By: Jeff Playdon | Follow me on Twitter @PlaydonJeff
With the Bruin’s most recent win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, they looked to get a winning streak going when they visited the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena. Unlike Boston, who won their last game, Nashville was coming off a 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings and looked to bounce back. For the second game in a row, Tuukka Rask would get the start as Boston was still resting up Tim Thomas. The starting goaltender for Nashville was Pekka Rinne. Nashville would be without Joel Ward, while Boston was without Andrew Ference and Brad Marchand, who was serving the first game out of a two-game suspension.
Bruins Get on the Board First
Unlike Boston’s previous games, they began the period red-hot getting shots on the net. In fact, just 1:50 into the period, rookie Tyler Seguin ripped a wrist shot past Pekka Rinne’s glove and put Boston ahead 1-0. Boston’s hot start wouldn’t last long as six minutes later, Sergei Kostitsyn put Nashville on the board, and the game was tied at 1. A minute later, Boston would get a quick chance to get the lead again as Sergei Kostitsyn was called for interference, and Boston was on the powerplay for the first time tonight. Boston couldn’t convert, and it was back to even strength. Toward the final minutes of the period, Predator forward Patric Hornqvist elbowed Tyler Seguin in the face and was given a game misconduct and thrown out of the game. Since it was called a five-minute major, Boston had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the closing minutes of the period. Boston wasn’t able to score, and it was tied 1-1 after the first period. The Bruins outshot the predators 12-9 and looked well rounded after one.
Tied up after 2
Boston started the second period still on the powerplay and wanted to take advantage. However, they couldn’t, and Nashville came away with a great penalty kill. As the halfway mark approached, Boston found themselves shorthanded twice. Once, at the 5:56 mark when Michael Ryder was called for interference, and at the 7:16 mark when Daniel Paille was called for holding. The Bruins were able to kill off both penalties, and it was back to even strength. Just minutes after, second-year left-winger, Colin Wilson put one behind Rask, and it was 2-1 Nashville. As Nashville tried to ride momentum from Colin Wilson’s goal, David Krejci would put the Bruins on his back and tie the game just three minutes later. That would be the last highlight of the period and the period quickly concluded. Unlike the first period, Boston was outshot by Nashville 12-9.
On to Overtime for the Second Night in a row
Boston came out of the second intermission, clicking on all cylinders. Just 1:42 into the third, Patrice Bergeron received a wall pass from Mark Recchi and put the puck behind Pekka Rinne’s pad to make it 3-2 Boston. It was Bergeron’s first goal since February 26th, and it came at a critical time for Boston. The Bruins would continue to put pressure on Pekka Rinne as Rinne was forced to make spectacular save after save. Just before the halfway point of the third period, Nashville’s Martin Erat was called for high sticking, and Boston once again had a pristine opportunity to score on the powerplay. Nashville was able to kill off the penalty, and with Martin Erat leaving the penalty box, Nashville was able to put pressure on Rask and make it 3-3 off a David Legwand tip-in. The last nine minutes quickly vanished, and for the second night in a row, Boston was going to Overtime. Even though Boston was able to get a point out of this, they should’ve put Nashville away as they outshot them 16-7!
Shea Weber downs Boston
Although Boston dominated Nashville in the shot department for most of the game, it wasn’t like that in Overtime. 2:59 into Overtime, Steven Kampfer would make a critical mistake as he was called for holding, and Nashville looked to put Boston away. 38 seconds later, Shea Weber was able to hammer a one-timer past Tuukka Rask, and Nashville escaped with a 4-3 win. After a disappointing loss that should’ve had a different result, Boston looked to rebound when they would visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 19th. The three stars of the game were Shea Weber, Colin Wilson, and Patrice Bergeron.
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