Boston Bruins Woes Continue in Winnipeg
Apr 10, 2014; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets forward Evander Kane (9) looks for a rebound as Boston Bruins goalie Chad Johnson (30) makes a save during the first period at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Jets Hand Bruins Another Shootout Loss
The Winnipeg Jets aren’t a very good team compared to the Boston Bruins. But when you sideline Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron and have already clinched a playoff berth, the scale levels out.
The Jets lived up to this idea and became more than just competitors tonight at the MTS Center, edging the Bruins in overtime, 2-1. The Bruins have lost four of their last five games following a string of wonderful performances in March.
In the first period, the Jets, and noticeably Evander Kane, pressured Chad Johnson with intimidating scoring opportunities. The Bruins’ second-string goalie held strong, though, as Brad Marchand captured the first goal of the contest at 9:48.
Marchand secured a puck that was dumped into Winnepeg’s zone and skirted his way around the defense to beat netminder Mike Hutchinson.
It was nice for Bruins’ fan to see their team gain a quick lead and collect a few decent scoring chances in the second period. Milan Lucic blasted a one-timed slap shot from the slot that forced Hutchinson to make a glove save. Torey Krug zipped a nice pass to Jarome Iginla, who tried to bury his attempt and failed due to a great stop by Hutchinson.
The Bruins entered the final twenty minutes of the game still maintaining the 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, they couldn’t escape Winnipeg on this narrow advantage because Kane was determined to score.
Kane clanged a try off of the post with about 3:00 minutes left in the match. About one minute later, the 22-year-old Canadian gathered a pass in the slot from Blake Wheeler and then whipped a snap snot beyond Johnson to knot the score, 1-1.
The Jets really began to control the pace of play and dictate offensive supremacy in the waning moments, so the game-tying result was warranted.
Overtime commenced and ended just like that. Another shootout arrived. Reilly Smith, Ryan Spooner and Marchand failed to convert their opportunities. Bryan Little netted the Jets’ first endeavor, giving Winnipeg the 2-1 victory. Johnson totaled 37 saves.
The Bruins have two games remaining in their 2013-14 regular season: one against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday and the other versus the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.