Bruins pay Kings back with good home win
By Willy
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
This is the final game of the season between the Bruins and the L.A. Kings. In their last meeting the B’s fell hard (4-2) in Los Angeles.
Out: Adam McQuaid with an unspecified injury.
In Net: Chad Johnson and Jonathan Quick.
Both teams got off to a bit of a slow start.
The Bruins got the first goal of the game while shorthanded. Directly after Chad Johnson made a blocker save, Patrice Bergeron gathered up the rebound and then sent a head-man pass to Brad Marchand (15) who after dancing around the offensive zone and making the Kings players look foolish, buried the puck past Quick “5-hole”.
*Heavyweight bought of the game was between Milan Lucic and Jordan Nolan. The Kings Center had laid a hit on Torey Krug that “Looch” didn’t like and he let Nolan know it.
The B’s got their second goal of the game on the Power Play. After having extended time in the offensive zone, with several passes between players, finally Ryan Spooner set David Krejci up at the point and then he passed to Torey Krug (11) who fired a Slapshot past Quick.
After 1 period; 2-0 B’s Shots: 9-8 Boston
The B’s started the second period aggressively with Ryan Spooner using his speed to draw an early penalty call, putting his team on the Power Play. Though they didn’t score, the B’s moved the puck well.
The Kings got on the board after Center Jeff Carter got away with tripping Johnny Boychuk. Center Mike Richards gained control then skated around the net, past Matt Bartkowski, setting up Defenseman Willie Mitchell who had snuck down from the point. Mitchell fired his shot over the blocker shoulder of Johnson.
After 2 periods; 2-1 B’s Shots: 8-4 Boston
The B’s got off to a slow start in the third period but then again they were shorthanded with Bartkowski in the box for Interference that occurred near the end of the second period.
The Kings would tie the game at the end of a 4 on 3 Power Play. After setting up in the zone, making several passes, eventually Defenseman Drew Doughty would set-up Center Jeff Carter for a quick Slapshot that Johnson had no chance on.
Not long thereafter the B’s recaptured the lead when they kept the puck in deep, then Reilly Smith would gain possession and make a perfect pass to an open Brad Marchand (16) who wasted no time ripping it past Quick before he could move across the crease.
The Kings had pulled Quick near the end of the game but couldn’t tie things up.
3-2 B’s win. Shot totals: 23-23
Next up for the Bruins is a Saturday afternoon (1 P.M.) matinee against the Philadelphia Flyers. Go B’s!