Oct 25, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Bruins defenseman
Dougie Hamilton(27) cross-checks Toronto Maple Leafs left wing
James van Riemsdyk(21) at Air Canada Centre. The Bruins beat the Maple Leafs 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Last night, Dougie Hamilton was asked to shoulder a lot more responsibility. Zdeno Chara will be out for at least the next month. Boston’s young core of blueliners were going to have to put in an outstanding performance to take out the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hamilton met and exceeded expectations as he led all Bruins last night with a three point game and First Star of the Game Honors.
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“I think it’s just a lot of focus and everybody knew without him, everyone had to step up. So I don’t think it’s one guy – it’s everyone as a team and our D corps and everything, and I thought we did well. Probably our best defensive game this year.” – Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton
Dougie Hamilton earned assists on the B’s first two goals of the night. The first by helping create pressure in front of the Leafs net, and getting the puck to Carl Soderberg who chipped it in glove side on the Leafs’ Jonathan Bernier. (That also earned Patrice Bergeron his 500th career point.) He earned his second assist on Krejci’s solid rush to beat Phil Kessel and get another chip shot over the glove of Bernier.
Hamilton skated in front of family and friends to embarrass his hometown team in a lopsided 4-1 win. Dougie’s goal reminded a lot of fans of Raymond Borque’s time in Boston. He vaulted himself out of the defensive zone, rushed past two defenders, and rifled the shot past Bernier. Hamilton’s goal led to Bernier getting pulled in favor of James Reimer.
Puck Prose
Dougie Hamilton was the complete package for Boston last night. He tied his NHL career best with last night’s three point game. He was a +2 with four shots, three hits, the takeaway that led to his goal, and put in twenty two quality minutes on the ice. He spent nearly four minutes on the power play, and a minute and a half of the penalty kill.
We knew the Bruins would have to rally in Chara’s absence, and they did that in the Air Canada Centre. The Bruins are back at .500 and only two games behind the Montreal Canadiens. They head home to take on the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.