Final, Bruins 2-1: That’s it, and that’s all. The Bruins have extended their winning streak to seven games.
The Coyotes came on strong in the final seconds, but the Bruins did a good job of packing it in and making sure Phoenix couldn’t generate anything.
Third period, 18:43, Bruins 2-1: Phoenix is taking its timeout after icing the puck.
Third period, 18:00, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins had a chance to put the game away on a Milan Lucic breakaway, but the winger put the puck right in Mike Smith’s stomach.
Third period, 14:32, Bruins 2-1: The Phoenix power play just came to an unsuccessful end, but it wasn’t for lack of shots and chances.
That was the Coyotes’ best power play of the game so far, but Tuukka Rask was at his best there. He made a couple of real nice saves, including a combination of stops in front of the net.
Third period, 12:12, Bruins 2-1: Things aren’t going to get any easier for the Bruins here midway through the third. They have to kill off yet another penalty, as Carl Soderberg was just called for holding.
Third period, 8:14, Bruins 2-1: And we’ve got ourselves a game.
The Coyotes are now on the board, as it was Lauri Korpikoski who will be credited with the first Phoenix goal. He redirected a shot from the point past Tuukka Rask, and this game is still very much up for grabs.
Third period, 4:08, Bruins 2-0: Brad Marchand must be cursing the post by this point.
The Bruins winger just got a breakaway after a nice play from Reilly Smith who blocked a shot and sprung Marchand. The winger carried the puck down the left wing and put a shot toward net that beat Mike Smith blocker side, but like he did in the first period, Marchand could only find iron.
Third period, 0:01, Bruins 2-0: The third period is underway with the Bruins just 20 minutes from winning seven straight for the first time since 2011.
End second period, Bruins 2-0: The second period is over and what a doozy it was. The two teams combined for just five shots on goal in the middle frame.
The Bruins are outshooting the Coyotes 15-10 for the game.
Second period, 17:40, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins have killed off the Matt Bartkowski penalty without any problems, and the B’s are back to even strength.
Second period, 15:40, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins killed off the penalty to Carl Soderberg, but just 17 seconds after that, Matt Bartkowski boarded Jeff Halpern, which means the Bruins will have to go right back on the penalty kill.
Second period, 13:23, Bruins 2-0: Phoenix is going back on the power play.
Carl Soderberg was just called for holding.
Second period, 12:30, Bruins 2-0: Boston’s third line continues to generate chances just about every time it steps on the ice.
Loui Eriksson intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, and when he couldn’t beat the defense back into the Phoenix zone, he waited for his linemates. That set up Carl Soderberg with an eventual chance in front, but Mike Smith was able to make the save.
Second period, 9:01, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins and Coyotes have now traded ineffective power-play chances.
The Bruins weren’t able to generate much of anything on that power play, as the Coyotes — and their 27th-ranked penalty kill — were able to slow down the Boston power play.
The B’s had Andrej Meszaros at the point on the first power-play unit in place of Torey Krug.
Second period, 6:29, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins are going on the power play.
Michael Stone was just called for slashing, and Boston will gets its first crack with the man-advantage.
Second period, 4:37, Bruins 2-0: Tuukka Rask is in some kind of a zone.
The Bruins goalie just made an incredible save on a Shane Doan breakaway. Doan tried to go five-hole on Rask, but the goalie made the pad save to keep it out.
Second period, 0:01, Bruins 2-0: The second period is underway.
End first period, Bruins 2-0: The first period is over, and it was a good one for the Bruins, despite the fact that they played last night.
They hold the 2-0 lead on the scoreboard and a 12-8 edge in shots on goal.
First period, 17:31, Bruins 2-0: Good end-to-end play results in a Bruins goal.
Tuukka Rask made a pretty incredible play to keep a puck out of the Boston net by pulling it off the goal line with his stick. On the ensuing Bruins possession, they scored.
Johnny Boychuk put the wrist shot from the point at the net, which is where Jarome Iginla tipped it by Mike Smith to give Boston the two-goal lead.
First period, 16:38, Bruins 1-0: Tuukka Rask is playing his second game in as many nights, but he hasn’t shown any signs of fatigue so far.
Rask just made a nifty glove save on Antoine Vermette, and the goalie now has six saves in the opening period.
First period, 14:17, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins’ penalty kill just did a fine job of slowing down the Phoenix power play and have killed off the four-minute power play.
Phoenix only put one shot on goal during the double-minor.
First period, 10:17, Bruins 1-0: The first power play of the game will belong to the Coyotes, and it will be a double-minor.
Jordan Caron was just given a four-minute penalty for high-sticking, and the B’s will have to go to work against the league’s third-ranked power play.
First period, 5:54, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins are on the board.
Keith Yandle made an atrocious turnover in the Boston end, and Zdeno Chara made them pay. Chara picked off the pass in the high slot and was all alone. He beat Mike Smith blocker side with a wrist shot, and the Bruins are on the board.
First period, 4:23, 0-0: The Bruins came within inches of scoring the game’s first goal.
Patrice Bergeron carried the puck into the zone and dished it off to the trailing Brad Marchand who was skating into the slot. Marchand put a wrist shot on goal that beat Mike Smith, but the puck hit the post and bounced out.
First period, 0:01, 0-0: And we’re off. The game is underway.
7 p.m.: Torey Krug is the final healthy scratch on the Bruins’ blue line. He, Corey Potter and Daniel Paille are the scratches.
6:33 p.m.: The Bruins have seven defensemen on the ice for pregame warmups. The only Boston D-man not on the ice for warmups is Corey Potter, who has yet to make his Bruins debut.
We know that Dougie Hamilton is in the lineup, but Claude Julien wouldn’t say who he’s replacing.
6:29 p.m.: It might be a bit of a surprise, but Tuukka Rask will be starting for the Bruins tonight. Mike Smith gets the nod for the Coyotes.
6:05 p.m.: Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton is back in the Boston lineup, according to head coach Claude Julien. Then in typical Julien fashion, he would not reveal which D-man would come out. So we’ll have to sit and wait.
10:50 a.m.: It is all good in the Boston Bruins’ world, and they’ll try to keep the good times rolling on Thursday night in yet the second half of yet another back-to-back.
The B’s have met the jam-packed March slate head-on, and they’ll continue their busiest month of the season on Thursday as they welcome the Phoenix Coyotes to TD Garden. The Bruins will be looking to extend their season-long winning streak to seven games after winning Wednesday night in Montreal. If the Bruins are able to win, it will be the club’s first seven-game winning streak since Dec. 2011 when they coincidentally beat Phoenix to get the win streak to seven.
The Bruins have been absolutely dominant in their six-game winning streak. They’ve outscored their opponents 26-10 in that stretch and have built 13-point and 14-point leads over Toronto and Montreal in the Atlantic Division respectively. A lot of the Bruins’ success has come because of the production of the club’s top line. That trio of Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Jarome has combined for 37 points in the last 12 games and 54 points in the last 16 games.
The Coyotes are making their first appearance in Boston since March 5, 2009. They’re riding their own two-game winning streak but have only won five of their last 10. They certainly figure to be a desperate team, though. Phoenix enters the day just one point out of the final Western Conference wild card spot with just 16 games left to play. It’s likely the Bruins will have to face Mike Smith, who has is certainly doing his job in the team’s quest for that final playoff spot. He’s got a .939 save percentage with a 1.81 goals against average and two shutouts in the team’s 11 games since the beginning of February.
Puck drop from TD Garden is slated for 7 p.m.
