Boston was abysmal in the opening 20 minutes and nearly got run out of the building, but something serious must have been said during the first intermission because the B's were ferocious in the last two periods. Despite dominating the last two frames, they just couldn't put enough pressure on New Jersey's defense, and Boston's scoring struggles proved fatal yet again. The Bruins are 2-3-1 on their season-high seven-game road trip, which concludes Tuesday night in Carolina.
Third period, 1:03, Devils 3-2: The Bruins cut the lead in half with Tuukka Rask on the bench. Dennis Seidenberg's one-timer from high in the zone was tipped by Patrice Bergeron, and the Bruins have some life in the final 63 seconds.
Third period, 3:15, Devils 3-1: The Bruins had a few decent chances to beat Martin Brodeur, but they couldn't crack the Hall of Famer. It's going to take a miracle at this point.
Third period, 5:10, Devils 3-1: The Bruins have a power play after the officials concurred during a timeout that Mike Mottau deserved two minutes for delay of game. This, essentially, is the game.
Third period, 5:45, Devils 3-1: Good line by play-by-play man Doc Emrick, who said Mark Stuart "fights pretty well for an All-American" after referencing the defenseman's career at Colorado College.
Third period, 10:30, Devils 3-1: The ice is so tilted in the Bruins' favor that the Devils just took an icing for the sake of taking a breath. The B's are facing some of their season-long ghosts, though. They've been able to work the puck around the net, but they just don't have enough firepower to generate any great scoring chances.
Third period, 13:30, Devils 3-1: This has been a fast third period, and the Bruins have maintained control of the puck throughout the majority of the frame. New Jersey's defense is just too stout, though, and the B's really haven't gotten enough good looks.
Third period, 19:58, Devils 3-1: Another period, another fight? This is one of those games that could really define the final month of the season. If the Bruins can steal a point in New Jersey, that would go a long way over the next few weeks, but there is a considerable amount of work left to do.
End of second period, Devils 3-1: The Bruins saved face with a much better showing in the second period, but the Devils really settled in defensively in their own zone to avert disaster. Tuukka Rask stopped all 10 shots he faced in the second period, and Martin Brodeur saved nine of the 10 pucks thrown his way. It might be a little steep to ask the Bruins to come back with a pair of goals in the third period, but they've got to keep this effort going to at least create a little buzz in the locker room for Tuesday's roadie in Carolina.
Second period, 5:05, Devils 3-1: Milan Lucic and Dennis Wideman have since returned to the ice.
Second period, 7:00, Devils 3-1: Milan Lucic and Andy Greene headed into the boards behind the New Jersey net, and it resulted in an injury to Lucic. The Bruins winger got lifted over Greene's back and whacked his face on the dasher, and Lucic departed for the locker room afterward.
Second period, 11:07, Devils 3-1: Rob Niedermayer almost had his second goal of the night, but officials ruled the puck was tipped in with a high stick, keeping the Devils lead at 3-1. In other news, Blake Wheeler has been credited with the Bruins goal. He tipped Mark Stuart's shot through Martin Brodeur.
Second period, 15:00, Devils 3-1: Dennis Wideman falls and awkwardly twists his left knee near the Boston net, and he goes to the bench in pain. We'll pass along updates if they become available.
Second period, 17:13, Devils 3-1: There's the second fight of the night, and it's another symbol of the Bruins' second-period desire. Shawn Thornton and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond get together for a 12-round beef. The pair of experienced fighters were tangled together for a minute or two, and Thornton got the better shots in but lost his balance and hit the ice first. Thornton initiated the fight, which shows the change in attitude during this period.
Second period, 19:17, Devils 3-1: There's the life the Bruins lacked in the opening frame, and they catch a break on a bad-angle shot. Mark Stuart throws the puck on net from the goal line, and it squirts through Martin Brodeur.
Second period, 19:58, Devils 3-0: The Devils are a hungry team Monday night, and if the Bruins don't show some heart, this could become embarrassing for the Black and Gold. The first shoe has dropped, though, and Tuukka Rask is in net for the B's. Tim Thomas allowed three goals on 12 shots in the first period.
End of first period, Devils 3-0: The Devils look like a team that is trying to establish some momentum before the playoffs, and the Bruins look like a group of guys on skates who just happen to be in the way.
First period, 1:52, Devils 3-0: Well, this thing has just crept into the ugly category. Former Boston College star Mike Mottau — yet another Hockey East descendant for Lou Lamoriello's club — fired a slap shot that hit Tim Thomas in the chest. The goalie couldn't corral the puck, though, and Zach Parise clubbed the rebound into the Boston net.
First period, 2:37, Devils 2-0: David Clarkson won't lose credit for that goal. Martin Brodeur sent a long pass to the tape of Clarkson's stick, and was sent free on a breakaway. Clarkson faked the forehand before switching to the backhand and beating Thomas' right side.
First period, 6:10, Devils 1-0: Good intentions on the fight, but the execution was on the boring side. Rod Pelley called out Mark Stuart after a New Jersey line change, and the two tangoed at center ice. Stuart dumped Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner along the boards, and he was ordered in by Pelley. Neither fighter connected with any good shots, and Stuart eventually lost his balance and tumbled to his backside.
First period, 8:00, Devils 1-0: There was a change in the scoring on the Devils' goal. David Clarkson's shot was actually tipped in front by Rob Niedermayer, and the 35-year-old center gets credit for the goal.
First period, 10:02, Devils 1-0: David Clarkson's eighth goal of the season puts the Devils on top, and Tim Thomas barely had a chance to make the save after some nice puck work and movement by the Devils. Martin Skoula had the puck in the high slot and fed a nice pass to a cutting Clarkson between the circles. Clarkson used a screen in front of Thomas to disguise his wrister, and he easily found the back of the net.
First period, 10:10, 0-0: Ilya Kovalchuk made his presence known during his last shift, dancing through the Bruins into the zone and working his magic to keep the play going. He's such a special player, and if the Devils finally turn this thing around before the playoffs, they're going to be a seriously tough out.
First period, 12:11, 0-0: The Bruins didn't generate a whole lot on their initial power play of the night. Actually, the Devils' 3-on-2 rush was the best chance for either team during Jamie Langenbrunner's two-minute timeout.
First period, 14:26, 0-0: Jamie Langenbrunner got two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct, and the Bruins get their first power play of the evening.
First period, 15:36, 0-0: While I think of it, NESN ranked the best and worst NHL sweaters during a Bruins pregame show about a week ago. The Blackhawks' digs took top honors, but I'm going to throw my hat in the ring here and cast a vote for the Caps' reds and Bruins' whites.
First period, 16:47, 0-0: Not much doing on the New Jersey power play. A couple Devils throw themselves into Tim Thomas' net, but that doesn't really help on the scoreboard.
First period, 19:08, 0-0: Blake Wheeler took an early hooking penalty, and the Devils have a chance to grab the first lead of the game.
First period, 19:59, 0-0: They're off in New Jersey. It's Tim Thomas against Martin Brodeur in the battle of the netminders.
6:31 p.m.: All reports indicate Tim Thomas will get the start in net, which helps serve as a life lesson for Tuukka Rask: Don't turn the puck over behind your net. Well, at least he didn't do it in the Stanley Cup. Cough, Ty Conklin, cough.
10:05 a.m.: The Bruins get a chance to see what might have been Monday night in New Jersey. It's the first time the B's have squared off against sniper Ilya Kovalchuk since he was traded to the Devils on Feb. 4.
While Bruins fans practically begged the organization to acquire Kovalchuk, the trade has only yielded mixed results for New Jersey, which is 5-6-1 since landing one of the best scorers in the league. Most recently, New Jersey is coming off a loss to the lowly Islanders. Kovalchuk has done his part, though, registering five goals and seven assists in those 12 games.
Boston is coming off another stinging loss to the Canadiens, but the Bruins still hold a one-point lead over the Rangers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. This will be a tough one for the B's, and coverage begins at 7 p.m. on Versus.
