Fresh from their bye week, the Boston Bruins were back in action Saturday against the rival Montreal Canadiens. Bell Centre was rocking, with pockets of Black & Gold who could be seen behind the boards. The Boston Bruins were not at their recent best but got the two points they wanted.
First Period:
Montreal had won three of four last games at home. December 14th against the Washington Capitals was the last time the Boston Bruins have lost in regulation.
The Plekanec line for the Montreal Canadiens was simply being allowed too much room to exploit Tuukka Rask. The Bruins simply cannot handle being hemmed in their own zone for so long. Victor Mete would set up Max Pacioretty who eased the puck past Rask’s pad. 0-1 Montreal. The Bruins looked sluggish out of the gate in comparison to the Canadiens, who came out flying.
The first five minutes were a brutal awakening for the Bruins. Allowing the men in red and blue in behind their defence. Jacob De La Rose would break lose, almost scoring a second for Montreal. The game at this stage was a pure track meet which the Canadiens were dominating.
Danton Heinen would get the first look for Bruins rattling the crossbar with a nifty wrister from the left circle. The week long break has clearly benefited the teams, both teams on their toes, the first ten minutes of this game flew by.
Tim Schaller would have the second look for the Bruins, pinging one off the forehead of Carey Price. As Montreal began compiling the pressure once more, rookie sensation Charlie McAvoy would take the games first penalty for a trip. The Bruins possess the sixth best penalty kill in the league at 84.2%. The Bruins continuing to employ an aggressive `PK, a harmless PP from Montreal.
Brad Marchand would come close with six minutes remaining, Bergeron excellently winning the puck in the offensive zone. Plekanec just getting his stick in the way of Marchand, seeing the puck wide.
Carey Price was 1.81 GAA, .939 SV% in last 11 games vs Bruins.
Charles Hudon would rattle Rask’s post off a feed from Alex Galchenyuk, on the inside and out the other way.
Bruins Claw One Back
The Bruins would get a glimmer of hope, a late powerplay at the end of the first. Patrice Bergeron with a world-class feeding Brad Marchand (14th) who goes top shelf past Carey Price. It’s fair to say that the Bruins were extremely fortunate to be in this game. Having been dominated in nearly every facet of the game. However, the Bruins really grew into the game, and had their first line to thank again.
Second Period:
9-9 were the shots at the end of the first, as the B’s took to the ice for the second frame.
The second started with the same intensity but the Bear had awoken as Jake DeBrusk buried a breakaway over Price’s shoulder. Charlie McAvoy threading the eye with the pass to a fellow rookie. 2-1 Bruins.
The Bruins lead wouldn’t last long as Nicolas Deslauriers would break free and snap one past Rask. 2-2. He was simply given far too much room.
Boston would then give up their second penalty of the game, David Pastrnak frustrated after losing the puck, a needless penalty in all honesty. This time the Bruins were made to pay as Galchenyuk rifled a shot past Rask who went down early.
3-2 Canadiens. That was a frustrating goal to concede as Pastrnak really didn’t need to take that penalty.
The Montreal Canadiens would get their third attempt on the powerplay as Kevan Miller boarded Brendan Gallagher. Brad Marchand would almost tie the game on a breakaway shorthanded straight off the initial draw following the call. The Bruins would escape unscathed leaving the Canadiens 1/3 on the PP for the night.
Bruins Pull Back Once Again
McAvoy fired a shot from the point, blocked and David Krejci (7th) latched onto the puck and fired it past Price to tie the game again. 3-3.
Phillip Danault would take a nasty shot from Zdeno Chara to the head. A complete freak accident, the puck seemed to bobble just a little before Chara unleashed a shot. From all of us at Causeway Crowd we hope and pray Danault’s injury is not too severe, and makes a quick recovery.
The second period would be called to a halt with a minute and change remaining and would be added to the third period.
Third Period:
Jonathan Drouin opened up proceedings in the third, pinging Rask’s post once again. Not soon after yet another shot off the post for the Montreal Canadiens, this time it was Deslauriers turn looking for his second. `This would be Montreal’s 11th missed shot of the fixture.
The Bruins would begin to ease their way back into the period, testing Price and getting shots off when possible.
Tuukka Rask then taking a shot off his mask breaking one of the straps. The Bruins whilst in this game looked likely to concede. Danton Heinen, who was having a decent game, would have another chance denied by Price.
As we entered the final ten minutes of the third, the Bruins turned up the heat. Krejci’s line keeping the puck in the Montreal zone, creating multiple chances.
Charlie McAvoy who had been playing with a real Bruins edge all night took a costly retaliation late in the game. Taking offence to Hudon ducking out of a hit. With yet another strong PK, Tim Schaller almost took the lead for the Bruins shorthanded, lifting Petry’s stick.
With both teams searching for the winning goal, they came up short. A scoreless third lead us to overtime at the Bell Centre.
Overtime
Boston were 1-5 in Overtime this season, as Bergeron, Marchand and Krug took to the ice for some three-on-three action.
Marchand breaking away early on but was caught before he could finish the game. Drouin missing just wide shortly after for Montreal.
Jake DeBrusk almost sealed the game, losing the puck but lifting the stick of Pacioretty and Price making a vital save.
The Bruins would hold the Canadiens hostage in their own zone with Pastrnak, Krejci and Gryzleck coming close.
Amazingly, on the break the Canadiens made one last push and looked like they scored as the puck went behind Rask with Torey Krug saving the day.
With neither team finishing the game, we embarked on a shootout.
Shootout
Paul Byron– Y
Jake DeBrusk-Y
Jonathan Drouin-N
David Pastrnak-N
Max Pacioretty-N
Charlie McAvoy-N
Alex Galchenyuk-N
Brad Marchand-Y
The Bruins were not at their best but they most certainly got the job done against their bitter rivals. Charlie McAvoy was outstanding at times during this game and showed himself as a passionate Bruin. McAvoy continues to make his claim to eventually have the “C” passed down to him in future years.
Dominate in OT but lacked the ability to clear their zone during regulation allowing the Habs too much space at times.
A win is a win, and any manner of win over Montreal is cause(way) for celebration.