Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
This is the first meeting between the Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks since last June when they fought it out in the Stanley Cup Finals. Chicago may have been the better team then and they are even more so now with a 31-8-11 record to the B’s 30-15-2.
In Net: Tuukka Rask and Corey Crawford.
The Bruins got off to a very slow start, without a shot for almost six minutes.
The Hawks would get the first goal when Chara was caught deep, the puck was cleared and two Chicago players streaked up ice. Winger Patrick Sharp would set-up fellow winger Marian Hossa who threw the puck past a prone Rask. Kevan Miller hustled back but failed to stop either Chicago player.
The Bruins would tie things up late in the period when Patrice Bergeron got the puck into the zone, dished it off to Brad Marchand (13)who skated in on goal unmolested, then fired a shot over the blocker shoulder of Crawford.
After 1 period; 1-1 Shots: 15-12 Chicago
The B’s may not have started the second period how they would have liked but it didn’t matter because they got on the scoreboard first. Johnny Boychuk cleared the puck from the defensive zone with a pass to Reilly Smith, who in turn made a rink wide pass to a wide open Brad Marchand (14) who faked out Crawford for his second goal of the game.
Half way through the period Chicago tied things up when Rask let in a soft goal. Tuukka pulled away from the post just enough for Brandon Bollig’s odd angle shot to go off of him, then squeak in.
*Adam McQuaid injured and won’t return.
After 2 periods; 2-2 Shots: 12-9 Chicago
The B’s started the final period off well, with several legitimate scoring opportunities but no goals thanks to the stellar play of Corey Crawford.
Not surprising that these two teams would have to decide the day by going to Overtime, unfortunately for the B’s they would start things off shorthanded because of a dumb cross-checking penalty by Matt Bartkowski.
After 3 periods; 2-2 Shots: 14-7 Boston
In Overtime the Bruins missed a golden opportunity to win the game when Gregory Campbell mistimed his shot after receiving a great pass from Bartkowski that sent him in alone on Crawford.
No scoring in O.T., so off to the Shoot Out they went.
After Overtime; 2-2 Shots: 3-1 Chicago
In the Shoot Out only Brad Marchand would score for the B’s vs both Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane scored for Chicago, leaving the Bruins with a point but a heart breaking loss after playing so well in this game.
3-2 loss. Shot totals: 37-36 Chicago
Next up for the Bruins is a Monday afternoon (3 P.M.) home game against the N.Y. Islanders. Go B’s!