Dec 17, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Niklas Svedberg (72) makes a save during the second period against Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Bruins defeated the Bruins 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Second Period
Claude Julien made the decision to bench Niklas Svedberg and elected to have Tuukka Rask replace him to start the second period. Svedberg was subjected to some porous defense, but seven saves on ten shots was worthy of the pull.
The Boston Bruins started on the power play but it only took 26 seconds for Brad Marchand to find Patrice Bergeron on a 2 on 1 to bring the score to 3-2.
Defense took a back step for both teams as it was fast break hockey for the next several minutes; ultimately leading to a tally from Dougie Hamilton to make this game tied.
At the 13:06 mark, another questionable and egregious penalty by Dallas’ Ryan Garbutt left Dougie Hamilton with a bloodied left eye and four minute power play for the Bruins. Once again, the Bruins were unable to take advantage and instead made things harder on themselves as Trevor Daley waltzed into the Bruins offensive zone untouched and followed his own rebound to put the Stars back up 4-3.
At the 15:06 mark, Carl Soderberg was called for tripping and thus negating the final two minutes of the Bruins power play.
An icing by the Dallas Stars with a little over a minute left led to a final flurry of offensive activity, however the Bruins were unable to cash in on any of these opportunities.
After two, the Bruins are outshooting the Stars 33-23, but still find themselves down 4-3.
Mistakes Halt Bruins Momentum
After seeming to fight fire with fire, the Bruins proved up to the task for the first fourteen minutes of playing free flowing up and down hockey. Goals from Patrice Bergeron and Dougie Hamilton tied the game but once again the Bruins shot themselves in the foot when Trevor Daley was allowed to enter the offensive zone all alone with four Bruins keeping their distance and not attempting any back check. I have to imagine Claude Julien must be running out of words to say in the locker room in between periods over the last couple of nights.
Next: Third Period: Boston Bruins vs Dallas Stars