Your Boston Bruins just completed a 4gm road trip out West, playing 4 games in 6 nights with a possible 8 points up for grabs. And do you know what these beauties did? They came back with all 8 points! That’s right, the dreaded late winter West Coast trip worked out beautifully for the boys this time around. Enough chit-chat, let’s get into it.
First up was the Kraken and the B’s had the chance to avenge their first regulation loss on home ice this year (which didn’t come until mid January… I’m not sure, but I think that’s pretty good?) This game was wide open with an unbelievable pace, but it got sloppier as the game progressed. The Bruins were battling back in this one all night long and eventually they got the dub and all was right with The Hockey Gods once again.
Couple of highlights from this one. David Pastrnak put on a show when he dangled through 3 defenders to tie the game back up in the 2nd. Just filthy.
Then Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron showed how hardwork translates to success on the ice. I mean, c’mon. Look at that tenacity on the puck and the wall work deep in the SEA zone. This gave the Bruins a brief lead.
Then of course, the most lethal shorthanded combo in the NHL today made the Kraken. I ask you Dear Reader, is there anything better in hockey than a short-handed goal?
The Bruins showed their mettle by clawing back throughout the entire 60 of this one to secure the dub 6-5 over The Kraken. Of course all everyone talked about after the game was calls for Marchand to be publicly tarred and feathered for his “aggressive trip” on Oliver Bjorkstrand. Some saw it a different way, but I guess it’s safe to say that you love Marchy if he’s on your team.
The boys made it through customs and their first stop in The Great White North, was visiting some old friends: the Vancouver Canucks. This game was a lot tighter and played more defensively responsible, but the much like Thanos, you can’t stop these beauticians.
Up by a pair after the first period, the B’s were looking to cruise through this one and hope that the city didn’t get burned down (again). First was Hampus Lindholm with a missile to open the scoring and then Marchand really gave the VAN crowd something to boo about.
Brock Boeser got the Canucks back within a goal when he beat Linus Ullmark early in the 3rd and as VAN was trying to claw back into this one, they pulled the goalie for the extra attacker. And that is when The Ice Bear Dude did something that has never happened in Boston Bruins history. The big guy took it upon himself to salt this one away. Witness the history.
And you know when you score, you gotta hit the celly line Ferda.
And then there’s the reverse angle…
The Bruins got out of VAN before any riots started or any cars were lit on fire and headed out to the beautiful province of Alberta for a pair of back to backs with EDM and then CGY. In EDM, Jeremy Swayman got the start and had to face off against the premier player in the NHL. I mean if you don’t watch EDM play, you should. Connor McDavid is operating on another level, one’s that’s above the NHL. McJesus got the Oil on the board early in the first, but Tomas Nosek tied it back up just 13 seconds later. Good to have ya back in the lineup Nosy.
Next up was Nick Foligno with the forehand shovel to put the B’s up by a goal heading into the first intermission. Uncle Nick made no mistake with this one.
McDavid added another to his total (which was his 50th goal in only 61GP) to tie it back up, but the Bruins roll deep and Pavel Zacha notched the game winner late in the middle frame. Look at the effort by Zacha on this play, never giving up on the puck and putting everything at the net.
I think it’s striking to see the difference in the two teams as the Oilers leaned heavily on McDavid for this game as he accounted for their only goals. On the Bruins side, it was a goal from the 4th line, 3rd line and 2nd line that got the job done. That’s called championship hockey and scoring depth.
The boys traveled to the Saddledome for a tilt vs. CGY the next night and it looked like the legs were feeling heavy. Calgary was winning foot races and kept most of the play in the BOS end, good thing the B’s have the best goalie tandem in the NHL and Ullmark was on top of his game.
New guy Dmitry Orlov got his first as a member of the Black and Gold (more on deadline acquisitions later) to open the scoring in the first, and then did it again to make it a pair for who we are now calling Orr-Lov, in the opening frame.
Blake Coleman put the Flames on the board in the 2nd, but the star of this one was definitely Linus Ullmark. He was the first star no matter the outcome as he set a franchise record for saves in a game. The Bruins were gassed and were outshot by a 57-20 margin. The Ice Bear was lights out all game.
The Flames held a lead going past midway in the third, but Zacha tied it back up off a great feed from Orlov. Shout out to Jake DeBrusk who took the hit to make the play and somehow took 2 Flames with him in order to move the puck. The JD of last year would never have made that play. THIS is the player the scouts had as a first round player back in 2015.
That score held until the final horn as the teams headed for extra hockey. After trading some chances, it was Charlie McAvoy who got the OTGW. I mean we don’t call him Chuckie Bright Lights cause he’s afraid of the big moments.
If you’re keeping score at home. Ullmark set an organizational record with the most saves in a game, was the first goalie in the NHL to 30 wins this year, put up a perfect 6-0-0 in the month of February and scored the first goalie goal in team history. Swayman, stepped in and avenged the loss to SEA and then faced off against EDM and McDavid and Draisatl and got that W too. I mean c’mon. You can add all the offense you want (looking at you NYR) but it takes defense and goaltending to get the W’s in the playoffs.
Good to see Nosek back in the lineup, everyone slots to where they should be and the Bruins can roll 4 centers that are the envy of the league. Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Charlie Coyle and Tomas Nosek – I’d say that’s pretty fucking good.
Taylor Hall flew home before the EDM game with a lower body injury but HC Jim Montgomery said it’s minor and Hall’s status is day to day. Nick Foligno left the CGY game with a lower body injury and didn’t return but reports are he is day to day as well.
New guys Garnet Hathaway and Dmitry Orlov made their presence felt and once the trade deadline is officially done, I’ll have more on that. Up next for the B’s is a home game vs. BUF Thursday night.
Instead of the usual Huggy Bears clip, how about an Ullmark hype video? Fuck yeah.
You can read more about Brownie in his bio down below or follow him on Twitter @Abrow28
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