All season long, the Boston Bruins were nearly unbeatable on home ice. But when the playoffs arrived, that familiar comfort vanished.

Despite a dominant 29-11-1 record at TD Garden during the regular season, the Bruins dropped all three first-round playoff games at home—including Friday's decisive Game 6 loss that ended their postseason run. Head coach Marco Sturm is still trying to make sense of the sudden home-ice struggles.

"We didn't think on the road. I think on the road it was much easier," Sturm reflected. "Obviously, we noticed a little bit of the pressure. I don't know. I'm not sure. I'm just talking, I guess what I feel. What I think is we felt a little bit of the pressure, especially after last game being at home."

So why would a team that thrived in its own building suddenly feel the weight of expectation? Sturm believes it comes from a place of passion.

"Because we care," he said. "I think guys care. They wanted to prove everyone wrong, and sometimes it doesn't go your way. And I think that's what happened a little bit. We never really got the flow. Buffalo played good, played solid. They played the game like we played the other night in Buffalo, so that's sometimes how it goes. But again, it's not lack of effort, it's not lack of attitude. These guys care. I can tell you that. We're here for a reason. We played a hell of a season because of the character we have in that room. And unfortunately came up short."

The contrast was stark. Boston's road record was a middling 16-16-9, yet they managed a Game 2 win in Buffalo. At home, where they dominated all year, the magic simply evaporated. For a team that prides itself on its fortress-like mentality, the playoff collapse at TD Garden is a bitter pill to swallow.

Now, the offseason begins sooner than expected. While Friday's loss is still fresh, the Bruins' attention will quickly turn to Tuesday's NHL Draft Lottery. They'll be watching closely to see if the Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round pick—which Boston owns—falls outside the top five.

For Bruins fans, the message from Sturm is clear: the effort and character were there, but sometimes the hockey gods have other plans. As the team regroups, they'll look to carry their regular-season home dominance into next year's postseason—when it matters most.