Oct 3, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) defends during the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Bruins have had a very good opening week of hockey. The Black and Gold have gone 2-0-0 with solid wins against the Tampa Bay Lightning (3-1), and the Detroit Red Wings (4-1). The Bruins special teams have shown a vast improvement from last season as well. The specialty teams put in two short handed goals against Tampa, two power play goals against Detroit, and have been faultless when on the penalty kill so far this season.
Every Monday, the staff at Causeway Crowd will take a look at who deserves the Bruins three stars of the week. Here’s our choices for the first week’s action in the NHL.
Third Star of the Week: Chris Kelly. The third line was seen as the biggest weakness these last few seasons, and a slumping Kelly had been there for it all. Kelly has come on to the ice this season with something to prove, and he’s taken Reilly Smith and Jordan Caron along for the ride. Kelly made a little piece of NHL history with his short handed penalty shot goal, and the re-vamped third line proved to be very effective in its first two games. He has a +2, and has three shots on goal for Boston.
Second Star of the Week: (TIE) Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic. The Bruins captain has found himself in a new place on the power play, and that is being a Slovakian screen on the net. He’s the biggest guy in the game, and his size surely blinded the Red Wings’ Howard as Torey Krug fired a missile into the net that Howard didn’t even see, much less get a piece of. The big blueliner has led his squad well on the ice, and he’s made a few solid solo contributions. He put in his own power play goal against Detroit, and has proven his value once again to Boston.
Milan Lucic has shaken off the lethargy that affected him early in last season. Lucic currently leads all Bruins with three points. He earned his first goal of the year with help of his linemates against Tampa Bay, and earned two assists in the match against Detroit. He’s been that big physical presence that the fans have been looking for, and he’s done it without accruing a fighting major this season (yet).
First Star of the Week: That honor can go to no other player than Tuukka Rask. The Bruins’ net minder was there when the Bruins needed him against the Lightning, and did an outstanding job shutting down the offense against the Red Wings. Rask has gone 2-0-0, has a 1.00 GAA, and has stopped fifty seven of fifty nine shots on goal (.966). Rask has been amazing and so far has earned every penny of his new contract.