5 Takeaways From a Bruins Shutout of Buffalo

Kicking off a five-game road with three games in four days this week against the Buffalo Sabres, the Boston Bruins were able to not only win their fifth straight game, but also gained ground in the East Division standings toward the playoffs.

Tuukka Rask made 34 saves for his 51st career shutout as the Black and Gold beat the Sabres, 2-0. With the win, Boston moves six points clear of the New York Rangers for the fourth and final division playoff spot. Boston has 58 points, while the Rangers remain at 52 following their 6-1 loss to the New York Islanders.

Since the Bruins general manager, Don Sweeney, made two trades on April 11 that acquire defensemen Mike Reilly from the Ottawa Senators and forwards Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar from the Sabres, the Bruins have won five in a row, two by shutout.

Along with the additions through trades, the Bruins are also getting healthy as well. Tuesday night, defensemen Matt Grzelcyk returned to the lineup from an injury, as did Jakub Zboril who missed Sunday’s game with a non-COVID-19 illness.

Tuesday night, the Bruins penalty kill was flawless again, killing all six Buffalo chances, including a 6-on-3 in the third period. On the flip side, Boston’s power play went scoreless in four chances and continues to an issue, despite their winning streak.

After an off-day Wednesday, the two teams will get back at it on back-to-back nights, Thursday and Friday nights in Western New York.

Bruins Takeaways

• The new additions at the trade deadline continue to impress wearing the Spoked-B. In the first period, Reilly pinched in the Sabres zone along the wall and took a pass from Patrice Bergeron in the corner. He threw a pass to the front of the Buffalo net and the puck made its way to the far post where Brad Marchand collected the loose puck and flipped a backhander under the crossbar for a 1-0 Boston lead. Reilly has three assists since the trade and now has 22 overall on the season.
• Rask was strong again in net to record his first shutout of the 2021 season. He stopped 32 shots with his biggest saves coming in the opening period. He stopped former Bruin Colin Miller on a breakaway off a Zboril turnover, then robbed Casey Mittlestadt later in the period on a breakaway. His best save was the glove save on Dylan Cozens later in the period to keep the Boston lead at 1-0.
• Despite not recording a point, the Bruins’ second line of Hall-David Krejci-Craig Smith was buzzing all night. Boston is a different team when they are clicking with the top two lines.
• Get pucks to the net. Coaches say it all the time. Well, Tuesday night, Connor Clifton did just that and was rewarded with a goal. Early in the second period, his wrist shot from the point broke through Buffalo goalie Dustin Tokarski and was sliding toward an open net. Tokarski, without realizing it, ended up pushing the puck into the net for the Bruins’ second goal, which gave them some much-needed breathing room.

• Hall is not known for his defense, but midway through the third period, he turned in one of the better defensive plays of the night. In a 4-on-4 situation, the Bruins defensemen got caught in the Sabres zone, which allowed Buffalo to break out 2-on-1. Hall ended up being the one and broke up the pass inside the Boston defensive zone to keep the two-goal lead.