Boston Bruins Week 19: Marchand Returns, Bruins Keep Rolling

The Boston Bruins finished strong last week, and with the return of star forward Brad Marchand, everything is coming up Boston’s way.

After missing the first game against the Red Wings this week, Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand was able to play in the final three this week. Although he didn’t score a goal, he made an impact in both of the Bruins wins. Hopefully learned his lesson from the most recent suspension and won’t make stupid decisions to cost himself and the team going forward.

Marchand is an exceptional player that doesn’t need to take those shots that could derail this great season Boston has going on right now. Outside of a team wide effort lacking game against Buffalo, Boston won 3 out of 4 to continue to chase the Lightning in the Atlantic Division and chase the Presidents Trophy. The Roundup begins now.

Game 1: Detroit Red Wings

The Bruins began the week on the road for a game against the Red Wings in Detroit. After a scoreless first period, it would be the home team who scored first. On the power play, a Martin Frk shot from the left circle slipped though Tuukka Rask to give the Wings an 1-0 lead early in the 2nd period. Detroit would hold the lead until midway into the second frame, when Sean Kuraly’s twisted wrister beat Wings goalie Jimmy Howard to equalize the game at 1.

The Bruins kept coming, as just two minutes later, the Bs struck again. After some good zone time, David Krejci cleaned up a rebound that popped into the slot and buried the puck into a vacant net to give the Bruins the lead. The Bruins would hold the 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Boston Bruins — DETROIT, MI – FEBRUARY 06: Danton Heinen

In the third, the Bruins would add another tally 8 minutes into the final frame. This time, it was Danton Heinen, who after a good forecheck by Kuraly and Austin Czarnik, was left all alone. Heinen fired one past Howard from the right dot to extend the Bruins lead. The Bruins would maintain the two goal advantage, until 90 seconds left, where with the goalie pulled the Wings would score with the 6-on-5 advantage to make the game interesting.

Luckily for the Bruins, they held strong and kept the Wings off the board to win the game 3-2 and keep the short winning streak going at 3 games.

Full recap here.

Game 2: New York Rangers

On the very next night, the Bruins traded Detroit for the bright lights of NYC to take on the Rangers. After an early scrap between Adam McQuaid and Cody McLeod, it would be the Rangers who would take the lead on the scoreboard. Rick Nash would snipe one past Anton Khudobin to give the Rangers an early 1-0.

A few minutes later, the other R. Nash in the game, that being Riley Nash, would quickly equalize the game at 1 after a good rush by the third line. Nash buried home a rebound from a David Backes attempt passed Henrik Lundquvist. Before the period ended, a Zdeno Chara point shot would also beat Lundquvist to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead after 1 period.

In the second is where the Bruins really broke the game wide open. First, Patrice Bergeron continued his MVP season and beat King Henrik with a shot from just inside the blueline. This was definitely a goal that Lundquvist would like back. After Bergeron’s goal, Tim Schaller scored one of the prettiest goals you’ll ever see. Schaller danced around not one, but both Rangers defensemen and beat Lundquvist from a tight angle to widen the Bruins lead to 4-1.

We'll just leave this one right here. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/Qq8tqN0et5
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 8, 2018

Schaller’s goal would be the last we would see of Lundquvist on the night as he was pulled, and in came Ondrej Pavelec. The Bs weren’t done yet, as a returning Brad Marchand set up Patrice Bergeron for a tap in shorthanded goal that effectively put the dagger into the hearts’ of the Rangers.

Heading into the third period, the Bruins were up 5-1 and the game was all but over. The Bruins would add another goal to complete the 6 pack, as Kuraly scored on a two-on-one rush to put a bow on the game. But, before it was over McQuaid and McLeod would drop the gloves again. Fighting McQuaid once in a game is tough, but twice is just scary. The Bruins leave New York with an impressive 6-1 victory.

Full recap here.

Game 3: Buffalo Sabres

After a couple days off, the Bruins returned to TD Garden to host the lowly Buffalo Sabres. It was a slow and sloppy first period, where the only thing of note was superstar Jack Eichel got twisted up with Matt Grzelcyk and left with an ankle injury. It was later diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and he is expected to miss around 4-6 weeks. An unfortunate injury for Sabres and hockey fans in general.

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For the third time this week, the Bruins gave up the first goal as Evander Kane pounced on a Bruins offensive zone turnover and potted one on a breakaway. Minutes later Scott Wilson would score for the Sabres to give Buffalo a 2-0 lead.

Boston would respond quickly as Ryan Spooner deflected home a great Jake DeBrusk pass to cut Buffalo’s lead in half. But before the horn sounded to end the period, the Sabres would score a late goal as Benoit Pouliot would convert on a 3 on 1 rush to give the Sabres their 2 goal advantage back.

In the third, the Bruins would play to the very end of the game. With Rask pulled, David Backes tipped a Patrice Bergeron shot into the net to give the Bruins a glimmer of hope with 1 minute remaining down 3-2. But, Rasmus Ristolainen scored from his own defensive zone and flung the puck 180 feet into the vacated cage. A disappointing effort from the Bruins lead to a disappointing result in a 4-2 loss to the Sabres.

Full recap here.

Game 4: New Jersey Devils

In the final game of the four game week, after a surprising loss to the Sabres, the Bruins traveled down to New Jersey to play the Devils. In a wild and crazy game, the first goal occurred when Nico Hischier accidentally tipped the puck passed his own goalie while on the power play, to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. The goal was credited to Torey Krug while shorthanded.

The Devils would tie the game later in the 1st as Miles Wood exited the penalty box after the Devils killed off a Bruins power play, and Wood would get the puck and score on a breakaway. But seconds before the period ended, another gift from the Devils helped the Bruins regain the lead. Again while shorthanded Tim Schaller chased down the puck and tucked it home on a wraparound, which was later confirmed by replay.

Once the second frame began, the Devils again tied up the game quickly. The Bruins turned the puck over in the neutral zone and Taylor Hall sniped one past Khudobin to tie the game at 2 early in the 2nd. Soon after, the Bruins would go on the power play, and right off the faceoff, a Torey Krug bomb would give the Bruins a 3-2 lead.

Before the period was over, the Devils for the third time this game, would tie it up. Kyle Palmieri buries home a slick Taylor Hall pass to tie the game at 3. The game remained tied at 3 until halfway through the final period, until Adam McQuaid, yes Adam McQuaid scored his 1st goal of the season to regain the lead for the B’s. The puck seemed to deflect off of former Bruin Drew Stafford’s stick and past Devils goalie Eddie Lack.

In a wild end of the game, Brad Marchand took a huge open ice hit to free Bergeron to score the empty netter to seal the 5-3 win. After the goal was scored Adam McQuaid went after Damon Severson, who had just crushed Marchand with a huge hit, and Severson ducked for cover before McQuaid could kill him, can’t say I blame him though fighting McQuaid is a frightening idea I would avoid that outcome at all costs.

Next: Bruins need to pay Ryan Spooner

The Road Ahead

Tuesday vs Calgary
Saturday at Vancouver

Predictions

After taking 6 out of a possible 8 this week, it was another solid week of Bruins hockey. They only play twice this week against two Western Canadian foes. Calgary is currently 3rd in the Pacific Division, while Vancouver is not in the playoff hunt. I see the Bruins going a perfect 2-0-0 this week, but I would not be surprised if Calgary can pull out a point on Tuesday.