(Photo Credit: NESN)
By: Evan Michael | Follow me on Twitter @00EvanMichael
In the entertainment capital of the world, the Bruins put on quite a show (twice if you count Anaheim as Los Angeles like the Angels do). I was lucky enough to see it up close at the Staples Center in downtown La La Land, where the crowd was a near even split of Black N’ Gold versus Black N’ Gray — something Kings’ fans have gotten used to with a visiting team’s fanbase, especially one as well-traveled and passionate as Boston’s.
Pre-Game Scrummin’ It Up!🏒🥅#NHLBruins #bruinsfam #bruins #gokingsgo @STAPLESCenter pic.twitter.com/hdO6PY8LGr
— Evan Michael (@00EvanMichael) February 17, 2019
Speaking of travels, one new Bruin made it all the way to the Left Coast from Providence for his NHL debut against the sons of Gretzky. And that (young) man was Karson Kuhlman, proudly sporting No. 83 for the B’s. He looked right at home in his bespoked road sweater, and even in limited ice time, showed a lot of speed & puck-carrying skill when given any on-ice opportunity.
Making his @NHL debut tonight for the @NHLBruins: No. 83 Karson Kuhlman! #NHLBruins #bruinsfam @BlackAndGold277 @BlackNGoldPod pic.twitter.com/FhxQafQbxc
— Evan Michael (@00EvanMichael) February 17, 2019
🎥 Karson Kuhlman, Tuukka Rask, Brad Marchand, and Charlie McAvoy react after the #NHLBruins 4-2 victory in Los Angeles: pic.twitter.com/kiiaWXOOqr
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 17, 2019
As for the rest of his teammates, who were coming off a boringly productive 3-0 win against the deftless Ducks just the night before, they took advantage of every bounce & break in a game that featured many maladies when it came to defense, puck possession and scoring chances — all aspects of play that are visibly more striking (and obvious) to witness when you’re in person observing it. Nevertheless, capitalizing on your first shot of the game and turning the home crowd into YOUR crowd were exactly what the Bruins needed to do in what was undoubtedly a less than regal effort for both teams.
First shot of the game goes in for the Bs in LaLa Land (or was it the C’s). @JDebrusk from Cehlarik & Krejci! 🚨#NHLBruins #gokingsgo #bruinsfam #bruins pic.twitter.com/NsYYLOR9b2
— Evan Michael (@00EvanMichael) February 17, 2019
TONS of very vocal #nhlbruins fans at @STAPLESCenter tonight. Chants of TUUUUKK breaking out for every save. And lots of cheering for buzzing 4th line shift.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— Evan Michael (@00EvanMichael) February 17, 2019
Save of the game thus far! https://t.co/lc8QwnnUIi
— Evan Michael (@00EvanMichael) February 17, 2019
Oh, and while on the subject of saves, all 18,000+ people in attendance — and probably a few dozen more if you count concessions in Premium Seating — were vocally in awe after what had to be the best two-pad stack ever seen in a Boston jersey since the Andy Moog years. And it came from the likes of Two U’s, Two K’s (and now Two Pads) Tuukka Rask, who truly bailed the B’s out a few times in this one and lived up to his then-trending hashtag #TuukkaTime!
The two-pad #TuukkaTime stack! Glad I wore my Reggie Lemelin Jersey in honor. Even the #GoKingsGo fans were 👏🏻’ing that one!🥅🚫 https://t.co/NbrZPg4nMG
— Evan Michael (@00EvanMichael) February 17, 2019
Is this good, or no?@tuukkarask | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/bOokm0sobR
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 17, 2019
🎥 Bruce Cassidy on Tuukka Rask’s 23-save night in L.A.: “Tonight he kept us in it with two or three really high-end saves.” pic.twitter.com/CZAFblU408
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 17, 2019
To say folks were atwitter after the brilliantly flashy and timely athleticism of that crease creativity from Tuuks… well, that would be both accurate to the pun & point! Accuracy was also on full display in the waning moments of the game when, after some ill-advised puck movement behind the B’s net led to LA’s tying goal, Charlie McAvoy & Patrice Bergeron sealed the deal in dethroning the Kings with two lightning-quick strikes that kept everyone sporting B’s gear standing for the rest of the game, including this guy (and the nice couple from Connecticut next to him traveling to ALL the road-trip games in Cali then to Vegas).
Helluva finish for @CMcAvoy44 & Bergy and the #NHLBruins vs #GoKingsGo! Two goals in 30 seconds to close out a big 4-2 win. Found some fellow Bs fans to celebrate
🏒🥅👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/tBPJDpQ1P1— Evan Michael (@00EvanMichael) February 17, 2019
There’s an old lyrical expression that perfectly sums up the B’s start to this important stretch of almost-Spring hockey: “Hollywood… Hooray for Hollywood! Where you’re terrific, if you’re even good.” And that’s all the Bruins needed to be–GOOD–against two Hollywood local opponents whose stars have faded and are closer to winning The Razzie than The Oscar this year. To end on another Tinseltown tune: “Do you know the way to San Jose?” The B’s sure do. Puck drops at the Shark Tank at 7pm PST!
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