By Cameron Young | Follow me on Twitter @cmoney008
In my brand new video on my YouTube channel, I started a series where I simulate an upcoming Bruins game with my own commentary. What better way to start this series than to simulate the Bruins exhibition game against the Columbus Blue Jackets ahead of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Check it out below and please subscribe to my YouTube Channel and turn notifications on to be updated when a new video is published.
- First Period: 2:20
- Second Period: 11:33
- Third Period: 19:06
- Overtime: 26:34
Home: Columbus Blue Jackets
Away: Boston Bruins
Boston’s Lineup
Forwards
Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Ritchie – Krejci – Kase
Bjork – Coyle – DeBrusk
Nordstrom – Kuraly – Wagner
Defense
Chara – McAvoy
Krug – Carlo
Grzelcyk – Moore
Goalies
Rask
Halak
Columbus’s Lineup
Forwards
Nyquist – Dubois – Bjorkstrand
Foligno – Jenner – Anderson
Shore – Wennberg – Atkinson
Robinson – Nash – Gerbe
Defense
Werenski – Jones
Murray – Savard
Gavrikov – Peeke
Goalies
Korpisalo
Merzlikins
The Bruins head to Toronto in preparation for the 2020 NHL Playoffs. Following the extended break, the Bruins take on the Blue Jackets to get up to speed before the round robin for seeding begins. Tuukka Rask grabs the start for Boston while Joonas Korpisalo starts in net for Columbus.
First Period
Columbus got off the mark 3:17 into the period on a goal from Oliver Bjorkstrand in the slot with assists to Pierre-Luc Dubois and Gustav Nyquist. Shortly after the goal, Nick Ritchie and Nick Foligno went head-to-head in a fight that was even, but ended in Foligno knocking Ritchie to the ice. Both players received fighting majors.
Off of the faceoff following the fight, David Krejci won the draw back to Torey Krug, who fired a wrist shot past Korpisalo to tie the game at 1. The game remained that way until Zdeno Chara’s slap shot from the point hit the post, but the puck was passed from John Moore to Chara to Brad Marchand, who scored the go ahead goal with 3:11 remaining in the period.
Only a few more shots were taken in the final minutes of the period as it ended with Boston in front 2-1. Columbus outshot Boston 8-7 in the first.
End of the period score: 2-1 Boston
Second Period
Columbus came out flying to start the period and tied the game 1:19 into the period. Nyquist collected a centering feed from Bjorkstrand and slipped it past Rask.
That lead was short lived as Marchand got the puck in the left circle and found Patrice Bergeron in the slot for the shot and score to retake the lead 4:18 into the second period.
Columbus had several chances to score on Rask throughout the second period, including a sequence of 3 shots saved by Rask in quick succession shortly after Bergeron put Boston ahead.
Neither team could solve the goalies, so the game went into the third 3-2 in favor of the Bruins. Columbus outshot Boston 12-6 in the period, making it 20-13 Columbus through 2.
End of the period score: 3-2 Boston
Third Period
Anders Bjork provided Boston with some energy just after the midway point of the period, delivering 2 consecutive big hits David Savard and Cam Atkinson just inside Boston’s defensive zone.
Just as 2 minutes remaining passed, Marchand took advantage of a Columbus mistake at center ice to get a breakaway. Marchand took his shot too early, letting Korpisalo make an easy save. This ended up being a costly mistake as Foligno found Dubois to start up ice. Dubois found Zach Werenski in the slot for the shot that was saved by Rask, but Dubois followed up to score the tying goal with 53.3 seconds to play.
Both teams had great opportunities to win it late, but couldn’t beat the goalies, sending the game to overtime. Columbus outshot Boston 9-5 in the third, making it 29-18 overall in favor of Columbus.
End of Regulation Score: 3-3
Overtime
Overtime started with a controversial moment as Marchand got knocked down Dubois in front of Korpisalo, and then tripped Seth Jones as he started a break for Columbus. The referees did not call anything on Marchand on the play.
Following a faceoff in Boston’s own end, Torey Krug skated from the bottom of his defensive circle to the top of the attacking circle before finding a wide open Bergeron in the slot to rifle one past Korpisalo to give the Bruins the win 3:05 into the overtime period.
The Blue Jackets ended up outshooting Boston 30-19 . Rask made 27 saves in the win, including some key saves late in the game.
Final Score: 4-3 Boston
Hockey is officially back in action and the Bruins have their first game back tonight at 7 PM against the Columbus Blue Jackets on NHL Network and NESN. I will be posting another simulation ahead of Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @cmoney008 and please consider subscribing to the YouTube Channel HERE!
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