Causeway gameday! Boston Bruins revenge is a dish best served cold
Last night’s game between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs could have, and should have, ended differently. Unfortunately, that’s not how the cookie crumbled in Toronto. Will a change of scenery help the Bruins?
James van Riemsdyk, a product of the University of New Hampshire, ruined the night for so many New Englanders last night. JVR had two goals in the first game of the home-and-home series between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs. His first was within the last minute of the second, and acted to wipe out a lot of momentum the Bruins had accumulated in the middle frame. His second goal was with a minute left in the game and sent the game into overtime.
As I’m sure you’re aware, the Bruins then lost in OT. This is twice now that the Bruins have virtually donated two points to a division rival. In the process, the Bruins also gave up a point of their own by losing in overtime. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: for a young team like this, points are points. But pretty soon, the Bruins are going to need to start having two point games again if they want to sniff a chance at the playoffs come April.
Considering the team the Bruins play tonight is the same team they played last night, there’s not much new to write about. It’s hard to guess whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing that the Bruins have a chance to avenge their loss from last night less than 24 hours later. Other than that, the only thing new is the fact that I’ve started to hate the Maple Leafs right now almost as much as I hate the Canadiens…and that is saying something.
Schedule
The teams both finished up and started to travel back to Boston after last night’s game. The teams play their second game against each other within 24 hours when the puck drops tonight at 7:00 pm at the TD Garden in Boston, MA. The game, for those who are inclined to watch, will be on NESN. The listening folk can turn their dials to 98.5 The Sports Hub.
What to watch for
The Bruins let last night’s game “slip by” according to Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. Your best players need to be your best players night-in-night-out. The Bruins two goals last night were scored by just those people in David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron. However, Bergeron, who is never afraid to shy away from accountability, had this to say:
Patrice Bergeron after B's 3-2 OT loss to Toronto: "A lot of good to take out of it, but late in the game you need to close it. It’s on us to learn and be right back at it tomorrow." #NHLBruins
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 11, 2017
It will be interesting to see how the Bruins respond to last night’s disappointment. The team played really strong hockey for most of the game, and had the win in their grasp. This Bruins team has showed great strength in the face of adversity this season with all of their injuries, helped in part by the coaching style of Bruce Cassidy. I’d hope for a rebound in tonight’s game.
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Tuukka Rask will be back in the net tonight. Anton Khudobin, technically the back-up, has outplayed Rask thus far this season. I believe Rask will eventually round into form and be the elite goalie we all know he can be. However, until then, each game he starts becomes a question mark on the schedule.