David Krejci, Connor Clifton, and Jeremy Lauzon all share the same birthday, which is today. I hope that they’re able to celebrate the hell out of it after the game they had last night.
For much of the first two periods, the Bruins had the typical problems that were on display on Sunday: trouble getting through the neutral zone and trouble keeping the Penguins out of their zone. Penalties could have done the team in, had the penalty kill not been as excellent as it has been. Plus, Tuukka was on. However, the Bruins asserted their might ultimately knocking the Penguins around, with 50 hits to the Pens’ 25. It may have been that the B’s just wore them down just enough to start becoming effective. Within the last two minutes of the second, that’s when the Bruins began their push to win the game. David Krejci did a lot of work with backup from Charlie McAvoy to draw first blood. Tuukka also got his second assist on the season on that goal.
What a set of moves from David Krejci.
1-0 Bruins. pic.twitter.com/09MPtf72Gd
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 28, 2021
In the third after a spirited battle of punchyface between Jeremy Lauzon and Teddy Blueger, one in which the latter party probably regretted his choice,
Jeremy Lauzon drops the gloves with Teddy Blueger: pic.twitter.com/k3rtY9Sdrc
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 28, 2021
Brad Marchand had a most excellent goal. It took a couple of tries between himself and David Pastrnak, but three time’s the charm, right?
The Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak line cashes in.
Marchand gives the Bruins a 2-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/G7EPvL6DQI
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 28, 2021
It was just so beautiful to watch the drive, the teamwork, and the tenacity on that goal. Brad Marchand now leads the Bruins with 26 goals on the season.
Just about three minutes later, Taylor Hall showed that he was feeling it. With assistance from Krejci and Mike Reilly, Hall showed his true form.
Taylor Hall with the snipe. Sheesh.
3-0 Bruins. pic.twitter.com/RXUnwz4Qex
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 28, 2021
Bruins, 3-0.
Of course, someone had to ruin the shutout and that someone was Jeff Carter.
A perfect shot from @JeffCarter_77. pic.twitter.com/pTHOH6RY2S
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 28, 2021
In the final minutes of the third, the Bruins got hemmed in their own zone. With an empty net on the other side of the arena and an extra attacker, it was up to Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak/ Krejci with Lauzon and McAvoy to batten down the hatches, which they did. Sure, icing the puck a couple of times didn’t help them personnel-wise but those guys up until the final 30 seconds kept the Pens from scoring. The puck iced with 10 seconds to go did not help Pittsburgh, even with the faceoff in the attacking zone. The Bruins won 3-1. They also win the season series 5 games to 3.
Pittsburgh needed the two points and a New York Rangers loss to clinch a playoff berth. Instead, they lost, the Rags won and Washington took over the top spot in the East with a win over the Islanders.
good luck lol pic.twitter.com/6ggnrd6NcO
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 28, 2021
Boston desperately needed to win. Hopefully this energy will carry over through the rest of the season starting with the Buffalo Sabres at home.
In the meantime, Happy Birthday David, Connor, and Jeremy!
Good morning!!
Woo hoo! Goals! Listened by the fire with some video from Jo via video chat. Good stuff! Going to CT this Eve. Staying with her tomorrow in case she gets smacked by her second jab.
Went fishing again this morn. Changed tactics, going to worm and bobber. Same result, but more time to sip coffee and ponder the World’ s problems. I did see some loons fishing and having success, so there are fish. Found some wild leeks on the way home and had with eggs, no trout.
Jo’s second jab today!!
Is this vaccine-related or does she just like stabbing things?
Remind me to always stay on Jo’s good side!
Vaccine, of course! ( she may be reading!)
Morning all. Upper arm is a little sore but overall no side effects from shot 1. Also shout out to the pharmacist at the Berlin Mall Walmart who had to fill prescriptions and jab people because they were short-staffed. Poor guy must have been frazzled but had a good sense of humor.
Heh. I am 19 hours into vaccination territory. Slight stiffness in the shoulder.
Seem to have poison ivy on the opposite arm (this started over the weekend, so not related). Am pleased with the one, annoyed at the other.
Great news! Most people in our age range seem to be quite I’ll for a day or so, but maybe that’s just AZ. All the older folks I know who’ve had their jab have been fine.
Bruins were blocking shots last night too, blocking 21 to the Penguins’ 7 – how often does that happen?
So standings-wise, the B’ are now 1 point behind the Islanders with a game in hand, and a marginally better points percentage. Razor came up with some stupid magic number for the Bruins to clinch a playoff spot.
Actual numbers – Bruins have 8 games remaining, Rags 6, Isles 7.
The Bruins have 62 standings points. The maximum points the Rags could accumulate is 70 – If the Bruins win >4 games, they clinch. If Bruins wins + Rags losses exceed 4, the Bruins clinch. The last 2 Rangers games are against the Bruins.
The Islanders could accumulate 74 points. If Bruins wins + Islanders losses exceed 8, the Bruins leapfrog the Islanders and they clinch.
Of course, blocking shots and making hits tends to be done by the team that doesn’t have control of the puck…
The clinching scenarios are more fluid because the teams involved are all playing other, and I kinda love that!
I heard a rumour that when things are back to normal they’re thinking about making the last few weeks of the season divisional games only. I think would be great.
, blocking shots and making hits tends to be done by the team that doesn’t have control of the puck…
Very true, but the Bruins are more successful when they play a physical game. Not stupid physical, just taking the hit that’s there, making the front of the net a tough place to hang around, winning puck battles along the boards….. that kind of thing
It drives me nuts when opponents have an easy time screening Tuukka. Shove those guys around! No easy redirects allowed!
Oh absolutely they do. And if they can keep bringing that it’ll help in the playoffs.
Hi folks.
That was more like it, eh? I had the Pittsburgh coverage I think. Announcer was very impressed with the ‘perfection line’s goal (I know you hate the term), how Marchy stopped in front of the goal instead of skating to the corner to circle round, which would be the normal play.
Hall’s looking a great pickup too. He’s not a rental, right – got some time left on his contract? I know I could look this up, but it’s more sociable to ask someone who I’m sure will know!
I love how Satan81 got bent out of shape about Hall not signing with the Bruins in the off-season because it seems like they had to give up a lot less to trade for him!
Hall has been a great addition. But he’s pricey. I Hope they can afford him going forward. He is a rental ATM.
https://www.capfriendly.com/players/taylor-hall
Oh, he signed for a year for 8million? That kinda rings a bell. Hmm, yeah we might struggle to hold on to him. We’ll see.
Maybe he signs for less?
If they make it to the conference game, I’d rate that as a possibility! Dude already has the $$ and some stats. Now he’s got a pretty good playing situation and opportunities for playoff runs. We’ll see.