Photo Courtesy Of Getty Images
By: Garrett Haydon | Follow Me On Twitter @thesportsguy97
Pre-Game Notes
Arena: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Home: Boston Bruins (19-12-4)
Away: Nashville Predators (22-12-2)
Milestone Watch
Patrice Bergeron enters this game just two goals away from 300 for his career.
Brad Marchand is five points shy of 500 for his career.
Boston’s Lineup
Forwards
Marchand-Bergeron-Heinen
Nordstrom-Krejci-Pastrnak
Donato-Cave-Backes
Kuraly-Acciari-Wagner
Defense
Krug-Carlo
Grzelcyk-McAvoy
Moore-Kampfer
Goalies
Halak
Rask
Nashville’s Lineup
Forwards
Hartman-Johansen-Fiala
Gaudreau-Turris-Rinaldo
Salomaki-Bonino-Watson
Grimaldi-Jarnkrok-Smith
Defense
Josi-Ellis
Hamhuis-Ekholm
Irwin-Weber
Goalies
Rinne
Saros
First Period
Neither team had any great scoring chances in the early moments of the game but the B’s looked to be alert making a few good defensive plays in the neutral zone. Bergeron seemed to be right back in his element as he showed no ill effects from his 16 game absence. Jaroslav Halak made a couple good stops towards the middle part of the period as the Bruins continued to try to find their footing.
The B’s had no issues with possession in the first half of the period but struggled to parlay that into many shots on goal. A strong shift by Danton Heinen nearly broke the tie but Pekka Rinne made a flurry of saves on the young forward to keep it scoreless. Another outstanding shift by Boston put immense pressure on the Predators but they weren’t able to solve Rinne.
After another solid shift, Bergeron buried a shot in front after a nice feed from Charlie McAvoy to give the Bruins the lead.
Bergeron is back.
Patrice Bergeron scores in the first period in his first game in over a month.pic.twitter.com/7WJJIjZfG5
— Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) December 22, 2018
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The Bruins really seemed to find their legs towards the end of the period as they tried to push for more.
Score: 1-0 Bruins
Second Period
The B’s picked up right where they left off in the beginning of the second period with a couple of good scoring opportunities. The Bruins seemed to get a little careless in their own zone in the early moments of the period but Halak kept the Predators at bay. The Bruins skating game continued to be a positive as they held a healthy advantage in the possession category.
After a mad scramble in front of the Nashville net, McAvoy appeared to double the Bruins lead. But a challenge for goaltender interference resulted in the play being overturned, keeping it a one goal game
🎥CHALLENGE🎥
The #Preds are challenging this #NHLBruins Charlie McAvoy goal for goalie interference pic.twitter.com/a9jodYpIsJ
— Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) December 22, 2018
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The no goal call seemed to galvanize the Predators as they pushed very hard to tie the game but Halak was up to the task. A great indirect pass from Craig Smith right to Ryan Johansen tied the game up as Johansen buried his sixth goal of the season past Halak.
🚨GOAL🚨
Ryan Johansen sneaks one short side on Halak
Johansen — Smith, Josi (13:01) #Preds 1#NHLBruins 1 pic.twitter.com/uNDBDaMsx7
— Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) December 22, 2018
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The game began to get a bit physical towards the end of the period as both teams started to be aggressive with the body. The Bruins went to the penalty kill with about two minutes left in the period as Matt Grzelcyk took a very questionable hooking penalty. Johansen then negated the power play with an interference penalty which resulted in a four on four. The Bruins picked up a five on three power play after Mattias Ekholm finished up high on David Pastrnak at the end of the period.
Score: Tied 1-1
Third Period
The Bruins moved the puck very effectively on the five on three but weren’t able to find the back of the net. The Bruins finally did find the back of the net as Bergeron buried his 300th career goal on the power play to give the B’s the lead once again.
It’s good to have ya back, Bergy.#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/IDrYz6MKKZ
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 22, 2018
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The Predators got their second power play of the game as Grzelcyk went off for slashing with under 15 minutes to go. The Bruins killed the penalty as the Predators failed to get any significant scoring chances. The Predators stormed the Boston end following the power play and they looked to tie the game again. Kyle Turris eventually tied it with a wrist shot that beat Halak to knot the game at two.
Kyle Turris ties things up. 2-2 game with 10:43 to go.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 22, 2018
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The Bruins would return to the man advantage as Pastrnak drew a tripping penalty after a good shift by Boston with under nine minutes to play. 13 seconds into the power play Marchand fired home the go ahead goal after a perfect pass from Pastrnak to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead.
Brad Marchand PPG and the #NHLBruins regain the lead. 3-2 with 8 to go in Boston. pic.twitter.com/7gNDWmWzYU
— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) December 22, 2018
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Pastrnak doubled the lead after a ridiculous play by Bergeron in the defensive zone. Number 88 fired home a one timer off of a feed from Marchand.
Brad Marchand to David Pastrnak, 4-2 #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/wD3S2X5h56
— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) December 22, 2018
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Nashville pulled the goaltender with about two minutes to go and Sean Kuraly promptly scored on the empty net to ice the game.
Sean Kuraly with the empty netter. 5-2 Bruins.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 22, 2018
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Final Score: 5-2 Bruins
Three Stars Of The Game
Third Star: Marchand. The winger was really solid in the victory as he totaled a goal and two assists.
Second Star: Pastrnak. Playing with Krejci, Pasta was really impressive all game long and continued his great season with a goal and two helpers.
First Star: Bergeron. No doubt about this one. The star center returned after a long absence and made his presence felt with a three point game.
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