Jack kept sayin that this game had the feel of a playoff game and perhaps that was true for one of the two teams. With Florida still outside of the playoff structure but not mathematically eliminated, this was a am they needed to win.
Might as well be a playoff game tonight!
Florida absolutely needs to win tonight… the Bruins have dropped 2 in a row.
Rask and Luongo (1000th regular season game)… 7:30 on NESN.
BEEEEEEE
THERRRRRRE!— Jack Edwards (@RealJackEdwards) April 5, 2018
And it was Bobby Lu’s 1000th career NHL game. He’s only the third goalie to reach this mark behind Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur.
First Period:
As the Bruins are prone to do, they let the Panthers score first. Honestly when it’s one of Florida’s top goal scorers like Aleksander Barkov. So Sasha Barkov scored his 27th of the season and 100th career NHL goal.
ALEKSANDER BARKOV SLAMS HOME EVGENII DADONOV'S PASS, 1-0 PANTHERS! 100TH CAREER GOAL FOR BARKOV! pic.twitter.com/6GxdDNqmE2
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) April 6, 2018
You know how it is if you’re not known for scorn goals or are in a slump, the Bruins are the team to play against. Former Bruin and definitely our friend anymore Frank Vatrano to his 6th of the season.
Frank Vatrano scores against his former team and puts the Black and Gold in a 2-0 hole in the first. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/0ZO6LbUux3
— Colin Beswick (@CBeswick) April 6, 2018
Maybe if he had showed some of that gumption and gusto with the B’s he’d still be on the team. Just kidding, he just didn’t fit. You see, an upgrade was in progress, playing his way through both Harvard and the US National team in the Olympics. Ryan Donato needed only 14 seconds on the power power to halve the score and bring Boston back within 1.
Ryan Donato cuts the Panthers lead to 2-1 #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/t7CQSHukUt
— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) April 6, 2018
Second Period:
Danton Heinen has been having a rough of it the back half of the season. While he’s definitely found his home on the third line with Riley Nash and David Backes, he’s also been shuttled up and down the lineup as needed due to injuries everywhere. While it’s no doubt been frustration, it’s beautiful to see gems like this for the first year forward.
Danton Heinen!!! Tie game 2-2 #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/Tv5gMT1HMA
— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) April 6, 2018
Heinen tied it up with the score remaining the same through the period.
Third Period:
For most of the third, the Bruins were able to hold off the slowly surging Panthers.Then, at some point pinned in their own zone, it looked as if each Bruins player had been replaced by a doppelgänger who did not know how to play hockey well – lots of bodies moving in space with completely ineffective skills. The Panthers took advantage of this when Jared McCann scored his first goal in 8 games.
Afterward, the Bruins just seemed to be chasing their own tails, able to fend off shots but unable to get any real scoring chances. As the game progressed, it became more and more chippy, ending in a scrum with David Krejci going after Colton Sceviour. It all happened so quickly that we’re lucky to have a sleuth suss out the cause.
Krejci went after Sceviour after this high stick on the faceoff with 1.7 seconds left. pic.twitter.com/zHPuMlfTCQ
— dafoomie (@dafoomie) April 6, 2018
Seriously, are all guys named Colton dicks? It certainly seems so.
The Bruins only have 2 games remaining and are currently in second place in the Atlantic, tied with Tampa Bay in points with an equal amount of games played but with one less ROW. They face Florida once more (with feeling!) on Sunday night to end the regular season. It’s wonderful to have clinched two weeks prior to the end of the season and not have to worry about each game. Even with the at times disorganized nature of play tonight, there’s not much to worry about because this team has another gear and we’ll get to see it soon.
I created a Stanley Cup Bracket league on NHL.com
https://bracketchallenge.nhl.com/dashboard I think this link will get you there. League is called Bobby2bergy. I can be so creative! Play, invite people to play, whatevs. No bracket until everything is sorted, of course.
Joined!
Last year I filled in my bracket with the results I wanted to see. I came last!
Ha!
Mother Nature has spoken! It’s snowing – enough so I can no longer see the yard. Hence, NO MO YARD WORK!!!!
It’s a gorgeous day here. Barely even need a coat! Hopefully it makes it’s way west for you soon!
I’m kinda salty about last night.
The Bruins got out shot & out hustled for too much of that game.
(28-35 SOG, 52-37 shots+blocks). That is a team that they should beat by 2 goals/game.
Maybe Cassidy doesn’t care about the difference between playing Philly & the Leafs?
At least Colby Cave looked better last night, but I’m really looking forward to Riley Nash & Sean Kuraly coming back.
From what I saw of the game they looked disjointed and lacking confidence at times, which is annoying but we know that’s not really them.
I’d much rather play Philly, though. Hopefully Bs can outperform Tampa in these last games
They’d better get their shit together before tomorrow night! They haven’t lost 3 in a row in regulation all season and now is definitely NOT the time to change that!
That Heinen goal! It’s what he does best – finds the open spaces at the right time so the puck can find him.
Oh Brad you delightful little troll!
BWAAAAA HAAAA!!!!
I saw the first message on its own, and it’s nice enough – probably well meant. But the vitriol in the replies was as bad as one would expect.
I guess that after seeing the 16 hours of angry nonsense that he just had to twirl his moustache at them.
Horrible news. What a kick ass kid.
Oh Frankie V! Why last night?
Because the B’s couldn’t keep the crease clear this week.
I mean if the Bruins are just gonna let you have the puck while you’re skating through the paint, you kinda have to take a shot.
Still, the kid is dead to me now.
Yeah, I hate when the Bs give up goals to ex-Bruins.
Hey hockey pals!
Ooof, your orders for the weekend are to rest and feel better!
I’m at work now, where I’m not convinced I’ll be doing anything productive today. Boss already called me with a question and I was like…. Uhhhhhhh? Huhhhhhhh…
Sounds a lot like what Jo went through. I hope it’,s over soon.
So, she’s not No today?
She is a big yes!!!
Hi Pals!
We missed the game. I did not watch the Bruins in 2 – There was a Sox game on in it’s place.
Great show last night – we were in the front row – thanks WPKN!!!! I turned in last night on the way to the show and was rewarded with the Velvet Underground, X, and the Zambonis is right away! Blessed station!I
Yard work today! Once I get movin’.
Mo cawfee!!!!
Oooh, that station has a website with a Listen Live option. Excellent
Morning.
Agreed. They didn’t look good last night, but it’s not like we’ve never seen the Bruins finish a regular season weakly before. And they must be exhausted.
Yeah, game last night didn’t surprise me. Knew the kitties were going to push hard to try and get a playoff spot. Sunday will be a fun one for sure!
I’m going Sunday – it’s the rescheduled game from January. Fun!
Cheer Rancourt for me!