Twice tonight the Bruins regained a one-goal lead after giving up a one-goal advantage. Only a week ago, they were a team that probably would've spiraled out of control after blowing a lead that many times.
The star tonight was obviously Patrice Bergeron, but the whole team played well and stuck to their game plan and system. The power play was 2-for-3, the penalty kill was 3-for-3, four different players scored, Tuukka Rask made 29 saves and Marc Savard looked good, playing 16:30 in his first game with the club since Oct. 17.
The Bruins play the Wild next on Wednesday and have a chance to sweep their four-game roadie. That would be a huge accomplishment and a big confidence booster as they return after that for back-to-back home games Friday and Saturday against the Devils and Senators.
That's all for tonight folks, and thanks as always for joining us here at our Live Bruins Blog on NESN.com. Good night!
End of game, Bruins win 4-2: Patrice Bergeron was amazing tonight with four assists and Tuukka Rask has his third straight win with 29 saves in a 4-2 win by the Bruins. They are now 3-0-0 on this current four-game road trip that ends in Minnesota on Wednesday night. We'll have some postgame analysis in a bit.
Third period, 0:40, Bruins 4-2: The Blues pull their goalie for the extra attacker as the Bruins try to hold on here.
Third period, 4:22, Bruins 4-2: The Bruins are really playing with lots of intention and emotion right now. They didn't have that a week ago and while they're also healthier, they seem to be a more spirited bunch.
Third period, 6:57, Bruins 4-2: Marc Savard is in the box for high-sticking and the Bruins will have to kill another power play. The Blues are 0-for-3 on the night.
Third period, 8:46, Bruins 4-2: Patrice Bergeron gets his fourth assist on a short-handed goal by Marco Sturm. Great feed by Bergeron to find the streaking Sturm.
Third period, 10:13, Bruins 3-2: Shawn Thornton is headed to the sin bin for high-sticking and the Blues are going on their second power play.
Patrice Bergeron hits the post with 11:49 left and almost gets his fourth point of the night. He is on fire!
Third period, 13:26, Bruins 3-2: The Bruins are definitely looking a lot better than they did a week ago when they came out flat against the Islanders in a 4-1 loss, prompting Claude Julien to call his players out with the media.
That was not characteristic of the reigning Jack Adams Award winner but it appears to have worked.
Third period, 15:41, Bruins 3-2: Tuukka Rask continues to impress as he's made two big saves already this period to preserve the lead.
Third period, 18:25, Bruins 3-2: We are under way in the third period at St. Louis. Let's see if the Bruins can get an early cushion here and go up by two.
End of second period, Bruins 3-2: The Bruins looked a lot better that period and they come away with a one goal lead after two periods. They're 5-0-0 when leading after two periods of play, so we shall see if they can continue that streak.
As we said, Patrice Bergeron is having a great game. But we must also point out the space that Milan Lucic is providing for his linemates as well. Yes, Lucic has two goals since coming back Friday but what he does along the boards — and just his presence out there — makes a huge difference for the Bruins.
By the way, the Bruins will be playing against Guillaume Latendresse on Wednesday, but not against Montreal. Latendresse will be on the ice for the Wild, who just acquired him in a trade for Benoit Pouliot.
Second period, 4:55, Bruins 3-2: The Bruins power play fails to score for the first time tonight. They're now 2-for-3.
Patrice Bergeron is everywhere tonight and is really showing great vision out there.
Second period, 7:35, Bruins 3-2: Milan Lucic regains the lead for the Bruins with his second goal in three games. Lucic tips in a Zdeno Chara blast from the point. Patrice Bergeron gets his third assist of the game on the play.
The Bruins are also going on their third power play. They're 2-for-2 tonight.
Second period, 12:23, 2-2: Blues defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo ties the game for the Blues on an odd-man rush after Mason made a big save at the other end. Old friend Brad Boyes and Alex Steen had the helpers.
Second period, 12:38, Bruins 2-1: Byron Bitz just did the tango with Barrett Jackman and Jackman gets the take-down and decision. Props to Bitz, though, for dropping the gloves there with a tough customer.
Just prior to that, a Dennis Wideman shot hit Blues defenseman Roman Polak in the face.
Second period, 14:08, Bruins 2-1: I still find it funny that some out there question Claude Julien giving Mark Recchi power-play time. Meanwhile, St. Louis has called a timeout.
Second period, 16:58, Bruins 2-1: Blake Wheeler must have read this blog in the dressing room because he just scored a power-play goal to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead.
Patrice Bergeron gets his second helper of the game on the play. Also, correction on the Bruins' first goal. David Krejci gets an assist and not Dennis Wideman.
Second period, 18:21, 1-1: We're under way in the second period and the Bruins need to stop allowing St. Louis so many chances. They will get their own right now as they go on their second power play.
End of first period, 1-1: The Bruins penalty kill does the job again and the Blues are 0-for-1 on the power play. Tuuka Rask made more big saves to help kill that penalty and the Bruins are lucky to be tied after one period of play.
Marc Savard looked good, but he did hold the puck a bit too long on two chances. The timing will come and it is certainly nice to see him out there again.
First period, 2:45, 1-1: Milan Lucic is in the box for roughing and the Blues go on their first power play.
First period, 4:35, 1-1: Blake Wheeler seems to be playing better as of late, but wouldn't it be nice if he could do what he did the last time he played at St. Louis?
First period, 7:29, 1-1: Keith Tkachuk ties the game for the Blues on a delayed penalty on the Bruins.
First period, 9:00, Bruins 1-0: Mark Recchi scores a beautiful power-play goal for the Bruins. Great job by the veteran sniper to bat a rebound out of the air and past Chris Mason.
Patrice Bergeron and Dennis Wideman get the helpers.
First period, 10:39: The Bruins are now on their first power play with Marc Savard in a month. David Backes is in the box for high-sticking.
First period, 11:00: Zdeno Chara appears to have suffered an injury after taking a tough hit from Cam Janssen.
The Bruins need to tighten up the wings right now. Those Blues wingers are whizzing into the Bruins zone with ease.
First period, 13:59: Tuukka Rask makes a great glove save to keep the game scoreless. Rask has six saves already as the Blues have come out firing away.
First period, 18:22: We're under way in St. Louis and Milan Lucic appears to be on a warpath!
7:55 p.m.: It's almost time for faceoff at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Thanks to the crew at NESN.com for filling in for me while I was in Montreal the last four days. A great time as always but for details, you'll need to check my Web site.
Obviously the big story is the return of Marc Savard to the Bruins lineup after a month on the shelf with a broken left foot, but keep an eye also on the play of Tuukka Rask.
Rask is making his fourth straight start and has looked solid on this rare streak of starts. With the exception of the 4-1 loss to the Islanders a week ago, he has looked poised and calm under pressure. We could end up having a healthy goaltender controversy brewing here folks. Could Rask become goalie 1A for the Bruins?
Here are tonight's lineups:
Bruins
Forwards
Marco Sturm–Marc Savard–Byron Bitz
Milan Lucic–Patrice Bergeron–Mark Recchi
Blake Wheeler–David Krejci–Michael Ryder
Shawn Thornton–Steve Begin–Daniel Paille
Defensemen
Zdeno Chara–Derek Morris
Andrew Ference–Dennis Wideman
Mark Stuart–Matt Hunwick
Goaltenders
Tuukka Rask
Tim Thomas
Blues
Forwards
Andy McDonald–David Backes–T.J. Oshie
Paul Kariya–Keith Tkachuk–Brad Boyes
David Perron–Patrik Berglund–Alexander Steen
B.J. Crombeen–Jay McClement–Cam Janssen
Defensemen
Erik Johnson–Roman Polak
Darryl Sydor–Carlo Colaiacova
Mike Weaver–Alex Pietrangelo
Goaltenders
Chris Mason
Ty Conklin
3:30 p.m.: The Bruins are back in action in St. Louis, looking to extend their winning streak to three games with a win against the Blues on Monday.
Marc Savard makes his return to the lineup after missing over a month of action. Savard has not played in a game since Oct. 17 at Phoenix.
With Savard and Milan Lucic back, the depleted roster is finally beginning to take shape, as the Bruins appear to be finding their groove on their current four-game road trip.
Check back for updates throughout the day and during the game.
