Craig Smith Calls Game Against The Pens And The Bruins Are Rolling Right Now With 3 Straight Wins
Sure, the Bruins blew a 2 goal lead in the 3rd but Craig Smith scored the OT winner and the B's are rolling to the tune of 3 straight wins.
1ST PERIOD:
With Connor Clifton in the box for cross checking.. Brad Marchand opened the scoring with his 28th career shorthanded goal. 28!!! Just walked Kris Letang. How about that for a penalty kill? 1-0 Bruins.
2ND PERIOD:
Chad Ruhwedel (hooking Frederic) and Chris Tanev (tripping Marchand) were in the box early in the 2nd and the Bruins went to work on a 5 on 3 power play. Guess who? Nick Ritchie, so hot right now. His 3rd PPG of the year gives the Bruins the 2-0 lead.
The Penguins started to flip the ice in the 2nd but Tuukka Rask made 17!! 17 saves in the 2nd to keep it a scoreless game.
3RD PERIOD:
The Penguins got on the board with 10:13 to go. Tuukka Rask looked like he got hurt, but stayed in the game. Looked like he was grabbing his hip/hamstring after the goal. 2-1 Bruins.
It was all Pittsburgh towards the end of the game. And they finally tied things up with 3:16 left in the game. 2-2.
OT:
Spoiler alert: The Penguins had a 3 on 0 in OT and didn't score. Evgeni Malkin also rang iron on a breakaway.
With 10.9 seconds left in OT Craig Smith buries the 2 on 0 and the Boston Bruins win the hockey game.
FINAL: Boston 3, Pittsburgh 2 (OT)
News, notes and quotes:
- Heading into tonight the Bruins were 10-0-1 in their last 11 games against the Penguins at home. Make that 11-0-1. It shouldn't have gotten to OT, with the B's giving up 2 in the 3rd period, but they were playing roulette with Jake DeBrusk's injury (did not finish game). I think they were gassed by having to kill 6!!! penalties by the end of the game.
- Brad Marchand scored his 28th career shorthanded goal and it was a beauty. He also leads all active NHL players with 46 shorthanded points.
- Bruins continue to make me uncomfortable with the amount of penalties they've been taking, but spin zone their PK has been outstanding. 6 for 6 tonight (officiating was horse shit tonight though).
- Nick Ritchie scored his 3rd PPG of the year in the 2nd and what a treat he's been this year. This is the Nick Ritchie the Bruins traded for. He's red hot and has been great as the net front presence on the PP. Special teams has been solid to start the year.
- The 3rd line continues to play well. Trent Frederic continues to draw penalties, the Bruins continue to score on the ensuing power play. Craig Smith the OT hero, he got a ton of shifts with Marchand and Bergeron with DeBrusk going down in the 1st. 7 SOG, 1G in 17:37 of TOI. Him and Coyle are starting to gain more and more chemistry as we go here, but with the top six in shambles due to injury the secondary scoring is a huge help.
- Matt Grzelcyk did not play, he's not 100% but I imagine we see him on Saturday night. Jake DeBrusk suffered a lower body injury in the 1st and did not return to the game. David Krejci has now lost both of his wingers to start the year. Cassidy said DeBrusk is day to day. Looks like he got banged up after this hip check from Crosby.
- How about that OT entertainment? Back and forth, 3 on 0's, 2 on 0's. I'd like the Bruins to finish games out in regulation, but good on them for making sure they got the extra point. Credit to the Pens for not giving up. They are a veteran group, feisty group. Should be another great battle on Thursday.
- Tuukka Rask was outstanding in the 2nd (and all game long), and finished the night with 28 saves. He's gonna lose his shit the next time he gets run into. Jake Guentzel plowed into him early in the 1st on a net drive. B's gotta be better at protecting their goalie. Rask got a little banged up after that Zucker goal, but stayed in the game.
B's are back at it Thursday night as they host the Pittsburgh Penguins once again. I suspect Matt Grzelcyk will be back on D. Jaro Halak likely in net. Now if Jake DeBrusk
It was a great night to win a hockey game.