The Boston Bruins won three out of four games in the past week to solidify their spot in clinching a playoff berth in the East Divison.
After losing last Sunday to the Pittsburgh Penguins, 1-0, the Bruins bounced back to beat the Pens, 3-1, two nights later, before coming home and sweeping their final two games of the season with the Buffalo Sabres.
During their three-game winning streak, the Bruins got contributions from a lot of players to help them separate in the standings from the New York Rangers. Let’s take a look back at some of the top performers from the last week.
Tuukka Rask
Tuesday night, Rask stopped 25 of the 26 shots fired at him by the Penguins in the Bruins win. The only goal he allowed was a third-period lamplighter by Jeff Carter with under three minutes left. He even picked up an assist on the first goal of the game scored by David Krejci. It was Rask’s second helper of the season.
Two nights later, Rask turned back 29 of 31 Buffalo shots in a 5-2 victory. Since returning from his back injury, the Bruins top netminder has been impressive and appears playoff ready.
Craig Smith
Smith collected his first hat trick as a Bruin in Saturday’s 6-2 win over the Sabres and he had a pair of assists against Buffalo on Thursday night. The second-line of Smith, David Krejci, and Taylor Hall has been sizzling lately.
Brad Marchand
Should Marchand be in the conversation for the Hart Trophy? Yes, but he won’t win it. However, without a doubt, he’s been the Bruins MVP this season.
In the three wins in the last week, Marchand collected a point in each game. Tuesday night he gave the Bruins a 2-0 third-period lead when he jammed home a David Pastrnak shot. Thursday night, the Bruins first-line left wing scored into an open net from about 170 feet away and he even placed it perfectly under the crossbar.
Well, if the Patriots don't get Fields, maybe Brad Marchand can fill in at QB?
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 30, 2021
What a bullet from 122 feet, per @mattyports. pic.twitter.com/f58eJjvzqy
Saturday, he capped his week by assisting on Patrice Bergeron’s second-period goal. Marchand has 27 goals and 34 assists this season.
David Krejci
Is there anyone playing any better than Krejci right now for the Bruins? Since the arrival of Hall, his game has been taken to another level.
Tuesday night against the Pens, he scored on a nasty backhander in the second period before setting up Hall for a snipe in the third period. Thursday against the Sabres, Krejci had a goal and an assist.
Saturday, he had three more assists, on each of Smith’s three goals. It was not a bad week for the future free agent this summer.