With only 9 games to go in the NHL regular season, Boston is in a tight spot. Dropping 2 in a row against the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins at this stage is not a luxury they can afford if they hope to stay in the playoff race. After winning their last 2 games, The New York Rangers are now within striking distance of the Bruins, just 4 points behind them in fifth place in the East. Of course, Boston still has 2 games in hand on the surging Rangers. Losing is a bad idea.
Yesterday, the Bruins locked into a defensive battle against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They had trouble getting through the neutral zone. When they did, they found passing lanes blocked. While they had a healthy 30 shots on goal, they couldn’t make even one of them count on the scoreboard.
The teams were evenly matched throughout the game, each having issues scoring 5-on-5. And it was truly 5-on-5 during the entire first two periods. At 4:03 in the third, Jake Guentzel got one by Jeremy Swayman glove side. It would be the only goal of the game.
Took some time but Jake Guentzel (@jakenbake20) finally breaks the ice in the third!
: https://t.co/wDhCPpTwcy @NHLonNBCSports pic.twitter.com/nLd24mczDV
— NHL (@NHL) April 25, 2021
Among the 70 goalies in the NHL that have logged at least 350 minutes of ice time this season, Jeremy Swayman ranks first with a .915 save percentage on high-danger shots.
Swayman standing tall against plenty of Grade-A looks, breakaways and rebound chances.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 25, 2021
The game almost succeeded without penalty until Jake Guentzel took a stick on his visor from Patrice Bergeron and proceeded to win the best dramatic actor in a game. I wish I had a gif of it but I just couldn’t find it. It didn’t matter because as I mentioned earlier, no further goals were scored.
The Bruins cannot afford to lose again on Tuesday night. Jeremy Swayman played an excellent game and while the team in front of him also played an excellent defensive game, it’s time for the group to show off that scoring panache they’ve had when they put 6 on the Caps last Sunday. Now is the time to win, boys!
Andrew Shaw has retired. I don’t know whether that’s old news or new news
Morning all. Weekend need to be longer!!
Hi Pals!
Internet failed during the first. Listened by the fire on the radio.
Jo went back to CT this morn. I stay to work!
Went fishing the last two mornings! I caught a stick and only lost one lure! Great success!!!
Nothing like a good old stick supper!
Boomer would agree with you!
Stick Chowder is a Monrovian specialty!
My dad always said that if you get a bad cut of meat or fish, wrap it in moss and tree bark, roast slowly over a fire of hot coals, unwrap it all, through away the meat, and eat the bark.
It sounded like Kevan Miller was a lil rusty. It also sounded like the ‘Guins were the better team for much of the game, first period and end of the second being the exceptions
Yeah, the shot counts stayed close all game, but the Pens had more zone time and their shooting opportunities were a better overall. The one goal was just good execution. Swayman needs to defend the post from the guy in the corner (bad angle, but Crosby) and Guentzel keeps in motion, keeping defenders from blanketing him yet still one-times it.
Riley almost gets a poke at it, but is just too far/too slow to make it happen.
Aha, that was the same exact tweet that didn’t render on my other computer. I didn’t have to include it.
I feel teh dumb now.