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Boston Bruins Week 18: Patrice Bergeron for Hart Edition

By Joe Szymanski

BOSTON - FEBRUARY 1: Boston Bruins' Patrice Bergeron, left, celebrates his goal against the St. Louis Blues with Bruins teammates Danton Heinen, top, and Ryan Spooner during the third period. The Boston Bruins host the St. Louis Blues in a regular season NHL hockey game at TD Garden in Boston on Feb. 1, 2018. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - FEBRUARY 1: Boston Bruins' Patrice Bergeron, left, celebrates his goal against the St. Louis Blues with Bruins teammates Danton Heinen, top, and Ryan Spooner during the third period. The Boston Bruins host the St. Louis Blues in a regular season NHL hockey game at TD Garden in Boston on Feb. 1, 2018. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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Boston Bruins alternate captain Patrice Bergeron is usually a Selke Contender every season.  But should he be considered for a different award this season?

Everyone knows that Boston Bruins‘ center Patrice Bergeron is a great player in this league.  Bergeron is considered to be one of, if not the best defensive forward ever, and is a good-to-sometimes-great offensive threat.  But this season, he should be a legitimate MVP candidate, having the best season of his career.

He is still the best defensive forward in the NHL, showing off his defensive prowess in the most recent games, by shutting down two of the leagues’ best players in Auston Matthews and Vladimir Tarasenko.  In just 45 games, Bergeron already has 22 goals, which is just 10 behind his career high which he set in the 2015-16 season.

Boston Bruins
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 3: Patrice Bergeron /

Well on his way to his fifth career Selke Trophy, Bergeron continues to light it up offensively, even while missing his linemate Brad Marchand due to his most recent suspension.  He is the epitome of a 200 foot player, and it’s about time that he gets the league wide recognition he deserves.

On to the games played, the Bruins entered the week riding an 18 game point streak and were still chasing the Tampa Bay Lightning for top spot in the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference, and the whole NHL.  Unfortunately, the point streak ended against Anaheim on Tuesday, but they team quickly rebounded to win the final two games of the week.

Game 1: Anaheim Ducks

The Bruins got off to a slow start on Tuesday night against the Ducks, and it would come back to haunt them.  The Ducks got two quick goals halfway through the first, giving the Ducks and early 2-0 lead after 1.  The Bruins were outshot 15-5 in the frame.

They recovered in the next period as the Bruins took it to the Ducks for the whole 20 minutes, but could not beat a superb John Gibson.  The Bruins headrfed into the final frame down 2 goals.  Gibson remained strong early in the 3rd, shutting down some great Bruins chances.

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The B’s had a slim glimmer of hope as Ryan Spooner scored with 42 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 1.  But, the Ducks would add an empty netter with 7 seconds remaining to ice the game.  Bruins lose 3-1 and the point streak would come to an end.

Full recap here.

Game 2: St. Louis Blues

With the point streak finished, the Bruins hosted the Blues on the first day of February.  For the first time in what seems like ages, the Bruins scored first to take an early 1-0 lead.  David Krejci cleaned up from the mess around the crease and slotted one into a vacated net.  There was a review for goalie interference, but the goal counted.

The game remained 1-0 after 40 minutes, then Hart candidate Patrice Bergeron scored on the PP to double the Bruins lead with just 11 minutes left.  The visitors would eventually get on the board, when they pulled the goalie and scored with the 6 on 5 advantage.

About 1 and a half minutes remained and the Bruins held off and added an empty netter, courtesy of David Backes scoring against his former team.  The Bruins bounce back and win 3-1.

Full recap here.

Game 3: Toronto Maple Leafs

In the final game of the week, the Bruins hosted the Maple Leafs and were looking to find a way to finally get a win over the division rivals.  Patrice Bergeron got on the board first and gave the home squad an early 1-0 lead.  The Leafs would tie up the game on the PP minutes later.  The puck was knocked past Rask from Bruins defensemen Charlie McAvoy who was returning to lineup after recovery from a heart procedure.

Boston Bruins
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 3: David Pastrnak /

In the second, with the score still tied at 1, David Pastrnak would score on the PP to regain the lead for the Bruins.  Later in the period, the Bruins would score again on the PP.  A Torey Krug blast gave the Bruins a two goal advantage after 40 minutes.  In the final period, the Bruins hunkered down and shut out the Leafs offense.  Tim Schaller scored an empty netter from his defensive zone to cap off the win 4-1.

Full recap here.

Next: A Look at Boston Bruins' Tuukka Rask and his Streak

The Road Ahead

  • Tuesday at Detroit
  • Wednesday at New York Rangers
  • Saturday vs Buffalo
  • Sunday at New Jersey

Predictions

With two sets of back to backs this week, the Bruins might have a tough time to find victories.  The good thing however, only New Jersey is in a playoff spot.  The Bruins are rolling and I don’t think the schedule will slow them down.  I see the Bruins going 3-0-1 only dropping points against the Devils losing in a shootout.

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