Another comeback in the third period shows the Boston Bruins are never out of a game.
Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks didn’t quite start out like the Boston Bruins expected. Then again, the ending was unexpected as well.
Chicago jumped out to an early lead with two first period goals. The Bruins couldn’t respond. After scoreless first and second periods, Boston need a two-goal comeback as we headed into the third.
The game didn’t seem out of reach until the Blackhawks extended the lead to 3-0 seconds into the period. Down three for the first time all year, Boston’s virtually spotless home record appeared finished.
However, as we see time and time again, the Bruins are never really out of a game. Not with this offense. In a matter of minutes, Boston took a three-goal deficit and turned it into a tie game.
Joakim Nordstrom scored the first goal for Boston, and then Chris Wagner ripped a shorthanded goal to make it 3-2. At this point, everybody on the ice and in the stands knew what was next.
To nobody’s surprise, the Bruins tied the game not even three minutes later. Torey Krug fired a one-timer upstairs to knot things up at three.
The game eventually went to overtime, where Chicago picked up an extra point thanks to a Jonathan Toews breakaway. The Bruins left only with one point, but they gladly took it after the poor start.
This most recent game against the Blackhawks once again shows that the Bruins always have a chance to win. Even if they’re down by two or three goals late in a game, they have enough to pull right back.
When we say enough, we really mean enough offense. The Bruins rely on their top lines every night, but they also have incredible depth. Two bottom-six players and defenseman brought them back against Chicago. That means when behind on the scoreboard, Bruce Cassidy can roll out line after line and expect offense.
With all that talent in the forward group, the Bruins can and often do score in bunches. They scored two goals in 2:26 against Chicago. Against Carolina, Boston got two in 1:08. Against Montreal three in 7:11. Go through the box scores this season to see plenty more.
Teams that have leads against Boston, regardless of the circumstances, simply can’t give up that first goal. If they do, the floodgates usually open. When Nordstrom made it 3-1 against Chicago, did any of us really not expect a 3-3 result? It was evitable.
One final thing to note: don’t discount the goaltending in these comebacks. Tuukka Rask gave up four goals in total, but he made some big saves against the Blackhawks to keep the game within reach. Strong goaltending is another reason why the Bruins have a chance to win every game.