(Photo Credits: Tell My Sport)
By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88
Today’s matinee game at TD Garden proved to be a very physical game and with the 4-1 victory, the Bruins were finally able to slay the dragon that is the Detroit Red Wings. As the season gets closer to ending, Boston would need today’s win to widen the gap in the Atlantic Division in the first of back-to-back games.
GAME BREAKDOWN
With the head-scratching losses to the last-place Red Wings, the Bruins came out with guns blazing and posted large amount of zone time in Detroit’s end. Boston peppered shots against Jonathan Bernier, who has been playing stellar when facing the Bruins. Despite longer puck possession and more shots on goal, Detroit would (once again) get on the board first as Darren Helm tipped one in past Tuukka Rask (who stopped the puck initially) during a Bruins power-play. Helm would score a short-handed goal early in the first period, making the score 1-0.
Boston were on the regroup effort and continued to slap pucks towards Detroit’s end but were unable to capitalize and missed some great chances to even the score. Towards the last minute of the first period, the Bruins would go on their second power-play of the night, however were unable to squeeze one in past Bernier.
PUSHING TOWARDS THE NET
The boys in Black and Gold opened the second-period with seconds left to their power-play, but were unable to score. Game-play went back and forth as the Bruins had trouble clearing the puck. Boston continued to attack the net and were finally rewarded for their effort as Charlie McAvoy scored his second goal of the season, tying the game up at 1-1.
With Detroit on the power-play, momentum would swing back to Boston as Patrice Bergeron scored a short handed goal, putting the Bruins up 2-1. With seven minutes left to the period, Charlie Coyle would send one in past Bernier making the score 3-1. The Red Wings would be assessed a late penalty but were unable to get any chances on Rask.
FINAL COUNTDOWN
Things got heated on the ice with action down both ends and a huge missed opportunity for the Bruins on a four-on-two with Chara unable to score on a blasted shot. In a beautiful set-up by Brad Marchand, fellow line-mate David Pastrnak would net his 42nd league-leading goal of the season, adding cushion to extend the Bruins lead 4-1.
Detroit would unsuccessfully make a final push in the last moments of the third period, as Rask continued to shut down their efforts with dazzling saves.
FINAL SCORE: BOS-4, DET-1
TOTAL SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-41, DET-26
Boston would go 0-for-2 on the power-play while Detroit went 0-for-3. The Bruins are now 36-11-12 and hold on to the first spot in their Division and in the entire league. Detroit would drop to 14-42-4. Other milestones in tonight’s game: David Krejci played his 900th game today.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE B’S: Tomorrow afternoon against the New York Rangers (30-23-4) with puck drop at 3:30 pm, NBC.
Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 165 that we recorded below! You can find our show on many worldwide platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Stitcher.
Please subscribe to our new Black N’ Gold Hockey YouTube channel! We’d really appreciate the continued support. Click HERE for exciting Black N’ Gold online content!!
Leave a Reply