Boston Bruins fly by the Red Wings, defeat Detroit 3-2 in OT

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 13: Brad Marchand
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 13: Brad Marchand

On a snowy Wednesday night in Detroit, Michigan the Boston Bruins took on the Detroit Red Wings in a very empty arena due to the weather conditions.

The Boston Bruins, riding high from their 3-1 victory over the Islanders on Saturday night, were looking to continue their winning ways against the struggling Red Wings.  They waited until the last minute and needed OT to get the job done, but when the final horn sounded it was the Bruins who stood tall.

1st Period

To be honest, not much happened in the period.  Outside of an early Bruins PP and a late Red Wings PP there wasn’t much in the terms of action and the period ended 0-0 with the Bruins only registering 2 shots on goal.  The Red Wings had 9, but neither team had any real chances.

2nd Period

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With both teams seeking the opening goal, it was the Wings who broke through first.  After a tough penalty call on Patrice Bergeron, the Wings quickly scored on the power play, as Tomas Tatar sniped one past Tuukka Rask and gave the Wings a 1-0.

Moments later, the Bruins had a chance to equalize on a David Pastrnak breakaway, but Jimmy Howard made the save.  Both teams headed for the locker room with the Red Wings nursing a 1-0 lead.

3rd Period

Early in the period with the Bruins needing a goal, the team got one from an unlikely source.  A net mouth scramble ensued in front of Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard, and fourth liner Noel Acciari banged home the tying goal just 3 minutes into the frame.

Boston Bruins
DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 13: Noel Acciari

Halfway through the period, the Bruins headed to the power play, but it was the Wings who took advantage of the chance.  A shorthanded breakaway goal by Dylan Larkin gave the Wings a 2-1 lead just after 10 minutes in the period.

Again, the Bruins were seeking for a tying goal and against all odds, they found it again.  With the goalie pulled, a great Marchand pass found Pastrnak on the backdoor, and he fired a shot into a wide open net and tied the game at 2 with a minute and a half remaining.  Sixty minutes would not be enough in this game, as both teams were locked at 2 and now we have overtime.

Overtime

Just 35 seconds into the extra period, the Bruins got the extra point, as Marchand converted a slick backhand on a breakaway and gave the Bruins a 3-2 OT win.

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Short Shifts

  • It wasn’t a pretty game from the Bruins, but 2 points are 2 points and it’s another important win for the B’s.
  • After a slow start to the season, this victory tonight was Tuukka Rask’s fifth straight victory.
  • David Pastrnak scored his team leading 15th goal of the season.
  • The Bruins will fly home after the game and will welcome the Washington Capitals to Boston for a game tomorrow night.