Mar 31, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Anton Khudobin (35) and Buffalo Sabres center Jochen Hecht (55) go after the loose puck during the second period at the First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
It was certainly Bruins hockey tonight as the Bruins played their best game of the season with a 2-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres. The Bruins returned to their physical style we all know and love and battled against Ryan Miller for nearly 60 minutes before puck cycling from the Krejci line but the Bruins on the board. Nathan Horton would add a second goal and you have to wonder how Jarome Iginla feels right now.
Backed by the phenomenal goal tending of Anton Khudobin, who arguably played the best game of his career, as he stopped 26 shots and did it with some spectacular leg saves. The Bruins penalty kill was just as hot as ever, and it needed to be. The officiating was certainly questionable, and more so than other games this season; even so, the B’s fought through 5 power play chances from Buffalo and had several short handed scoring chances all were stopped by Ryan Miller. Miller stood on his head for as long as he could and kept Buffalo alive in this game, their offence was sloppy and their struggling defence got them above their neck in the hot water and it was up to Miller to keep them a float as long as he could.
Claude Julien stressed the Bruins not being as physical as they could and that all the lines weren’t clicking. Well tonight they were physical and were clicking, the Bergeron line and even the Campbell line all had tremendous scoring chances but were all shut out by Ryan Miller, but things were certainly working well for the Bruins. They didn’t go crazy with the hits this game but there was enough physical play to force Buffalo turn overs and that’s what the Boston Bruins need to continue to do for the rest of the season.
With this win and the Bruins returning to Boston on April 2, the momentum can only carry from here and hopefully will be more attractive for possible trade bait in the NHL before the deadline and the Bruins can bolster their depth and make a story book run for the cup and lay the slumps to rest.