Trailing 2-0 against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night in the first period, the Boston Bruins were looking for a spark. That's where Tanner Jeannot and Mark Kastelic came into the picture.
Jeannot and Kastelic both dropped the gloves and had two big rumbles before the end of the opening period. Kastelic dropped the gloves with one of the toughest players in the NHL, Mathieu Olivier. Let's just say, it didn't go lost on Jeannot a couple of days later.
“[Olivier’s] got to be one of the toughest, if not the toughest guy in the league, and it takes a lot of guts to stand up to a guy like that,” Jeannot said. “Kasty’s been doing it all year. He’s the heart and soul, and he gives everything for us every night. It doesn’t surprise me that he stepped up. You’ve got to show respect for that and give everything you’ve got for a guy like that.”
Both players said the fights were not planned. Columbus would take a 3-0 lead into the locker room after the opening 20 minutes, but staged a huge third-period rally with three goals, two from Pavel Zacha, including the tying goal with 11 seconds left, before stealing a 4-3 shootout victory.
Season-defining road trip awaits
I know, there have been several season-defining moments this season for the Bruins, but the upcoming road trip will all but determine their playoff fate.
The trip kicks off on Thursday against the Florida Panthers, in the team's first meeting since the cheap hit delivered by Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis to the head of Charlie McAvoy in February. On Saturday, the Bruins will have a stop against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The trip moves to Philadelphia for an Easter Sunday game against the Flyers and closes out with a stop in North Carolina to play the Carolina Hurricanes. Boston will need to continue its recent road success if they are going to make the postseason.
Maple Leafs pick up another win
Don't look now, but the Toronto Maple Leafs picked up another win. You might say, well, who cares? You should know that every win improves the Bruins chances to get their draft pick in the June Entry Draft. They beat the Anaheim Ducks, 5-4, late in overtime on Monday night in Southern California. Each point and each win Toronto collects is good for the Black and Gold in the final couple of weeks.