Morning Free Association: The Haves and the Habs Nots

This team, they just keep doing it. They start off slow. They play a game of speed without really finding their game. When they finally strike in the final period, it’s lethal. The Boston Bruins just keep winning.

Currently riding a 6-game win streak and an 11-game point streak, this team looks beatable with their slow starts and pile of bodies on the injured pile, including one Patrice Bergeron. However slowly they begin, they just keep going. It wasn’t any different Sunday night.

The Boston Bruins didn’t start lighting the lamp until the third period, allowing the Montreal Canadiens to maintain a one-goal lead for much of the game after Joel Armia deflected a puck off of Zdeno Chara’s skate, up into the goal.

Thanks, Z. I’ll take that.

A Joel Armia tuck is always a good way to start. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/uW4iTyNhYm

— Mike (@mikebrucePT) December 2, 2019

The B’s weren’t scoreless for lack of trying. Matt Grzelcyk, in one of his 4 shots on the night, tried his best to do what Torey Krug did in overtime the other night. Grizz got a shot on goal and a chance for the rebound, which slid parallel to the goal line. So close it hurt.

Matt Grzelcyk came oh-so-close to putting one home. Painfully close. pic.twitter.com/VxEymiQsMr

— Bruins Diehards (@BruinsDiehards) December 2, 2019

Late in the second, the Habs started really going after Pasta. Sure, throughout the game, Habs checked him and checked him again earlier in the game.

Excuse me, coming through.
Joel Armia hit on David Pastrnak #Habs pic.twitter.com/YvSR1NXG5X

— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) December 2, 2019

But when Brendan Gallagher started chirping him on a B’s defensive zone face-off, Pasta wasn’t having it. So, Pasta just followed the puck, which led him to get interfered by Shea Weber. The result of this brawl was Jake DeBrusk standing up for his teammate and taking the roughing penalty while Weber and Gallagher served for interference and roughing, respectively.

All hell breaks loose between the Bruins and the Canadiens pic.twitter.com/CQYdG0hpJc

— Evan Marinofsky (@emarinofsky) December 2, 2019

At long last, David Pastrnak got the B’s on the score sheet with this beauty.

This is one was pretty special.

And certainly the hands-down choice for the @JagermeisterUSA Shot of the Game.@pastrnak96 | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/5XPtrlw5iO

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 2, 2019

With his 25th goal of the season, and being the first player in the NHL this season to hit that mark, Pasta becomes the first Bruins player to do that in 45 years.

A @NHLBruins player is the first in the NHL to score 25 goals for the first time in nearly 45 years, when Phil Esposito reached the mark on Dec. 15, 1974 (25-29—54 in 30 GP). #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/wpLtZO7NK1

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 2, 2019

David Pastrnak on what it means to reach 25 goals by the start of December:

“Nothing. Just gonna enjoy a day off tomorrow and get back to work on Tuesday.”

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 2, 2019

This is peak Pasta.

Did You Know? David Pastrnak is on pace to score 117 goals this season. His salary is three dollars an hour.

— Acting the Fulemin (@ATFulemin) December 2, 2019

If you had David Backes scoring the game winning goal on a power play in his first contest after missing 13 games due to a concussion, give yourself a gold star.

The man. The myth. The legend. David Backes. pic.twitter.com/u9k5Rphrq8

— Bruins Diehards (@BruinsDiehards) December 2, 2019

The look on his face!

Pure elation.@dbackes42 | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/RXhzjJ8Iuf

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 2, 2019

After the game, he had nothing but nice things to say about his teammates.

"You could see it on my face. That was elation."@dbackes42 on scoring in his return to the lineup: pic.twitter.com/7sXXBuv70h

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 2, 2019

Finally, Jake DeBrusk capped off the game with this gritty effort.

Jake DeBrusk makes it 3-1 #NHLBruins, great give and go with Charlie Coyle pic.twitter.com/hDGSs1M5Gl

— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) December 2, 2019

Let’s talk Tuukka: he was excellent. The goal he let in was a flukey one. Maybe he should have had it, maybe not. After that, he buckled down and let nothing else through. Breakaway by Gallagher? No problem. His defense can’t get it out of the zone? He’s got it.

Rask allowed goal on second shot of game, buckled down with 27 straight stops. Two massive stops in four-second stretch in third the difference— stops Gallagher on break, then denies deflection. Kept it one-goal game, Pastrnak ties it up three minutes later.

— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) December 2, 2019

Cassidy: “I don’t think we’re ever out of games. Goaltending has a lot to do with that.”

— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) December 2, 2019

The Canadiens have lost eight straight, three in overtime. This is the first time in nearly 80 years that has happened to the Habs. Is Claude on the chopping block? Some people think so.

Jake DeBrusk and it's 3-1. The Bruins might be about to fire Claude Julien for the second time in two and a half years.

— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) December 2, 2019

Is this the face of a Claude Killer?