Shootout, Blues 3-2:
Round 1: Patrice Bergeron scores — Tuukka Rask stops T.J. Oshie
Round 2: Jaroslav Halak stops David Krejci — Alexander Steen scores
Round 3: Jarome Iginla misses — Tuukka Rask stops Chris Stewart
Round 4: Jaroslav Halak stops Chris Kelly — Derek Roy scores
Blues win.
End overtime, 2-2: The Bruins’ best chance of overtime came in the final few seconds of overtime.
Dougie Hamilton made a great play to chip the puck (backhanded) out of his zone up to Carl Soderberg who was bursting out of the defensive zone. Soderberg beat everyone out of the zone and had a breakaway all alone. He opted for the backhand, but Jaroslav Halak made the save.
Shootout it is.
Overtime, 3:26, 2-2: Chris Kelly had the Bruins’ best chance of overtime when Jarome Iginla found Kelly entering the zone, but his shot from the slot was stopped by Jaroslav Halak for save No. 28.
Overtime, 0:52, 2-2: We were this close to being all done here.
Derek Roy just hit the cross bar on a breakaway, so we play on.
Overtime, 0:01, 2-2: Overtime is on.
End third period, 2-2: Sixty minutes is not enough. These two teams are going to overtime tied 2-2.
Third period, 18:26, 2-2: St. Louis is taking their timeout here.
Third period, 17:30, 2-2: Loui Eriksson just had the best chance of the period for the Bruins.
He took advantage of a puck that bounced over the stick of Barret Jackman in the Blues zone and got in all alone on Jaroslav Halak. Jackman was able to get back just enough to cut off the angle somewhat, but Eriksson still got the shot off. He then got his own rebound and carried it around the net before trying to get another shot off on the other side. That attempt was thwarted, though, and it remains a tie game.
Third period, 12:50, 2-2: Despite how close this game has been, we’re still seeing some pretty chippy play.
Alexander Steen, who has been quieted for most of the night, just got a little “How do ya do?” cross check to the back of Patrice Bergeron. That didn’t sit well with Brad Marchand who grabbed Steen before everyone else hopped in for the group hug.
Third period, 11:01, 2-2: That power play started very slowly for the Bruins, but by the end of the two minutes, they had put the pressure on. Despite that, they couldn’t score.
The B’s second unit found some quality chances with Carl Soderberg doing some great work in front of the net as well. Again, he’s been really good lately, and he’s having himself another nice night in this one.
So, too, is Jaroslav Halak. The St. Louis goalie has 25 saves so far.
Third period, 8:56, 2-2: The Bruins are going on the power play for the first time tonight.
Barret Jackman was called for interference, and the power play goes to work.
Third period, 8:36, 2-2: Dougie Hamilton just checked in with his first shot on goal of the game.
He jumped into the rush and rifled a slap shot from the right point that was quickly gobbled up by Jaroslav Halak.
Third period, 3:55, 2-2: The Bruins were able to kill off the penalty to Matt Bartkowski.
David Backes had the best chance of the power play with a couple of chances in front, but Tuukka Rask made the saves. Backes then chipped at the puck underneath Rask’s glove which set off a fun little pushing and shoving match.
Third period, 1:54, 2-2: And we finally have our first penalty.
Matt Bartkowski was called for holding, and the Blues’ top-ranked power play goes to work for the first time.
Third period, 1:13, 2-2: Already a strong start to the period for the Bruins.
Reilly Smith just took a shot from the top of the slot that looked like it might have been deflected in front by Carl Soderberg, but the Jaroslav Halak was able to make the save.
Third period, 0:01, 2-2: The third period begins with the two teams tied 2-2.
The Bruins are 3-0-1 when tied after two periods, and the Blues are 5-1-0 in the same situation.
End second period, 2-2: The horn sounds, and the second period is over here at the Garden.
Second period, 18:41, 2-2: Again, traffic in front is a good thing.
Carl Soderberg used Chris Kelly as a screen when the Swedish winger ripped a wrist shot from the right slot to beat Jaroslav Halak to tie the game.
Soderberg’s been playing real well lately, so that was just a matter of time.
Second period, 16:04, Blues 2-1: One good way to score on any goalie? Get traffic in front of him.
That’s exactly what the Blues have done so far in front of Tuukka Rask, and they have the lead because of it.
With traffic in front after an offensive zone faceoff, Kevin Shattenkirk just flipped the puck toward the net. That was a good idea as David Backes was able to tip it by Rask to give St. Louis its first lead of the game.
Second period, 13:27, 1-1: Anyone remember when the game was wide open in the first five or six minutes of the game? Those were fun times.
Things have tightened up significantly, which makes sense given the fact that these teams don’t give up much.
One thing that’s become fairly noticeable is that the Bruins are trying to get shots intentionally wide and then trying to play the carom off the end boards. They must feel that Jaroslav Halak struggles some moving laterally and that’s a way to take advantage of that. Or maybe it’s something entirely different.
Second period, 10:09, 1-1: We just had our first real show of chippy play in this one.
Carl Soderberg and Barret Jackman raced for a puck into the St. Louis zone and with icing waved off, the two collided into the end boards. The Blues didn’t take too kindly to that as Soderberg was quickly met by a host of white sweaters followed by some pushing and shoving.
It doesn’t look like there will be any penalties on the play.
Second period, 9:06, 1-1: Tuukka Rask isn’t short on confidence, so he wasn’t going to let that fluky first-period goal affect him moving forward.
Just in case, the Bruins goalie made a nice save when David Backes tipped a shot from Alex Pietrangelo in front of the net. The puck looked to bounce quick at the last second, but Rask was able to stop it with a pad save.
At the other end, the Bruins are getting continued and sustained pressure on the Blues, as all four lines are contributing so far.
Second period, 3:44, 1-1: The Bruins have dominated the second period so far, but there’s nothing to show for it so far.
Brad Marchand has been one of the best Bruins on the ice so far. He just dropped Ian Cole with an open-ice hit as Cole skated into the neutral zone, and then Marchand helped get his line a scoring opportunity a few moments later.
He’s still not quite out of his slump, but he’s showing signs lately of getting there.
Second period, 0:01, 1-1: The second period is underway.
End first period, 1-1: The horn sounds on the first period, and this one is all tied up.
The Bruins outshot the Blues 10-8.
First period, 19:07, 1-1: That lead didn’t last long.
Chris Stewart will get credited with the goal, but it’s one Tuukka Rask should have definitely had. Derek Roy put it on net, but Chris Stewart is going to be credited with tipping in front of the net.
The puck trickled through Rask’s legs for a goal he usually always stops.
First period, 18:20, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins strike first here late in the first period.
Ian Cole fell down in his own end and the Bruins took advantage of it. Torey Krug eventually found Gregory Campbell who put the one-timer by Jaroslav Halak.
First period, 14:38, 0-0: Gregory Campbell just added to the Bruins’ scoring chances, as the B’s have taken the lead in shots.
Campbell was fed with a beautiful pass in front that he was able to tip on goal, but Jaroslav Halak threw out his right pad to make the save and keep it scoreless.
That was our first real scoring chance in a little while, as things have settled down a bit after a somewhat frantic start to the period.
First period, 12:41, 0-0: It’s been a pretty physical affair so far — just ask Magnus Paajarvi.
He was just leveled with a big hit from Milan Lucic in the neutral zone as they moved up ice. These are two of the bigger, stronger clubs in the league, so it’s safe to expect more of that as the night goes on.
First period, 9:01, 0-0: The Bruins continue to generate pressure, this time from the first line.
Milan Lucic found Johnny Boychuk at the right point and the defenseman blasted one just wide. Lucic eventually got the puck back after a wild carom and hammered a slap shot from the top of the slot that Jaroslav Halak gloved.
First period, 7:03, 0-0: This probably isn’t how the defensive-minded Claude Julien wanted things to go in the first seven minutes or so. Play is pretty wide open to say the least.
The Blues are outshooting the Bruins 5-3 so far, but it’s been pretty even (and very entertaining) so far. The Bruins’ fourth line is getting some early run, and they just had a good, long shift with plenty of time in the Boston end. Credit to Torey Krug as well as the young defenseman pinched down and kept the puck in the St. Louis zone.
That line couldn’t get a shot on goal, but we’ll see if that shift swings the momentum some here.
First period, 2:50, 0-0: Plenty of action in the first few minutes here.
Johnny Boychuk turned the puck over right in front of the Bruins net, and Jaden Schwartz had a point-black opportunity, but Tuukka Rask made the save.
At the other end on the ensuing rush, Reilly Smith had a chance right in front that was stopped by Jaroslav Halak, as was the second chance.
The Bruins’ first line then had a scoring chance when Milan Lucic fed Jarome Iginla with a backhanded passes through the slot that Iginla looked to miss the net with.
First period, 0:01, 0-0: After Bobby Orr dropped the ceremonial first puck (and after some extra work on the ice near the left faceoff circle in the Blues end), we’re underway here at the Garden.
6:45 p.m.: The Bruins made no changes to their lineup up front for this one. The only change on the blue line is that Kevan Miller is paired with Torey Krug in place of Dennis Seidenberg.
See the entire lineup by clicking here.
6:30 p.m.: The two teams just took the ice, and as expected, the goaltending matchup will be Tuukka Rask-Jaroslav Halak.
6 p.m.: Good evening and welcome to TD Garden where the Bruins are an hour away from attempting to do something they haven’t done in more than 10 years.
The Bruins are hoping that they can beat the St. Louis Blues, and if they do, it will be the first time since Jan. 30, 2001 that they have beat the Blues in this building. St. Louis has won its last five trips to Boston. That’s not the longest active winning streak by an opponent, though. The Penguins, Wild and Avalanche all have six-game winning streaks at the Garden. That, of course, doesn’t count the postseason where the B’s beat the Penguins twice last season.
The Blues have made a habit of playing well against the Eastern Conference recently. They’re 31-9-5 against the East since 2010-11, and they own a plus-45 goal differential, which is 16 better than any other Western Conference team.
3:45 p.m.: As we mentioned earlier, it appears as if the Bruins are going to go with Tuukka Rask in net against St. Louis. It will be his fourth consecutive start, all within the last week.
The goalie will be making his 19th start of the season, which will tie him for the league lead with Mike Smith and Roberto Luongo — at least at the time of faceoff. It’s been a little bit surprising how much the Bruins have used Rask, but he’s essentially in the prime of his career, and with the big ticket he received this offseason, he’s going to get the bulk of the starts of course.
But at some point they’re going to have to start working in some rest. One would think he’d sit against the lowly Hurricanes on Saturday, and the Bruins have a pretty meaty road trip coming up in early December that Rask would almost certainly get a night off in there as well. The big thing, and this doesn’t just apply to Rask, will be the Olympics. We’re getting a little ahead of ourselves, but if he keeps playing like this, Rask is going to get the nod for Finland at the Games. Again, that’s a long way away, but it’s still something to keep in mind in the coming months.
1 p.m.: We’re still about six hours away from puck drop at the Garden, but there is plenty of stuff going on already.
Most notably, Claude Julien confirmed that Dennis Seidenberg is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. It doesn’t sound like it’s going to be a long-term issue, but Julien thinks the defenseman will be out for a week or so with the injury. Adam McQuaid has begun skating again, but he’s not ready to return from his lower-body injury either.
So that means Kevan Miller is likely to make his NHL debut Thursday night against one of the best teams in hockey. Miller was called up on an emergency basis Wednesday night, and he’ll be thrown right into the fire against the Blues. The Los Angeles native played his college hockey at the University of Vermont, and he’s been in the Bruins organization for four seasons now. Miller had a nice camp with the Bruins before being sent back to Providence. He has a goal and two assists this season in 12 games with the Baby B’s.
“I thought he played a steady game, I thought he got better as camp went on; more confident from playing some games at this level,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said after morning skate. “So he’s got an opportunity tonight to step in and show that he can play against one of the best teams in the league actually.”
It also appears that Tuukka Rask is going to make yet another start for the Bruins. As long as Rask feels fresh, this would seem to make sense. He presumably goes against St. Louis and you would have to think he’d sit Saturday afternoon against Carolina, but that’s getting a little far ahead.
8 a.m.: The Bruins are off to a fine start this season as one of the best teams in the entire NHL. But they’ll certainly get a tough test Thursday at TD Garden.
The B’s will welcome another one of the NHL’s best through the season’s first month and a half when the St. Louis Blues invade Boston. It will mark the first game in a three-game homestand after the B’s finished a three-game road trip with a win Tuesday in New York.
The Blues were a trendy pick of many to compete for the Stanley Cup this season, and through 20 games, they haven’t disappointed. They come into Boston with one of the league’s best records at 14-3-3, and their plus-23 goal differential is the best in the NHL. Much of that has been thanks to what’s been a breakout season for Alexander Steen. The 29-year-old already has 17 goals this season, which is already just seven shy of the career-high 24 tallies he scored in 68 games in 2009-10. St. Louis’ attack isn’t just Steen, either. The Blues have five players with at least 16 points this season, which is made even more impressive by the fact that the Bruins’ leading scorers this season — Milan Lucic and David Krejci — each have 16 points.
It’s a balanced attack that will test the Bruins perhaps in a way they haven’t been tested this season. Boston does come in playing arguably its best hockey of the season. The B’s have won six of their last seven and lead the Eastern Conference in points at the moment.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Bobby Orr will be in the house Thursday night. Orr will be there to do the ceremonial puck drop as the Bruins continue their 90th anniversary celebration by honoring the 1970s. Orr’s famous Cup-winning goal in 1970 came against the Blues.
Puck drop from TD Garden is set for 7 p.m.
