saturday at TD Garden, the NHL will break for the 4 Nations Face-Off. The Bruins are currently outside the playoff structure and the roster could look completely different when play resumes Feb. 22. Teams are still allowed to conduct regular business during the tournament, including trades. Bruins GM Don Sweeney is also running Team Canada, so he’ll be extra busy the next two weeks.

As the Bruins witnessed Saturday, there’s a reason the Golden Knights are a contender for the Stanley Cup this season. The Bruins also learned they can still play with the best. Unfortunately for Boston, it allowed three unanswered goals late in the game and couldn’t respond.

“We can play with anybody,” said Bruins captain Brad Marchand. “The difference in the games are very small margins, small details, so we just need to clean it up a little bit. I think we can play with anybody, and we’ve seen pretty much everyone at this point . . . we have to come back (from the break) with the right mindset. A few days before our first game (back) we have to make sure we get back, work hard, get back in shape and then we need to play do-or-die hockey the rest of the year.”

Brad Marchand

© Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

The Bruins wanted to treat the final four games before the break as a springboard, treating each game like playoff hockey. Boston went 2-2 in that span. This break comes at a good time.