I'm going to preface this post by saying it's going to be short because finals week is a crazy, crazy time.
But the Bruins just keep adding salt to the wound. They walked out of last night's game with a 5-2 win, putting us back on top of the division and the conference by a point.
Now to me this win is impressive because of the extensive list of injuries we had. Prior to the game we were missing Boychuk, Kelly, McQuaid and Eriksson due to injury and Shawn Thornton to a suspension until his hearing.This meant that four of our lines were incomplete (our first, our third, our fourth and one d-pair). Once the game began we lost Dougie Hamilton and Kevan Miller, which messed up another d-pair.
But the Bruins just keep adding salt to the wound. They walked out of last night's game with a 5-2 win, putting us back on top of the division and the conference by a point.
Now to me this win is impressive because of the extensive list of injuries we had. Prior to the game we were missing Boychuk, Kelly, McQuaid and Eriksson due to injury and Shawn Thornton to a suspension until his hearing.This meant that four of our lines were incomplete (our first, our third, our fourth and one d-pair). Once the game began we lost Dougie Hamilton and Kevan Miller, which messed up another d-pair.
And yet, we came out with a win. How you ask? Because the depth this team has is absolutely absurd. With guys like Miller (pre-injury), Bartkowski with his speed and size and Caron, who played well last night, it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. It only helps that they are surrounded by very talented veterans. Overall, it gives me solace knowing our group of guys can rally despite all these injuries.
The second and third periods were perfect examples of this. We absolutely dominated both periods in puck possessions and goals. We were consistent all game, kept pressure on Bernier and got him to move. We were even lifting the puck and setting up some pretty beautiful plays. Johnson stayed calm in net and made those good, timely saves we like to see in our back up goalie. He is now 5-1 in his last 6 starts. Although we didn't play a full 60 minutes we made up for the iffy first period in the 40 minutes we did play. Overall, we played very well all things considered.
The second and third periods were perfect examples of this. We absolutely dominated both periods in puck possessions and goals. We were consistent all game, kept pressure on Bernier and got him to move. We were even lifting the puck and setting up some pretty beautiful plays. Johnson stayed calm in net and made those good, timely saves we like to see in our back up goalie. He is now 5-1 in his last 6 starts. Although we didn't play a full 60 minutes we made up for the iffy first period in the 40 minutes we did play. Overall, we played very well all things considered.
We even managed to score 5 goals:
1. Carl Soderberg Snap Shot: Early in the second, the Bruins went on to the power play on a delay of game penalty off Toronto's Ashton. In a beautiful play, Bergeron passes from the right wing to Reilly Smith, who hits a centering pass to Carl Soderberg for the tying goal. It was Soderberg's 4th goal of season.
2. Torey Krug on the Power Play: A little over a minute after Soderberg's goal, the Bruins were back on the power play on a holding penalty on Toronto's Gunnarsson. Krejci takes possession of the puck and passes it across to Krug, who takes the shot from the point and buries it on Bernier's stick side. This was Krug's 8th goal of the season.
3. Kevan Miller Slapshot: Kevan Miller sends a laser from the blue line late in the second and buries it past Bernier for his first for the season.
4. Jarome Iginla's Tip In: With a drive down the right side, Lucic barrels his way to the net and throws a centering pass to Iginla, who manages to tip it past Bernier in a pile up in front of the net. This was Iginla's 6th of the season.
5. Patrice Bergeron's Empty Netter: As the Bruins were attempting to clear the zone, Campbell flicks the puck out and Bergeron chases the puck down the ice and manages to catch it and score. This is his 9th goal of the season.
This game should have further proven to the Bruins what they're capable of even if they have a few injuries. They should take this thought process and the momentum from this game into tomorrow's game.
Until then,
Keep Calm and Bergeron
1. Carl Soderberg Snap Shot: Early in the second, the Bruins went on to the power play on a delay of game penalty off Toronto's Ashton. In a beautiful play, Bergeron passes from the right wing to Reilly Smith, who hits a centering pass to Carl Soderberg for the tying goal. It was Soderberg's 4th goal of season.
2. Torey Krug on the Power Play: A little over a minute after Soderberg's goal, the Bruins were back on the power play on a holding penalty on Toronto's Gunnarsson. Krejci takes possession of the puck and passes it across to Krug, who takes the shot from the point and buries it on Bernier's stick side. This was Krug's 8th goal of the season.
3. Kevan Miller Slapshot: Kevan Miller sends a laser from the blue line late in the second and buries it past Bernier for his first for the season.
4. Jarome Iginla's Tip In: With a drive down the right side, Lucic barrels his way to the net and throws a centering pass to Iginla, who manages to tip it past Bernier in a pile up in front of the net. This was Iginla's 6th of the season.
5. Patrice Bergeron's Empty Netter: As the Bruins were attempting to clear the zone, Campbell flicks the puck out and Bergeron chases the puck down the ice and manages to catch it and score. This is his 9th goal of the season.
This game should have further proven to the Bruins what they're capable of even if they have a few injuries. They should take this thought process and the momentum from this game into tomorrow's game.
Until then,
Keep Calm and Bergeron