The Bruins walked out of last night's game with a 5-0 win over the Ottawa Senators and an improved record of 26-10-2.
The Positives
1. The second and third periods we were absolutely superior in every sense of the word. We dominated puck possession, shots on goal (20- 8 in the second) and in offensive pressure.
2. Rask was on point last night. He, of course, came out with the shut out after facing 33 shots last night and made those timely saves in the first period when we needed them. This is his 4th shut out this season.
3. Our offense took a little time to find their rhythm but when they did the results were beautiful. They played good, smart hockey and sustained good offensive pressure that gave Iginla, Krejci, Marchand and Reilly Smith the opportunities to produce five very well executed goals.
4. Our powerplay has actually been pretty impressive this season considering how poorly it's done in the past. We once again scored on the power play last night and our power play is currently 5th in the league. Our penalty kill is also stellar this season and we showed it last night by holding off 4 Senators power plays.
4. Reilly Smith. That's really all you have to say because this kid is on fire. He currently leads the team with 14 goals, has 3 two point games in the last 7 and has 7 points in 3 games. He's magical.
2. Rask was on point last night. He, of course, came out with the shut out after facing 33 shots last night and made those timely saves in the first period when we needed them. This is his 4th shut out this season.
3. Our offense took a little time to find their rhythm but when they did the results were beautiful. They played good, smart hockey and sustained good offensive pressure that gave Iginla, Krejci, Marchand and Reilly Smith the opportunities to produce five very well executed goals.
4. Our powerplay has actually been pretty impressive this season considering how poorly it's done in the past. We once again scored on the power play last night and our power play is currently 5th in the league. Our penalty kill is also stellar this season and we showed it last night by holding off 4 Senators power plays.
4. Reilly Smith. That's really all you have to say because this kid is on fire. He currently leads the team with 14 goals, has 3 two point games in the last 7 and has 7 points in 3 games. He's magical.
The Goals
1. Iginla's PP Snap Shot: After a little back and forth between Krejci and Iginla on the right wing, Krejci passes the puck to Krug who fires it from the point. The shot is blocked but Iginla is perfectly placed to bury the rebound right through Lehner's five hole for his 11th of the season.
2. Krejci's Wrist Shot: McQuaid makes the wing to wing pass from deep in our zone to Lucic, who takes the shot right in front of Lehner only for the rebound to get bounced off the glass by Bartkowski, where Krejci gets possession. He then shoots from the left wing to bury the weird angled goal right under Lehners gloved side for his 8th of the season.
3. Smith's Snap Shot: Marchand and Smith create the 2-1 as Marchy carries the puck down the right wing with little to no coverage and makes the pass to Smith, who buries the puck once again under Lehner's gloved side. It was his 13th of the season.
4. Smith's Wrist Shot: And Smith shows up, once again. Bergeron, Smith and Marchy make a drive for the net with Bergeron in possession of the puck and Smith hanging back near the blue line. Bergeron can't settle the puck down and loses possession of it in front of the net, where Reilly Smith swoops in and scores on Lehner's stick side for his 14th of the season.
5. Marchand's Shorty: With the Senators on the powerplay, Erik Karlsson has possession of the puck and tries to drive down the middle when one of the Bruins knocks the puck off his stick toward Marchy, who picks up the puck and moves with it for the break away. He dekes and scores under Lehner's gloved side for his 9th of the season.
2. Krejci's Wrist Shot: McQuaid makes the wing to wing pass from deep in our zone to Lucic, who takes the shot right in front of Lehner only for the rebound to get bounced off the glass by Bartkowski, where Krejci gets possession. He then shoots from the left wing to bury the weird angled goal right under Lehners gloved side for his 8th of the season.
3. Smith's Snap Shot: Marchand and Smith create the 2-1 as Marchy carries the puck down the right wing with little to no coverage and makes the pass to Smith, who buries the puck once again under Lehner's gloved side. It was his 13th of the season.
4. Smith's Wrist Shot: And Smith shows up, once again. Bergeron, Smith and Marchy make a drive for the net with Bergeron in possession of the puck and Smith hanging back near the blue line. Bergeron can't settle the puck down and loses possession of it in front of the net, where Reilly Smith swoops in and scores on Lehner's stick side for his 14th of the season.
5. Marchand's Shorty: With the Senators on the powerplay, Erik Karlsson has possession of the puck and tries to drive down the middle when one of the Bruins knocks the puck off his stick toward Marchy, who picks up the puck and moves with it for the break away. He dekes and scores under Lehner's gloved side for his 9th of the season.
The Negatives
1. That first period was atrocious. We were outshot 15-5 and we just looked ridiculously sluggish. The Senators spent way to much time in our zone and way to much time right in front of Tuukka Rask. It wasn't pleasant.
2. Dennis Seidenberg's injury late in the third period is the last thing we need right now. We were finally, albeit slowly, making our way back to a fully healthy team and the hockey gods said nope, not today!
Fun Facts
1. Bruins has obtained at least a point in it's past 15 home games with a record of 13-0-2, making this their longest point streak since their 20 game point streak in 2008.
2. We have tied the franchise record of a bruin scoring two goals for the 7th straight game. The last time this happened was in 1929.
3. Rask is the third goalie in the league to reach 20 wins this season, following Marc-Andre Fleury and Ben Bishop. This is also Rask's 4th shut out of the season and his 20th shut out in his career.
4. Jarome Iginla's goal last night gave him 541 goals in his career, tying him for for 29th on the all time list with Hall of Famer Stan Mikita.
5. Marchy is first in the league in short handed goals after he tallied his third this season in last night's tilt.
2. We have tied the franchise record of a bruin scoring two goals for the 7th straight game. The last time this happened was in 1929.
3. Rask is the third goalie in the league to reach 20 wins this season, following Marc-Andre Fleury and Ben Bishop. This is also Rask's 4th shut out of the season and his 20th shut out in his career.
4. Jarome Iginla's goal last night gave him 541 goals in his career, tying him for for 29th on the all time list with Hall of Famer Stan Mikita.
5. Marchy is first in the league in short handed goals after he tallied his third this season in last night's tilt.
Until tonight,
Keep Calm and Bergeron!
Keep Calm and Bergeron!