The Bruins looked like a different team in the second period, scoring twice and getting more solid goaltending from Tim Thomas to take a 2-1 lead. The Bruins made me look like a genius in some ways, as Milan Lucic scored the first goal after the puck was thrown at the feet of Roberto Luongo and Lucic banged in the rebound, ending Luongo’s scoreless streak at 138:54.
Later, Patrice Bergeron was playing the point on the power play and fed Zdeno Chara, who took a wrist shot that hit the skate of Mark Recchi and past Luongo. I’m still not convinced Recchi belongs on the power play, but he came up with a big goal when it was needed.
Michael Ryder was also a standout, making a nice play to gain the zone to set up the power play goal and then swatting away a Jeff Tambellini chance moments after the Bruins took the lead. Chara also outmuscled two Vancouver players to save a goal, while Thomas made three brilliant saves. The Bruins also hit the heck out of the Canucks and, though both teams have been physical, the Bruins seem to be handling the phycial play a bit better.
Of course, I also said the Bruins should shake up their lines after a period and was wrong about that, as the Bruins rebounded with a great period.
Boston stars: Tim Thomas, Zdeno Chara, Milan Lucic, Michael Ryder, Mark Recchi
Boston duds: Johnny Boychuk still taking too many chances in the neutral zone
What needs to happen in the third period: Score a quick power play goal; stay aggressive on the forecheck; keep hitting the Canucks; play a solid 20 minutes of hockey and win every shift; keep winning faceoffs – only Malhotra has won more than 50 percent of his draws for Vancouver; cut down on the odd-man rushes