Boston Bruins now tied with Detroit Red Wings.
I know a lot of B’s fans want to see picture perfect games. Games that balance strength and agility that lead to overwhelming victories for the Black and Gold. Tonight, was obviously not one of those games. The Boston Bruins came down from two goals to squeak out a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
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The Bruins were 1-20-2 in previous games where they were down two goals coming into the third period. It took an awful lot of work from the team to claw their way back into the game. Thankfully Tuukka Rask was playing an inspirational game for the B’s tonight, stopping thirty-five of thirty-seven shots (.946 sv%) thrown at him by a Detroit team that was looking for blood.
In the end, it took the Bruins to remember there game. In just 2:14 the B’s Swedish powered third line roared back to tie it in the third. Carl Soderberg got the first goal, Loui Eriksson the second. The Bruins played a stronger game, and were able to continue the fight.
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Brett Connolly had a solid opening night in a Bruins uniform. He earned two assists on the night. He was a +1 with one shot, and three hits. He put in 12:44 on the ice, and played a strong physical game. If he continues to play with that level of intensity, I may have to apologize to Peter Chiarelli for giving up draft picks for him.
The hero of the night though is Zach Trotman. Trotman had played in twenty-two games for the Bruins, trying to find that elusive first goal. In game twenty-three he found it with just 2:08 left in regulation. He slipped a shot past Petr Mrazek (that the Detroit goaltender should have had), and it gave the B’s the lead.
The Red Wings came back surging, but they doomed themselves by attempting to play with seven men on the ice, forcing them to spend the rest of the game on the penalty kill.
With the series of wins and losses for various teams, the overall score board looks like a little more jumbled. While the Bruins still hold on to the second wild card spot, they’re tied in points with the Detroit Red Wings (if it comes down to tie breakers, Boston will beat Detroit).
The Bruins closest opponent in the standings has changed as well. Washington’s win puts them in an automatic slot, and send the Pittsburgh Penguins into the top wild card slot. The Bruins are just two points behind them. The Red Wings, and the Penguins have been playing the same type of Jekyll-and-Hyde hockey that infuriated Bruins fans earlier in the season.
Ottawa’s win keeps them three points back, and Florida is still technically in the running six points behind the Bruins.
The regulation win has increased the Bruins chances of making the post-season. They now have a 81.9% chance of making the playoffs. (Ottawa is 28.6%, Florida is 0.2%). The Bruins have been doing what the promised they would do. They’re finding ways to win.