Boston Bruins Game 2: Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay
Like a few, dare I say many Bruins fans, I did not expect Boston to win yet alone so emphatically on Saturday night down at Amalie Arena.
Top-Line Triumph
If the Boston Bruins can get the top-line clicking as well as they did in Game One then it’s hard to look past them again. Every time they stepped onto the ice, the best line in the NHL looked like tearing apart the Lightning.
Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak combined for 11 points in Game One on eight shots collectively. Both Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos were left pointless, a welcome sight for the Bruins faithful. However, a sight that surely cannot continue if the Lightning are to have a prayer in this series.
Tuukka Rask…
Boy did Tuukka take some abuse in the first-round. Those critics were swiftly silenced after Game One in Florida. Saving 34 of the 36 shots he faced a tasty .944SV%. The faultless Andrei Vasilevskiy fell to a dire .783SV% saving just 18 of the 23 thrown his way. An off-night for sure and I’d expect something over .920 tonight if the Lightning are to resist the Bruins onslaught.
Lineup Gentleman!
Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk – David Krejci – Rick Nash
Danton Heinen – Riley Nash – David Backes
Tim Schaller – Sean Kuraly – Noel Acciari
Tuukka Rask
Predictions
Well, I predicted a 6-4 win for the Lightning in the opening duel but was more than delighted to see that turned on its’ head. Thus, leaving me in the difficult position of backing the Lightning again in the name of superstition.
Next: Bruins Brutal Beatdown Of The Bolts By The Bay
That aside I do expect a massive response from Tampa, although it won’t be enough. The Bruins top-line will continue to cause nightmares in the Sunshine State.
The Boston Bruins sneak it 4-3 in OT.