In the second and final game against the San Jose Sharks, the Boston Bruins provided a lot of drama. Instead of having will-they-or-won’t-they (win) issues, they had all sorts of other things going on. Yeah, they won 4-0 but three of those goals came from secondary scorers.
Twenty-seven seconds into the game, Brandon Carlo laid a hit on Tomas Hertl that was clean and hard in the corner. Hertl’s teammate Timo Meier took exception to it and started punching Brandon Carlo when he was on the ice. The two commenced fighting and were each given matching majors for fighting. Meier should have received two for instigating but didn’t.
Brandon Carlo and Timo Meier drop the gloves.
— Jamie Gatlin (@JamieGatlin17) January 23, 2023
Carlo went directly to the room and returned some time later.
Hampus Lindholm was the first to strike gold (7:16) before the Sharks had even registered a shot on goal (10:01).
Quick deke and a RIP from Hampus Lindholm! 🐻 pic.twitter.com/Y36h8HdX7o
— NHL (@NHL) January 23, 2023
So good, let’s look at it again!
The entire sequence leading up to Lindholm's goal was something.
Marchand went for a stroll in San Jose's zone. pic.twitter.com/AmBJxVGTXz
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 23, 2023
Look at this viKING!
🎥 Hampus Lindholm on the blue line's recent offensive outburst: "If you could put it in the back of the net every game, you would, but…it’s not as easy as it looks. It’s fun that we can create some offense and take some load off of Pastrnak and Marchand." pic.twitter.com/hjMm0Dcx2l
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 23, 2023
During the first period, the Bruins honored their assistant equipment manager, Matt Falconer, on 1000 games.
Cheers to the stick handoff extraordinaire. 🏒 #NHLBruins past and present offer up their congratulations to Matt Falconer. pic.twitter.com/MV6dJBI0sM
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 23, 2023
I love how swiftly he gets a player’s stick to them when he sees the player approaching the bench after they’ve lost or broken a twig.
Another defenseman, Charlie McAvoy — you might have heard about him, wasted little time in the second with some dirty moves of his own.
Oh my goodness, Charlie McAvoy pic.twitter.com/b09MqY4yVe
— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) January 23, 2023
Uncle Nick had some assistance on his goal a few minutes later, primarily from Lindholm but also a player notching his first NHL point, Joona Koppanen.
First NHL point for Joona Koppanen on that Foligno goal.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 23, 2023
While the Sharks were lacking in SOGs, they had a glut of penalty minutes in the second. Michael Eyssimont. He committed 3 separate penalties (interference, tripping, interference) in that frame but still managed to play in the game past that period. Fun fact: he and Brandon Carlo were on the same Colorado Thunderbirds teams growing up.
The B’s were flailing on the power play until McAvoy set up Pasta early in the third.
If I were the Sharks I’d simply remember to cover David Pastrnak at the left circle pic.twitter.com/zDI145gWwL
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 23, 2023
Then something funny and frustrating happened. Linus Ullmark and Matt Grzelcyk got their skates tied up resulting in Ullmark’s blade coming loose during play. He tried to get the officials attention but play would resume because it sucks to be you that’s how it goes.
Never forget https://t.co/DmxavtWiVO pic.twitter.com/EfbakOfgWK
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 23, 2023
Very disappointing Linus Ullmark did not chuck his blade.
— Fluto Shinzawa (@FlutoShinzawa) January 23, 2023
When play came to a stop, Ullmark made his way to the bench (with some help) for repairs and Jeremy Swayman entered the game.
Taylor Hall should get an assist for helping Linus Ullmark here pic.twitter.com/F57Jp2yJdd
— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) January 23, 2023
Swayman made one save to preserve the shutout, one that neither of them would get stat-wise.
Linus Ullmark (17/17) and Jeremy Swayman (1/1 in 2:28) combine for the shutout.
According to my research, first combined shutout by Bruins netminders since Byron Dafoe and John Grahame against the Los Angeles Kings on Jan. 10, 2002.
— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) January 23, 2023
IT doesn’t matter because when they can share the win, it’s just the best.
Bruins are 37-5-4. pic.twitter.com/2xFLuJdR72
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 23, 2023
Oh! Koppanen… i thought he was at least adequate. He’s already in a scoring race with Nosek.. :-0
I was watching the Calgary game the other day when Vladar’s skate blade came off. He signaled to the ref and play was stopped. His team was in possession at the time. The game was delayed a minute while the blade was replaced. No problem, take your time. I was beside myself, yelling at the refs, stomping my feet like an 8 year old…. WTF?
Somewhere out there, I’m sure Tuukka was as well
So I have to wonder what Meier’s antics last night did to his trade value. The barn was full of scouts and there was word that the Sharks gave Meier the green light to seek a trade, with the caveat that they want significant value in return.
But he had a goose egg on the scoreboard, only one SOG, a tripping minor, and a totally pointless fighting major after a clean hit. (I imagine that last one played well with the scout from Philly)
They can keep him, he’s part of the problem, not the solution.
I can’t say the Bs need much at the trade deadline. An insurance Dman? I guess, but at what price? They have Reilly and Stralman, i guess. Luke Schenn only makes 900,000 smackeroos a year, but what do the Canucks want in return? I’d rather take my chances with what they have…. don’t suppose that Mitchell kid could be traded…. yeah, didn’t think so.
Can the Bruins even get value back in a trade to the KHL?
Just getting rid of that kid would be valuable. What a cock up!
Maybe some fourth-line tank? Maroon’s cap hit is only 1 mil.
Maybe some fourth-line tank?
Already have Wags in Providence.
If i could get the Bs one guy, it would be a guy like Athanasiou. $3 million per year. If they would take Smith, i’d give ’em Lysell, Lauko, and a second round pick.
I feel like Lysell is expendable in whatever trade.
Wow. Lysell is supposed to be the real deal. I’d hate to give that up. Granted, a lot of draft watchers talk up a lot of prospects, and the Bruins cup window probably revolves around one of the 10 oldest skaters in the league, so maybe it makes sense to spend that future opportunity for a difference maker this spring.
Lysell didn’t show me a lot at the world juniors. Hardly a difference maker on TeamSweden. They’ll love him in Vancouver.
Morning all.
Had a nice visit with my upstairs neighbor Saturday night. Everyone should have an upstairs neighbor friend because it’s perfectly acceptable to go up and visit in your pajamas. And when you’re done visiting you get to just walk downstairs and right into bed!
That is a very cool relationship you’ve got with your neighbor.
We’re still very close with our upstairs neighbour from our old flat, which we left almost nine years ago! We only moved a quarter-mile away, though. She’s in her 70s now and is kind of a surrogate grandparent to Leah.
Monday is white this week!
Good morning,
Bruins took care of business. The Sharks are Connor Bedarding hard. Habs up next… don’t overlook ’em!
How ’bout the D corps scoring at will? Wow. I would like to see Taylor Hall get rewarded for his efforts. He drives play when he’s on the ice. I hope they start going in for him.
Finally got our foot of snow. Only got about 4″ on Friday, but we’re making up for it now…. a foot down, snow expected all day! Woo hoo! I don’t have to go anywhere.
Tasty goals too! Marchy must’ve been giving them some tips.
Both Lindholm and Macavoy had highlight reel moments. This team!
I hadn’t realized how long it’s been since Hall scored – he’s always making plays happen, I kind of assumed he’d gotten a goal sometime in the past couple of weeks. I suppose Grizz & TFreddy have gotten the stat-sheet benefit of his play.
Good morning,
I kind of expected the Bruins to go 3-0-0 in those last three games – the next three look a lot tougher, but Boston should still be favourites for all three, back-to-backs notwithstanding.
Is that twice in two games that a blade-less player had to be pushed off the ice? Twice in three at the most!
I was in bed before 11 last night, expecting to get up early and catch a good chunk of the game before work. Ended up waking up at 8.15! Must’ve been tireder than I thought. Settled for the highlights.
Still freezing here! I’m often amazed by the accuracy of weather forecasts but they got it badly wrong this time. Was supposed to warm up towards the end of last week, but the ground was frozen solid for our dog walk yesterday morning. Even Woody was slipping around!
You’re having some New England weather!
I tend to be conservative after having been been burned by my enthusiasm in the past. So I was figuring 2-1-0 or 2-0-1 in the last 3. Sharks would be a weird upset, but either NY team could have a good day. Similarly, while I agree the B’s are favored against the next 3, @TBL is always a tough game, and @MTL is a classic opportunity for the B’s to lay an egg against a bottom-dwelling spoiler team.
I’d be very surprised if they aren’t betting favourites for all three – but if the betting favourite always won there’d be no bookies!
It must be very easy to take the foot off the gas too much against a perceived weak team, but fingers crossed, the Bs seem to have been good at avoiding that this season, aside form a couple of early slips. Hopefully the fact that it’s Montreal will help them keep focus, even if the rivalry isn’t what it once was.
@MTL is a classic opportunity for the B’s to lay an egg against a bottom-dwelling spoiler team.
^true that!^