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Tonight at the TD Garden, knuckles were chucked as the Boston Bruins looked more than ready to throw their weight around as they defeated the Dallas Stars in their final meeting of the regular season.
GAME RECAP
Despite a lot of action throughout the first period, shots on goal were relatively low from both teams. Dallas came out and missed a couple of opportunities to score on Boston’s goaltender Jaroslav Halak. With a little over five minutes left in the first, the Bruins would draw their first penalty of the night. Despite a good amount of zone time down the Stars’ end, Boston was unable to capitalize on the man advantage.
Dallas would make a final push towards the end of the period and drew a hooking a penalty with under three minutes left. With 2:22 left, the Stars would strike first as John Klingberg sent a deflected shot in past Halak. Boston had one final chance to even the score as they drew a slashing penalty. Charlie Coyle would tip one in off an initial shot by Torey Krug.
SCORE AT THE END OF THE FIRST PERIOD: BOS-1, DAL-1
SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-10, DAL-9
The Bruins had a hard time getting the puck out of their zone as Halak was forced to make numerous saves during tense play. Both teams made hard pushes towards the net with near goals hitting the post. David Krejci would drop gloves against Joe Pavelski. Sean Kuraly would have a missed opportunity with a wide shot to the net.
As the Bruins swarmed around Dallas’ net, Charlie McAvoy (in a second attempt) would set up a pass to Brad Marchand. The 31-year-old left-winger would notch his 26th goal of the season and extended his point streak to eight games. With momentum shifting to the home team, Boston would once again push towards the net. Newcomer Nick Ritchie scored his very first goal as a Bruin, wristing one in past Ben Bishop. In the final seconds of the period, Chris Wagner would be assessed a roughing call that saw Dallas go on the power-play.
SCORE AT THE END OF THE SECOND PERIOD: BOS-3, DAL-1
SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-12, DAL-10
Dallas would open up the third and final period with under a minute left to the power-play but did not score (no shots on goal). With an unlucky deflection after initial stops by Halak, the Stars’ Denis Gurianov would score his 19th of the season. But as luck would have it David Pastrnak scored after moving the puck past the Stars defense only to find Ritchie (who quickly passed back to the 23-year-old winger). Pastrnak still leads the entire league with 46 goals. Chris Wagner would not return to the game due to an upper-body injury.
Down two goals, Dallas would push back as they desperately tried to even the score, but Boston would be there to limit their chances. With a little over two minutes left and a missed scoring opportunity on the Stars’ empty net, Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen would score as they continued to push until the last second. With an anxiety-induced minute left, the Bruins were able to stave off a potential Dallas comeback.
FINAL SCORE: BOS-4, DAL-3
SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-28, DAL-34
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BRUINS: Saturday, February 29th vs. New York Islanders, with puck drop at 1:00 PM.
Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 167 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.
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You could say the Bruins were due for a big loss and tonight Boston could not get over the mental and physical hump as they dropped the final series game against the Vancouver Canucks, losing in spectacular fashion. After playing three games in four nights, barring from it being an excuse, the team looked gassed going into the second period.
GAME RECAP
Hot off the trails from last night’s win over Calgary, the Boston Bruins initially had no hesitation against Vancouver as soon as the puck dropped. There was strong zone time down the Canucks end early in the period as Boston forced goaltender Jacob Markstrom to make some early quick saves. The Canucks pushed towards Boston’s end and would find space between the traffic to bury one in past Rask. Troy Stecher scored his fourth goal of the season at 4:14.
Vancouver has multiple flurry of chances but was unable to capitalize. Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk sent a quick puck up to David Pastrnak, allowing the sniper to score his 44th goal on a breakaway, tying the game at 1-1. Momentum switched back and forth between the teams throughout the first period. After Danton Heinen’s stick inadvertently went through the mask of Markstrom, play stopped as the goaltender dealt with lingering vision issues. Thatcher Demko would take over in between the pipes for Vancouver. After a brief medical check-up. Markstrom was back in net.
(Photo Credits: Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA Today)
After drawing a penalty on Boston, Vancouver would take advantage as they scored the second goal of the evening. Bo Horvat would net his 19th goal of the season, putting the Canucks up 2-1. Boston would draw their first power-play of the night, however, after a drive to the net, the Bruins were assessed with a penalty to Patrice Bergeron. Despite high pressure from Vancouver, neither team was able to score on the man advantage as the first period ended.
With the second period underway, both teams continued to put pressure on either end, but Boston would start to lose control of their play. After a puck redirection, Vancouver’s Adam Gaudette would score his 11th goal of the season, making it 3-1. A shift in play worked for Vancouver as Rask lost sight of the puck, leading to a goal by Tanner Pearson, putting the ‘Nucks up 4-1. Lots of traffic in front of the Bruins net would lead to another Vancouver goal moments after, making the score 5-1. In the last few seconds of the period, the Bruins made a push towards the net but were unable to score.
(Photo Credits: Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA Today)
Vancouver would score their sixth goal of the night seconds into the third period. With the game being lost, the Bruins would go on the power-play and Pastrnak would score his 45th goal. Jaroslav Halak would take over goaltending duties. Chris Wagner would net his fifth goal of the season. As the Bruins tried to mount a comeback, Tyler Toffoli would net his first goal as a Canucks making it 7-3. After a few minutes, Toffoli would net his second goal of the night. Jake Virtanen would nail the final goal, making the final score 9-3.
FINAL SCORE: BOS: 3, VAN-9
TOTAL SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS: 37, VAN: 35
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BRUINS: Tuesday, February 25th versus the Calgary Flames. TD Garden with puck drop at 7:00 pm.
Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 166 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!!
By: Max Mainville | Check me out on Twitter @tkdmaxbjj
In tonight’s first game of a back-to-back, the Boston Bruins face the Calgary Flames in game three of their three-game road trip. On Wednesday, the Bruins defeated the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in overtime to secure their fourth consecutive victory and improved their record to 9-1-0 since returning from their week-long break. The Bruins are first in the league standings with a 38-11-12 record, three points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
For Calgary, they come into tonight’s game following a 6-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks on home-ice earlier in the week. The Flames are currently engaged in a tight battle in the Western Conference playoff picture, sitting only two points out of a potential playoff spot as of right now. However, a win over the Bruins tonight would put them in the second position in the competitive Pacific division.
Not much has changed from the Oilers game earlier this week, however, the roles of Danton Heinen and Karson Kuhlman have switched. Jaroslav Halak gets the start and Anton Blidh enters the lineup for Joakim Nordstrom.
Not a good start for the Bruins as only twenty seconds into the game, the Flames bring it into the zone and fire it at Halak. The opening shot missed the net wide, setting up a brilliant chance for Rasmus Andersson who’s in-tight shot gets stopped by Halak. However, the rebound goes right to Mikael Backlund who buries it past the Bruins goaltender to give the Flames an early 1-0 lead.
Only a few minutes later, the Flames do an excellent job turning a defensive stop into an offensive 2-on-1 that ends up leading to a blast of a shot from Backlund that beats Halak clean for his second of the game and the Flames explode for a two-goal lead in this game.
Only 24 seconds after that, however, a dump-in by the Bruins bounces right into the slot in front of Cam Talbot where Patrice Bergeron picks up the loose rubber and buries it past the former Oilers netminder to cut into Calgary’s early lead. Bergeron’s 28th of the season makes this a 2-1 hockey game.
Did you think the goal scoring was done there? Nope. Only seconds after Bergeron’s tally, Johnny Gaudreau enters the zone on a rush, tossing the puck towards the middle of the ice. The puck takes an odd bounce and confuses Halak, giving the Flames a two-goal lead almost immediately after the Bruins scored themselves.
The two teams play for another three minutes before the Bruins start to cycle the puck around the Calgary defensive zone. Marchand feeds the puck back to McAvoy on the point who makes a quick feed to Pastrnak in the high slot for a one-timer. Pastrnak’s shot was stopped, but the rebound went directly to Bergeron in front and he scores his second of the game to make this one a 3-2 game.
Make it 7 goals over 7 games for Patrice Bergeron now.
With a lot of these high-scoring games, the intensity of each and every play increase immensely. Flames forward Tobias Rieder skates through the neutral zone only to meet Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk who finishes his check. The on-ice officials didn’t like the collision and send Grzelcyk to the box for elbowing. Bruins successfully make the kill on the first penalty of the game.
Later in the frame, Anders Bjork blocks a shot in his own end, allowing Karson Kuhlman to make a great pass up the ice to Charlie Coyle who finds himself all alone on a breakaway. After a few nifty moves, Coyle roofs the forehand past Talbot for his 15th goal of the campaign and this crazy game is equal at three apiece.
Mere shifts after the tying goal, Charlie Coyle gets put on another partial breakaway but cannot bury the puck around Talbot and neither can Heinen on a pair of rebound chances. Bruins have taken the momentum of this game and are running with it through the ending minutes of the period.
Less than a minute into the second period of play, the Bruins get early possession in the Flames’ zone leading to Brandon Carlo throwing a shot on goal. Brad Marchand managed to twist his body and deflect the puck past Talbot to give the Bruins their first lead of the game and it’s 4-3. The goal is Marchand’s 24th of the season, giving Carlo his 14th assist and Krug his 33rd assist of 2019-20.
Later on in the period, the Bruins are getting the better of the offensive chances as Wagner takes a rocket of a shot towards the open cage off of a great pass from Charlie McAvoy but it bounces around off of the Flames in front of Talbot before hitting the outside of the net. Extremely close opportunity for the Bruins to take a two-goal lead in this now quite defensive game.
Just past the halfway mark of the game we see the intensity boil over between Jeremy Lauzon and Matthew Tkachuk. Throughout the game thus far, the two have been barking at each other until finally, off of a faceoff, they agree to drop the gloves. Lauzon managed decently to land a couple shots on the now-familiar NHL tough guy before getting taken down. Tkachuk was standing up for Mangiapane, but both Lauzon and Tkachuk get five minutes in the box for fighting.
A much, much better period for the Boston Bruins while the Calgary Flames looked behind the B’s for the majority of the frame. Bruce Cassidy must have calmed the players down following the first intermission because there were noticeable improvements on defense for Boston.
Shots on Goal: BOS: 17 CGY: 11
Score: 4-3 Bruins – Goals: Marchand (24) Assists: Carlo (14), Krug (33)
Third Period:
Boston came out with some good chances again to begin the final regulation period but all of a sudden, Cam Talbot is playing solid goaltending in between the pipes for the Flames. Just under six minutes into the frame, Derek Ryan carries the puck through the neutral zone, cutting aggressively towards the center of the ice.
Patrice Bergeron ends up getting his stick caught in his skates and Boston’s number-one penalty-killer will sit in the box for two minutes for tripping. Flames passed the pucked around the zone quite a lot but failed to get any real chances other than a bomb of a one-timer that was blocked by Lauzon. Back to even-strength.
Calgary’s urgency to tie this game as the minutes tick away has become more and more apparent. Gaudreau had a great chance on a speedy rush down along the boards but thanks to a combination of Jaroslav Halak and great backcheck from Charlie McAvoy, Gaudreau was never able to get the shot off and the Bruins hold onto the one-goal lead.
And that will do it, Bruins will a wild one, 4-3.
Shots on Goal: BOS: 23 CGY: 21
Final Score: 4-3 Bruins
Max’s Three Stars:
1st Star: BOS F Patrice Bergeron – 2 Goals, 3 Shots, 68% Faceoffs, 15:59 TOI
2nd Star: CGY F Mikael Backlund – 2 Goals, 3 Shots, 17:22 TOI
3rd Star: BOS F Brad Marchand – 1 GWG, 1 Assist, 5 Shots, 18:36 TOI
Boston is right back at it tomorrow against the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 166 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.
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It was a tight battle between the two top teams in their respective divisions and Boston came out the winner in the first game of their Canadian road-trip.
GAME RECAP
Both teams came out in the first period looking to extend their winning streak as each side had multiple missed chances. Despite back and forth play, Boston’s Patrice Bergeron would score his 27th goal of the year after a feed from fellow linemate Brad Marchand. The Bruins would draw the first penalty of the night but were unable to capitalize.
Boston would open up the second period with seconds left on a power-play but were unable to score. Both teams continued to push forward and the Bruins would have missed chances as they drew their third power-play of the night. The Oilers would draw a penalty with 13 minutes left to the period. Edmonton buzzed around Boston’s end as they sent a flurry of shots towards Tuukka Rask, but were unable to score with traffic in front of the net. Boston had a hard time clearing their zone, however, they were able to keep the game scoreless during the Oiler’s penalty.
(Photo Credits: NHL.com)
Special teams were tested throughout the entire game as both teams are in the top of the league when it comes to the power-play. The Oilers would once again draw a penalty, but the man advantage was short-lived as Boston drew their fifth power-play of the night. The trend continued as both teams were unable to score. Play continued to be stingy as the second period drew to a close with neither team scoring.
FINAL PERIOD
With the start of the third period underway, the Oilers would draw their fourth power-play of the night and were finally successful. Sam Gagner would tip the puck in to score his fifth of the season, tying the game 1-1. Edmonton were caught with too many men on the ice and the boys in Black and Gold were assessed another power-play (no score). After a rough tussle down the Bruins end, Boston found themselves in the penalty box again, but it would be the Black and Gold taking advantage. Charlie Coyle would steal the puck as he raced towards the Oiler’s net with a possible scoring chance but instead drew a slashing penalty.
As the clock ticked down, both teams continued to battle for the puck as shots rang the post. Once again, Edmonton drew a penalty in the last minutes of the third period but did not score as the game went into overtime. Bruins forward David Pastrnak notched the game-winning goal on a breakaway (his 43rd goal of the season). Boston remains first in the league as they win their fourth game in a row.
FINAL SCORE: BOS-2 EDM-1 (OT)
TOTAL SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-31 EDM-29
Bruins were 0-for-7 on the power play, while the Oilers were 1-for-6. Boston has now won 10 out of their last 11 games played and improve to 38-11-12 while Edmonton’s record is now 32-21-7.
In case you missed this father/son duo:
This may just be the best father/son interview out there. 💛🖤
Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 166 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!!
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.
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!!
Neither team had many chances in the early going as they appeared to be a bit slow perhaps because of the start time. Arizona started to get a bit of an attacking zone rhythm toward the midway point of the period but the Bruins did a good job limiting their high danger chances. The Coyotes would pick up the game’s first power play as Charlie McAvoy was called for hooking with about 11 minutes left in the period. The B’s killed off the penalty as Tuukka Rask made a number of big saves to keep the game scoreless.
The Bruins got a few chances past the midway point but nothing came of it. Boston would get an opportunity on the man advantage with under six minutes to go in the period. The Coyotes killed off the power play as the B’s failed to get any sort of momentum. The Bruins were called for a high stick late in the period as Arizona got another chance to take a lead. The Coyotes were unable to find the back of the net as the Bruins continued to be strong defensively. Almost immediately after Jeremy Lauzon came out of the box he was called for a match penalty on a hit to the head. Boston killed off the remainder of the period with the Coyotes still having 4:40 on the power play.
Score: Tied 0-0
Second Period
The Coyotes finally drew first blood as Phil Kessel fired a loose puck past Rask with about 75 seconds left on the power play.
The Bruins killed off the remainder of the penalty and immediately following it Lawson Crouse was called for roughing, giving Boston an opportunity to tie the game. Charlie Coyle tied it just after the penalty expired as McAvoy found him in front with a great feed.
The power play goal seemed to reinvigorate the Bruins as the continued to get chances in the attacking zone. The B’s picked up their third power play of the afternoon as Brad Richardson was called for interference with eight minutes remaining in the period. Immediately the Bruins took the lead as Patrice Bergeron tipped in a slap pass from David Pastrnak.
Chris Wagner was able to draw another penalty on a strong drive to the net, giving the Bruins a chance to widen their lead with about six minutes left in the period. Jake DeBrusk extended the lead after he tipped in a shot from Pastrnak less than a minute into the power play.
The Bruins continued to absolutely dominate the Coyotes in their own zone getting chance after chance and doing a tremendous job keeping possession of the puck.
Score: 3-1 Bruins
Third Period
Jakob Chychrun fired home a loose puck just seconds into the period as the Coyotes drew within one.
The Bruins had a good push after the goal as they tried to find their game again after a successful second period. Arizona responded with a couple solid shifts in the offensive zone as they looked for the tying goal. Both teams started to take chances as the desperation began to set in. The B’s continued to have some tremendous scoring chances but were unable to extend their lead.
The Coyotes pushed hard for the tying goal in the closing moments of the game and pulled their goalie with about 1:40 to play. Coyle made it two on the day with an empty net goal with 48 seconds to go to ice it for the Bruins.
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By: Max Mainville | Check me out on Twitter @tkdmaxbjj
Immediately after the NHL All-Star break and Boston’s week-long break, the Bruins are right back at it with their second game in as many nights since they returned. Last night, the B’s edged out a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets in one of the most physical games of the season to date. A win over the Wild tonight in Minnesota would only continue that momentum.
Pre-Game Notes:
Arena: Xcel Energy Center – St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Forwards Sean Kuraly (healthy scratch) and Danton Heinen (minor injury) are out while Anton Blidh and Par Lindholm enter the lineup.
First Period:
Boston looking physical to start the period with some good board play and hits from the opening faceoff. However, the first real chance to score came from Minnesota when defenceman Matt Dumba takes a shot to Jaroslav Halak, ringing it off of the bar.
In the second half of the first, the Bruins strike first. Torey Krug makes a brilliant move to get past the defenders and bury it past goalie Devan Dubnyk to score his sixth of the season. The tenacity to drive to the net and make the effort to score is what the Bruins need for a full 60 minutes tonight.
The Bruins were forced to go shorthanded late in the period when McAvoy was sent to the box for hooking Zach Parise, but a solid penalty-killing effort brings this game back to 5-on-5.
Aside from the goal, it was a solid period for the Bruins. There weren’t too many high-quality chances for Minnesota to equalize the score and the B’s generated some chances of their own. Good start on the second game of a back-to-back.
Looking to continue a strong start to this game, the Bruins play well in the opening minutes of the second period. 3:49 into the frame, the Bruins draw an interference penalty, giving them their first power-play chance of the night. Following some good puck movement around the offensive zone, Brad Marchand finds Torey Krug on a cross-ice feed, allowing Krug to get control of the puck and fire it off the post and off the back of Dubnyk, going into the net. Krug’s second of the night makes it 2-0 Boston.
On the very next shift after the tally, Eric Staal takes another interference penalty for the Wild, giving the dangerous Bruins man-advantage a second consecutive chance to score. Only 33 seconds into the power-play, Krug returns the favor to Marchand, making a solid pass that allowed Marchand to blast a one-timer past Dubnyk and just like that – the Bruins have a 3-0 lead in this game.
As we pass the halfway mark of the game, the Bruins go to the penalty kill once again as Charlie McAvoy is sent to the box for roughing as a Wild player entered the defensive zone. During the penalty, both Marchand and Mikko Koivu get into a tussle together in front of the benches and the officials decide to send both to the box simultaneously. Not long after, McAvoy exits the box.
With 5:28 to go in the period, Torey Krug draws a holding minor sending Boston right back to the power-play. Following a few shots that created net-front battles, David Pastrnak ended up locating the loose puck and ripping it into the open net, scoring his 38th goal of the campaign and it’s 4-0 Bruins. The goal matches Pastrnak’s previous career-high in goals and it is only February 1st.
Jake DeBrusk took a penalty later in the frame, but the Bruins did a great job killing it off again, entering the second intermission with a four-goal lead.
Having lost large leads in the third period of play earlier this year, the Bruins need to keep the pressure coming and keep playing the same hockey they have been over the last five periods since the break. David Pastrnak nearly buries his second of the game off of a bomb of a shot courtesy of a Marchand pass, but the shot rings off the post and stays out.
Roughly seven minutes into the final regulation period, the Bruins go back to the penalty kill as captain Zdeno Chara was whistled down on a hooking minor. Boston successfully killed it off, thanks to a few big blocked shots by forward Anton Blidh, who entered the lineup for Danton Heinen tonight. He is making the most of this opportunity and he’s doing a great job. Back to even-strength.
Just around the ten-minute mark of the frame, the Bruins drive to the net, giving the puck to Torey Krug who nearly sneaks the puck short-side past the Wild goaltender for the hat-trick, but the defenceman in the crease stops the bid.
With 8:43 remaining, the Wild take yet another penalty and the Bruins have a golden chance to score their fifth of the game. Boston fails to score, back to even-strength. Just over four minutes left to tick away, Mats Zuccarello spins and shoots the puck off of Halak’s shoulder and into the net, ending Halak’s shutout and making it a three-goal game once again.
Playing until the final horn is the key for the Bruins and they proved that. Andres Bjork does a fantastic job on the forecheck to get the puck loose for Joakim Nordstrom who feeds it right back to Bjork, burying it past Dubnyk to make it 5-1. Only a few shifts afterwards, Karson Kuhlman fakes a brilliant pass to Jake DeBrusk for the sixth goal, Bruins win 6-1 the final score.
1st Star: BOS D Torey Krug – 2 Goals, 2 Assists, 2 Shots, 19:09 TOI
2nd Star: BOS F David Pastrnak – 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 2 Shots, 15:27 TOI
3rd Star: BOS G Jaroslav Halak – 25 Saves, .962 SV%
Boston will have the rest of the weekend off, preparing for Tuesday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks in Boston.
Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 163 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!!
Both teams seemed to be a bit sloppy in the opening moments as they traded turnovers up and down the ice. Both teams also had no trouble getting scoring chances due to the sloppy defensive play. Patrick Laine opened the scoring after a great individual effort by Nikolaj Ehlers to give Winnipeg the early lead.
The Jets seemed to tilt the ice a bit after the goal to put more pressure on the Bruins defense. The B’s began to put together a flurry of scoring chances to try to tie the game but Laurent Brossoit was up to the task. The Bruins continued to get chances in the latter part of the period as they seemed to have had found their legs. A huge hit from Charlie McAvoy resulted in a penalty on Neal Pionk, giving the Bruins a late period power play. Boston would go to a five on three after Josh Morrissey was called for slashing. Patrice Bergeron tied it on the man advantage after a nice feed from Brad Marchand.
With the goal coming on a five on three, the Bruins continued with another man advantage, giving them a chance to take the lead in the final minute of the period. The Jets killed off the remainder of the period as the Bruins still had about 30 seconds on the power play.
Score: Tied 1-1
Second Period
The Jets killed off the abbreviated power play and got a tremendous scoring opportunity when Morrissey came out of the box on a partial breakaway but Tuukka Rask made an impressive stop to keep it tied. Matt Grzelcyk was called for hooking soon after as Winnipeg got their first power play opportunity. Marchand was inexplicably called for roughing midway through the power play giving the Jets a two man advantage. The B’s killed the five on three but immediately after Brandon Carlo was called for delay of game, giving the Jets another two man advantage. The B’s killed off both penalties despite the Jets getting a number of high quality chances.
Boston would go to the penalty kill again as Charlie Coyle was whistled for tripping, giving Winnipeg yet another chance to take the lead. The Bruins killed off another penalty which quickly was becoming the story of the game. Carlo was called for an extra two minutes on an instigator penalty prior to dropping the gloves which gave Winnipeg another power play opportunity. The B’s killed off yet another penalty as they continued to frustrate the Jets defensively. The B’s would pick up a power play as Luca Sbisa was called for an instigator penalty prior to his dust up with Karson Kuhlman. The Jets killed off the penalty despite the Bruins moving the puck very well.
Score: Tied 1-1
Third Period
At the tail end of the second period, Torey Krug was called for holding as the Jets would start the final period with a power play and an opportunity to take the lead. Boston would kill it off despite some great scoring chances for Winnipeg. Marchand would draw a slashing penalty soon after, giving the Bruins a chance to take their first lead of the game. Just 32 seconds into the man advantage, David Pastrnak found Jake DeBrusk at the front of the net to give the B’s the lead.
Both teams continued to throw their body weight around in the third period, not wanting to give the other team an inch. The Jets started to find their legs again past the midway point of the period as they looked to tie the game. Winnipeg continued to make a push late in the period but Rask continued his strong night to maintain the lead. The Jets pulled the goalie with about 90 seconds to go but couldn’t find the back of the net as the Bruins held on.
Final Score: 2-1 Bruins
Three Stars Of The Game
First Star: Rask
Second Star: Pastrnak
Third Star: Carlo
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By: Max Mainville | Check me out on Twitter @tkdmaxbjj
The Boston Bruins did have a three-game winning streak, but following a disappointing 6-5 shootout loss to the Philidelphia Flyers last night, the B’s will be on the lookout to get back into the win column tonight against the Blue Jackets. Boston had a three-goal lead on the Flyers, before allowing a Philly comeback, leading into one of the most embarrassing shootout attempts by Brad Marchand to give the Broadstreet Bullies the win.
Prior to puck drop, the Bruins are third in the National Hockey League, trailing the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals by only a single point. With St. Louis and Washington not on the schedule for tonight, the Bruins have a chance to take the small lead in the overall league standings.
Pre-Game Notes:
Arena: Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio, USA
Home: Columbus Blue Jackets (22-16-8)
Away: Boston Bruins (27-8-12)
Last Bruins Result: 6-5 SO loss vs PHI
Bruins Gameday Lineup:
Grzelcyk scratched for Kampfer. Cassidy said it wasn't related to NYI injury: "He didn't play well."
First DND-coach decision of the season for Grzelcyk.
Head Coach Bruce Cassidy was not pleased with the Bruins after last night’s three-goal collapse so expect a Boston group that is trying to make a statement tonight.
First Period:
Just over a minute into the hockey game, Blue Jackets forward Emil Bemstrom skates directly across the crease of Tuukka Rask, but clips Rask with a jab and Rask goes down to the ice. After a brief time of stoppage, Rask skates off down the tunnel and Jaroslav Halak comes into the game after playing just last night. No penalty called on the play.
Tuukka Rask takes an elbow from Emil Bemstrom to the head.
Just about six minutes in, the game gets its first penalty. Behind the play, Pierre-Luc Dubois goes off for two minutes on a cross-checking minor. Boston goes to their first power-play of the night, looking to make it fifteen straight games with a goal on the PP. The top unit for Boston had some good puck movement and nearly buried the go-ahead tally, but the puck stayed out and we return to even-strength.
Immediately after Dubois’ penalty, the Blue Jackets jam away at the puck right in front of Halak, forcing it past the red line. The nearby Columbus players celebrate, but a whistle heard make it clear that it would be no goal and after a very quick deliberation between the on-ice officials, it was determined a no-goal due to goaltender interference, the game remains scoreless.
Easily the best offensive stretch of the game for either team with roughly eight minutes to go in the period came from Boston’s dangerous first-line of Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak with some good short-side shots and wrap-around attempts but Merzlikins stands strong. Bruins looking good in this opening frame so far.
There goes that – with 6:33 left, the Columbus Blue Jackets strike first on what seemed like a simple breakout play. Alexander Wennberg took a cut into the center of the Bruins’ zone and fired it on the net, beating a falling Halak five-hole. Wennberg’s fourth goal of the season opens the scoring, 1-0 Blue Jackets.
In the final minute of the frame, still down by a single goal, Charlie McAvoy gets whistled down for holding and he’ll go to the box for the remainder of the first and for just over a minute into the second period. Bruins need to kill this off to head into the first intermission. The period ends there.
Between periods, the Bruins announced that Tuukka Rask will miss the remainder of this game due to an upper-body injury. It is also likely that the B’s saw the replay of the elbow on Rask during the intermission because, in the opening minutes of the middle frame, Bemstrom has a Bruin in his face at all times as soon as a whistle is blown and it is quite clear that he has a target on his head.
The first half of the second period was mainly Columbus in Boston’s zone, but the Bruins, roughly at the midway point of the frame, gets some good zone time including Andres Bjork who draws a holding penalty and the Bruins go to the power-play for the second time tonight, looking to equalize the score. Brad Marchand set up the best chance, throwing the puck through the slot, looking for a possible redirection, but the deflection just went above the crossbar. The Blue Jackets kill it off and this game returns to five-on-five.
During the TV timeout, both Joakim Nordstrom and Pierre-Luc Dubois head to the box for off-setting minors because Nordstrom tried to get in the face of Bemstrom but the rookie was far from interested, so Dubois came to his aid and got into a pushing match with Nordstrom, leading to an unsportsmanlike conduct for Nordstrom and a roughing minor for Dubois. Nothing happens on the 4-on-4, penalties end.
Boston has been getting more and more chances to tie the game up, but they either miss the net or find Merzlikins, who has been solid in between the pipes for Columbus tonight. With only a few minutes left in the second, you have to assume that eventually, a bounce will go Boston’s way.
Boston ends the period with some great chances and puck possession but somehow, the puck stayed out. They need to continue this pressure in the final regulation period to tie this game if they want to squeak out a point.
Shots on Goal: BOS: 21 CBJ: 22
Score: 1-0 Blue Jackets
Third Period:
The Bruins did indeed that. After a set play that nearly set up David Pastrnak on the rush, the Bruins make some nice passing plays off of a Columbus turnover that sets up Charlie Coyle on a partial breakaway. He gets stopped, but drew a slashing penalty from Sonny Milano, giving Boston their third man-advantage of the night. Unfortunately, no goals came from it and with five minutes gone, it remains 1-0 Columbus.
At the 15:13 mark, Brad Marchand gets his stick caught up in Gavrikov’s face and he will be forced to sit in the penalty box for two minutes due to the high-sticking. Columbus heads to the power-play without having to face one of Boston’s top penalty-killers. With some brilliant cycling around the entire zone, Foligno makes a nice saucer pass from behind the net right to Stenlund. 2-0 Blue Jackets.
Off the center-ice faceoff, the Blue Jackets are called on an interference penalty and Boston has a chance to get that insurance tally right back and bring it back to a one-goal game in the third. Essentially nothing at all comes from the man-advantage, the game returns to 5-on-5, and Boston is still down by two goals with 11:50 to go in regulation.
As the period goes on, the Bruins get a couple nice opportunities to final score their first of the contest, but the Blue Jackets end up on a 2-on-1 rush going back the other way and Riley Nash elects to shoot the puck – beating Jaroslav Halak short side and extending Columbus’ lead to three goals with just over six minutes left to play. Just a bad night of hockey for the Black and Gold.
Shots on Goal: BOS: 33 CBJ: 27
Final Score: 3-0 Blue Jackets
Max’s Three Stars:
1st Star: CBJ G Elvis Merzlikins – 34 Saves, 2nd-straight shutout
2nd Star: CBJ F Alexander Wennberg – 1 Goal (GWG), 2 Shots, 13:54 TOI
3rd Star: CBJ D Seth Jones – 4 Blocks, 3 Shots, +1 Rating, 27:00 TOI
Boston’s next game is Thursday at home against the red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins.
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In a disappointing end that saw the game go to a shootout, the Boston Bruins fell to the Philadelphia Flyers as they let a three-goal lead slip through their hands tonight.
Game Recap
Boston came into Philadelphia with a 3-0 game streak and wasted no time in the first few minutes of the first period. The Bruins saw productive shifts that saw more time down the Flyers zone. Boston would strike first as Anders Bjork opened up the scoreboard. Notching his 7th goal of the season, the 23-year-old winger would score off a bad giveaway on the Flyers’ end. With the momentum on the B’s side, Boston had another opportunity as they went on the power-play on a tripping call to Patrice Bergeron.
In a beautiful set-up, Bruins winger Charlie Coyle connected with Danton Heinen, who was able to send the puck up to a charging David Krejci. Skating with tremendous speed, the 33-year-old winger was able to tuck one in past Carter Hart, making the score 2-0. That goal would mark the 14th game in a row the Bruins scored on the power-play. The Flyers, however, would answer back as Patrice Bergeron was called on a double minor. At 18:22 Kevin Hayes would score on a slap shot that saw the puck go behind Jaroslav Halak, making it his 14th goal of the season.
SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-14, PHI-12
SCORE: BOS-2, PHI-1
The second period proved to be quite the busy one for both teams as six goals were recorded. Seconds into the period, David Pastrnak would score off a backhand, making it 3-1. Not to be outdone, the Flyers would quickly answer back as Travis Sanheim scored his 6th of the season. As Philly looked to close the gap and stay within one, Boston had other plans. At 4:50, Charlie Coyle sent the puck behind the Flyers net, making it 4-2. David Krejci would net his second of the night as he sent a snapshot past Hart, adding some cushion to the score, making it 5-2.
As things looked to turn around, at 13:12, the Flyers’ Sean Couturier would slide one right between the pads of Jaroslav Halak, making it 5-3. Continuing with the momentum, Philly again scored and would be within one. Flyers’ center Connor Bunnaman had his first goal of the season (off a deflection) making it 5-4.
Boston’s Brad Marchand would draw an interference penalty seconds into the third period but they were unable to take advantage. In a physical, close game, the period saw both teams grind out hits as a scrum broke out at around the seven-minute mark. Torey Krug and Joel Farabee would be charged with a penalty. The Flyers’ Travis Sanheim netted his second goal of the game, tying it 5-5.
In the last minute, Boston would furiously hit the Flyers’ net but was unable to connect as the game went into overtime. Unfortunately, both teams were unable to score amid multiple scoring chances. Much like their first meeting, the game would go to a shootout. The Flyers previously won 3-2 back in November. Travis Konecny would score the lone goal, and unfortunately, Brad Marchand would overskate the puck, grazing it enough to move it-canceling out the play that resulted in a “no goal.” In the second meeting of the season, Philly would once again defeat the Bruins in the dreaded shootout.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BRUINS: Tomorrow, January 14th against Columbus Blue Jackets, with puck drop at 7:00 pm, Nationwide Arena
Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 162 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.
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(Photo Credits: Vegas Daily Betting)
(Photo Credits: Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA Today)
(Photo Credits: Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA Today)
(Photo Credits: Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA Today)
(Photo Credits: Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
(Photo Credits: NHL.com)
