Boston heads into the holiday break on a happy note with the convincing win to snap out of their recent funk. The home folks won’t get to see them again for a while though, as they will go on a five-game road trip after Christmas and won’t play at the Garden agin until Jan. 6.
Third Period, 16:59, Bruins 4-1: The Thrashers lose the power play as they get called for too many men.
Third Period, 15:54, Bruins 4-1: Here’s the rundown on the penalties, Kane, Little and Stewart get fighting majors, with game misconducts to Little and Stewart. Meyer gets an elbowing minor and roughing minor.
Boston’s Horton, Ference and Savard get fighting majors, with Savard and Ference getting game misconducts and Ference a roughing as well. Lucic gets a match penalty and a game.
Third Period, 15:54, Bruins 4-1: And it’s all broken loose at the Garden, with a massive brawl following a high hit by Freddy Meyer on Milan Lucic.
Ference was the first to grab Meyer and everyone else piled in. Lucic decked Meyer with a right in that scrum, while Horton fought Evander Kane, Ference ended up with Anthony Stewart and Marc Savard was an unlikely combatant in a bout with Bryan Little.
Third Period, 13:12, Bruins 4-1: After several minutes of “We Want Thornton” chants from the crowd, Thornton steps onto the ice to a huge ovation.
Third Period, 11:07, Bruins 4-1: Michael Ryder with another bid from the right wing as Steven Kampfer drove all the way to the front of the net. The Bruins defense has been much more active jumping into the play in this one and that has played a big role in the club’s improved offensive output.
Third Period, 9:31, Bruins 4-1: The Bruins continue to press the attack, and Thornton nearly had the hat trick with a rebound in front after a Campbell chance, but couldn’t put it home.
Third Period, 4:54, Bruins 4-1: Everyone is contributing in this one, as Shawn Thornton scores his second of the night for a 4-1 lead.
That’s a new career high for Thornton, but Daniel Paille made the play. First he gave up the body to block a Byfuglien point shot. Then he drove down the left wing and fed Thornton in the middle, and Thornton deked to the backhand to beat Pavelec.
Third Period, 3:09, Bruins 3-1: Unlike Saturday when they took a 3-1 lead into the third and barely hung on as the Caps dominated, the Bruins are continuing to attack this period. Andrew Ference had the latest chance with a one-timer from Blake Wheeler.
Third Period, 1:00, Bruins 3-1: This one has been announced as another sellout. The Bruins sold out every regular-season and playoff game at the Garden in the 2010 calendar year, the first time they’ve done that since 1972, which was also the last year they won the Cup.
Third Period, 0:00, Bruins 3-1: The final frame is under way, with the Bruins looking to close out this one with a strong third to go into the holiday on a happy note.
The Bruins are 14-0-0 when leading after two periods and 16-0-0 when leading by two or more goals. They have also outscored opponents 39-16 in the third period this year.
Second Intermission Notes: The Bruins are 20 minutes away from a key victory to help put their season back on track after some recent stumbles.
They came out with a solid first and were even stronger in the second, building a 3-0 lead before Atlanta cut into the lead with a Dustin Byfuglien goal.
Atlanta still has the edge in the physical play with a 19-9 advantage in hits, but Boston has outshot the Thrashers 23-18, including 13-8 in the second. It’s been a balanced attack too, with 14 different Bruins with shots on goal and six with points.
End Second Period, Bruins 3-1: The Bruins gave up one goal in the second, but still managed to extend their lead with two of their own in another solid period for the home club.
Second Period,18:43, Bruins 3-1: The Bruins nearly extended the lead as Recchi had a chance to break in alone off a feed from Bergeron, but the puck skipped on him. He still regained control and passed it in front to Seguin, but the puck went through the rookie’s legs at the top of the crease.
Second Period,15:38, Bruins 3-1: Milan Lucic with the steal from Anthony Stewart to create a chance down the middle, but Pavelec makes the save.
Second Period,14:01, Bruins 3-1: Byfuglien makes another rush down the left side, side-stepping a Boychuk hit and putting a shot on Thomas at the near post, but Thomas makes the stop.
Second Period,11:25, Bruins 3-1: Mark Recchi is robbed in front on a glove save by Pavelec after a nice setup by Bergeron left Recchi all alone in front with the puck.
Second Period, 8:40, Bruins 3-1: The Thrashers are on the board, and no surprise it’s Dustin Byfuglien with the goal.
After the Bruins were unable to clear the puck, Evander Kane got it up to Byfuglien, who beat THomas with a backhander from the left slot.
Second Period, 7:50, Bruins 3-0: More bad news for Atlanta, as Ben Eager goes down hurt and heads to the locker room. He appeared to catch an inadvertent stick to the face. It may have been Krejci’s, but there was no penalty on the play.
Second Period, 5:00, Bruins 3-0: Now comes the outburst Bruins fans have been waiting for, as Shawn Thornton scores Boston’s second goal in less than a minute.
Thornton called for the puck and slapped home a one-time from the right circle off a feed by Adam McQuaid. That ties a career high in goals for Thornton, who already has six this season.
Second Period, 4:04, Bruins 2-0: The fourth time was the charm, as the Bruins finally strike on the power play.
Michael Ryder provides the goal, firing in a shot from the right corcle as David Krejci cut across the front and distracted Pavelec. Bergeron and Dennis Seidenberg pick up the assists, but Krejci deserves some credit as well.
Second Period, 3:13, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins get another crack at the power play, as Andrew Ladd is sent off again, this time for a hook on Marc Savard.
Second Period, 0:30, Bruins 1-0: No fireworks off the draw in this period, though Thornton and Boulton were again chatting before the drop of the puck.
Second Period, 0:00, Bruins 1-0: The middle period is under way at the Garden, with the Bruins looking to build off their solid opening period and extend their one-goal lead on the Thrashers.
First Intermission Notes: The Bruins haven’t exactly blown away the Thrashers in the opening 20 minutes, but their start is definitely an improvement over most of their recent efforts.
They got the all-important first goal with a shorthanded strike by Patrice Bergeron, and that’s the only score so far. Boston is 13-1-1 when scoring first and 12-0-0 when leading after one period.
Those trends bode well, but there’s still room for improvement. The Bruins and Thrashers each had 10 shots in the first and Atlanta had an 8-5 edge in hits. On the positive side, Marc Savard is looking more like his old self, setting up Nathan Horton for a couple of scoring chance and taking four shots (2 on net, 2 blocked) himself.
End First Period, Bruins 1-0: It was a solid start for the Bruins, who struck first early with a shorthanded goal and take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
First Period, 18:51, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins come up empty yet another. Horton had another bid from the slot deflected wide, but otherwise no real serious threats on that man-advantage.
First Period, 16:51, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins get another power play, this time with Johnny Oduya going off for holding. Ryder nearly scored on the delayed call with a bid in front.
First Period, 15:20, Bruins 1-0: Good pressure from the Lucic-Savard-Horton line. Savard looks much more comfortable with this combination than he did with Ryder and Seguin.
First Period, 12:58, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins get lucky as Michael Ryder gives away the puck in front of his own net to Anthony Stewart, but the Thrashers can’t get off a shot as Chara and Boychuk make the play.
First Period, 11:48, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins can’t convert this opportunity either, though they did a better job to create some chances. The best of those came when Marc Savard fed Nathan Horton for a shot from the slot.
First Period, 9:48, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins go on the power play again, this time with Ron Hainsey headed to the box for hooking.
First Period, 7:52, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins kill off that penalty as well, and we might finally see some 5-on-5 play for a while.
First Period, 5:52, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins don’t stay on the power play long, as Milan Lucic is called for high-sticking. The sides will be playing 4 on 4, then Atlanta will have a brief power play.
First Period, 4:57, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins killed off the rest of the penalty to Chara, and now will go on a power play of their own with Andrew Ladd going off for goaltender interference.
Both captains have been to the box in the first five minutes of the game.
First Period, 3:00, Bruins 1-0: So much for that trouble, as Patrice Bergeron scores an unassisted shorthanded goal to open the scoring.
Bergeron broke in alone and deked around Pavelec at the right post. That was Boston’s first shot of the night and Bergeron’s 300th career point.
First Period, 2:46, 0-0: The Bruins are in further trouble as Zdeno Chara is called for hooking to give the Thrashers an early power play.
First Period, 2:39, 0-0: The Bruins might have gotten as big a lift out of the bout as hoped, as the Thrashers have the first three shots of the game.
First Period, 0:02, 0-0: As predicted, the Bruins try to set a tone right away in this one, with Thornton and Boulton suaring off in a heavyweight matchup off the opening draw,
This was a long and spirited scrap, with both players throwing and landing a ton of rights in a marathon bout.
7 p.m.: As expected, the Bruins have scratched Brad Marchand (undisclosed injury) and Mark Stuart (broken hand).
Atlanta will be without defenseman Zach Bogosian and forwards Niclas Bergfors and Nik Antropov.
The Bruins will start the energy line of Greg Campbell, Shawn Thornton and Daniel Paille in Marchand’s spot, with Andrew Ference and Adam McQuaid on defense and Tim THomas in goal.
Atlanta will also start its fourth line, with Jim Slater, Eric Boulton and Chris Thorburn up front, Ron Hainsey and Brent Sopel on defense and Ondrej Pavelec.
If the Bruins want to make a statement and show some emotion right away, don’t be surprised to see some fireworks between Thornton or McQuaid and Boulton or Thorburn right away in this one.
6:30 p.m.: The teams have taken the ice for warm-ups, with Tim Thomas and Ondrej Pavelec leading their respective squads out.
That will make for an interesting matchup, as Thomas (15-4-3, 1.70 GAA, .948 save percentage) and Pavelec (12-6-3, 1.82 GAA, .943 save percentage) are 1-2 in the NHL in both GAA and save percentage.
Pavelec was pulled in the first period of both of his starts in Boston last year, allowing three goals on eight shots and three goals on 10 shots.
Brad Marchand is not on the ice for warm-ups and will miss his second straight game.
6 p.m.: The Bruins will take the ice at the Garden for the final time in 2010 in about an hour, when the close out their pre-Christmas homestand against Atlanta.
The Bruins didn’t hold their skate in the morning, but injured forward Brad Marchand did skate on his own. Claude Julien stated Marchand is “very doubtful” to play in this one.
Boston will be employing some new line combinations after shaking things up in practice this week.
The Bruins will be going up against a familiar face behind the Thrashers bench, where former Boston assistant Craig Ramsay is now the head coach for Atlanta.
Ramsay has plenty of weapons at his disposal, but the biggest key for the Bruins will be finding a way to shut down Dustin Byfuglien, who leads all NHL defensemen in goals and points this season.
8 a.m.: The Bruins will look to bounce back from a disappointing showing on Monday and close out their pre-Christmas homestand in style as they welcome Atlanta to the Garden for the first time this season on Thursday.
The Bruins have won just once in the last five games, and even that victory raised doubts as they barely hung on for a 3-2 win over Washington despite being outshot 26-2 in the third period on Saturday. Boston followed that with a listless 3-0 loss to Anaheim on Monday, squandering a chance to move into first place in the Northeast Division.
Instead, they are eighth in the East, but they can still move into the third spot as the Northeast Division leader with a win over Atlanta and a Montreal loss in Carolina on Thursday.
Beating the Thrashers won’t be easy though, as former Bruins assistant Craig Ramsay has Atlanta playing as well as anybody in the NHL right now in his first season as the Thrashers’ head coach.
Atlanta did drop its last game, falling 4-2 to St. Louis on Tuesday. But the Thrashers are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games and 19-12-5 overall. They also handily beat the Bruins 4-1 in Atlanta back on Nov. 28.
The Bruins will look to avenge that loss on Thursday and give themselves something to celebrate over the holiday before embarking on a five-game road trip.
The puck drops at 7 p.m., so check back here throughout the day for updates on all the action.
