Post-Game Breakdown: Bruins at Canadiens
Final: Boston 3, Montreal 0
The streak is finally over. The Bruins ended their 10-game losing skid one defeat short of matching the franchise’s all-time record run of futility back in 1924-25. They did it by finally getting some offense going, scoring more than two goals for the first time in 10 games. Ironically, the three-goal breakthrough came on a day when the Bruins could have actually won with a single goal, as Tuukka Rask stopped all 36 shots he faced for the shutout. With the win, the Bruins leap right back into the playoff picture despite their recent struggles. They are now tied in points for the final playoff spot in the East, though they are officially still outside a playoff position in ninth as Philadelphia has four more wins in one less game. The Bruins are within range of rising higher though, as they are just three points behind sixth-place Montreal with three games in hand on the Habs.
Records: Boston 24-22-11, 59 points; Montreal 28-26-6, 64 points
Revisiting the Three Keys for the B’s:
1. Stomp the smurfs – The Bruins weren’t overly aggressive in this one, as the clubs finished even in hits with just 17 apiece. But Milan Lucic did get more involved with a game-high five hits and some less likely Bruins stepped up big in the physical game. Matt Hunwick delivered a pair of hits, one of which leveled Brian Gionta (5-7, 173) with a shoulder hit in the Boston zone, while Marco Sturm set an early tone with a rare roughing minor against Scott Gomez (5-11, 202) just 39 seconds into play. Blake Wheeler was an even less likely combatant, but he dropped his gloves for his first pro fight in the opening period. He didn’t pick one of the little guys though, as he squared off with Ryan O’Byrne (6-6, 228), and while it wasn’t much of a scrap, it’s the thought that counts.
2. Derail Metro – Ex-Bruin Glen Metropolit had scored a goal in each of the first three meetings between the Bruins and Habs this year, but Boston kept him in check this time. He finished with no points and four shots in 15:44, and even managed to win just 4 of 12 face-offs (33 percent). He did have one good scoring bid from the left slot early in the second period, but Rask came up with the stop.
3. Time to get even – The minimal offense the Bruins have mustered of late had been primarily on the power play, while Boston has had almost no production at even strength. That changed today, which was vital as Boston didn’t get a single chance to use its power play all game. But after managing just two even-strength goals in the previous six games, they struck for three today to fuel their victory.
Key Play of the Game:
Adam McQuaid’s opening tally, Marco Sturm’s huge momentum-gaining goal with 3.2 seconds left in the first period and any number of key Rask saves in the second could all be viewed as decisive moments in this one. But it took Boston 10 games to score three times in one game, so Sturm’s second goal midway through the third was the play that truly locked down this win. With 10:11 left and the Bruins holding another 2-0 lead after blowing back-to-back 2-0 leads against Montreal and Vancouver in the previous two games, Sturm drove down the slot and fired in a shot that deflected off Montreal defenseman Josh Gorges and fluttered into the net for a 3-0 lead that finally felt safe.
Fight Card:
Anyone have Blake Wheeler in the pool for first Bruins fight of the year against Montreal? Didn’t think so. Despite standing 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, Wheeler has never been known for his physical play and had never come close to dropping his gloves. That changed at 12:17 of the first when he had enough of the rough treatment he had gotten from Ryan O’Byrne. The more experienced scrapper O’Byrne appeared to smile as the pair squared off, but Wheeler threw the only punches. They weren’t much, two weak rights that didn’t appear to land, and Wheeler then slipped to the ice before O’Byrne could throw any counterpunches. The linesmen stepped in and it was somewhat surprising that the refs actually handed out majors for such a quick scrap, the likes of which would often draw just roughing minors. But it does go down in the books as Wheeler’s first NHL fight in his 146th career game (regular-season and playoffs), so congrats to him for that. Both players also get credit for discarding their helmets before engaging, as they both wear visors.
Flynn’s Finest:
Rask has been solid in his recent games, but wasn’t quite able to steal a win for the Bruins. That changed today when he got the nod for a third straight start and responded by stopping all 36 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season. He came up especially big in the second period when the Canadiens outshot Boston 15-3 and had a slew of excellent scoring chances, but Rask held the fort and kept the Bruins in front as they survived the surge this time after squandering similar 2-0 leads the last two games. Sturm came up huge with the goal to make it 2-0 when he banged in a rebound with just 3.2 seconds left in the first after Patrice Bergeron had tipped Zdeno Chara’s initial point shot on goal. Sturm also added the clincher in the third for his 18th goal of the year, finishing a plus-2 with five shots and two penalty minutes with a roughing minor 39 seconds in that helped set the tone. McQuaid scored Boston’s first goal, which stood up as the game-winner. It was the rookie’s first NHL tally, and came on a nice low point shot that deflected in off Montreal’s Ryan White with Marc Savard also positioned in front for a tip. With Johnny Boychuk injured yesterday, McQuaid again played a bigger role and was up to the challenge, with a hit, a blocked shot, a takeaway and no giveaways in a season-high 14:43. he also made a key play early in the second coming back to harass Tomas Plekanec just enough to help disrupt his breakaway bid. The matchup of McQuaid in his expanded role against the Habs’ rookie line of White, Brock Trotter and David Desharnais was the matchup I highlighted coming into the game, and while McQuaid delivered, the Montreal youngsters sure looked weak in comparison, combining to go minus-3 with just two shots and one hit, though White did put one puck in the net, albeit the wrong net, when he deflected in McQuaid’s shot. Andrew Ference returned after missing 14 games with a groin injury and was a solid plus-1 with a hit and a blocked shot in 15:05. With David Krejci leaving early in the first with an undisclosed injury, centers Savard, Bergeron and Steve Begin all had to log extra minutes to pick up the slack and they each came through. Savard had an assist and was a plus-1 with two shots and three takeaways in 20:53, Bergeron was a plus-2 with an assist and two hits in 20:22 and Begin had two hits, two shots, a blocked shot and won 8 of 12 face-offs (67 percent) in 17:11. Wheeler gets a nod for finally dropping the gloves and veterans Mark Recchi and Derek Morris were each a plus-2.
Flynn’s Sin Bin:
About the only real negative in this one was Krejci’s early exit with an undisclosed injury. Claude Julien said after the game that it was a minor injury, so hopefully Krejci won’t miss much if any time, as his game was finally rounding into form and his presence is a key for the Bruins in all facets of the game. The only other minor quibble comes from the Bruins’ lack of power-play chances, as they didn’t draw a single penalty on the Habs other than the matching roughing minors and fighting majors in the first. On the plus side, they gave Montreal’s power play just one opportunity and killed that off. Morris was guilty of the trip that created that chance, and was also charged with two giveaways. The Bruins still dominated that category though, with just seven giveaways compared to Montreal’s 14.
Next: The Bruins stay on the road as they continue their four-game pre-Olympic trip with another Northeast Division clash at first-place Buffalo on Tuesday.
Down on the Farm: It was a good day for all the Bruins, as Providence completed a home-and-home sweep of Atlantic Division-leading Worcester with a 6-2 win. The Bruins outscored the Sharks 11-5 in the two games, with six different goal-scorers today. Mikko Lehtonen led the way with a goal and two assists, while Drew Larman added a goal and an assist and Kevin Regan (South Boston, Mass.) made 27 saves. Drew Fata dropped the gloves twice, taking on Dennis McCauley just two seconds into play and Andrew Desjardins later on in a game that featured 77 total penalty minutes. The Bruins (25-24-3-0) won despite going 1 for 9 on the power play. Benn Ferriero (Essex, Mass.) had a short-handed goal for Worcester (31-16-2-2). Providence next hosts Hartford on Friday.
Tags: Canadiens
