Final, Bruins 3-0: And the Bruins close out an impressive win over the reigning champs, solidifying their hold on first place in the Northeast Division while dealing the Blackhawks' hopes of making the playoffs in the West a blow.
Shawn Thornton did not return after needing more than 40 stitches after being cut by a skate in the second period, but avoided any damage to his eye.
The Bruins have now beaten each of last year's Stanley Cup finalists in back-to-back games as they maintained their seven-point lead in the Northeast Division. Montreal also won on Tuesday, beating Atlanta 3-1. The Bruins face another Original Six rival next when Toronto comes to the Garden on Thursday.
Third Period, 15:56, Bruins 3-0: The Bruins are getting in some shots late in this one, with Seidenberg flattening Hjalmarsson at center ice earlier and McQuaid nailing Toews down deep in the Bruins zone with a pair of clean but hard hits.
Third Period, 12:50, Bruins 3-0: Thomas with a couple of quick saves in close after a turnover in the Bruins' zone to preserve the shutout.
Third Period, 9:41, Bruins 3-0: The captains have been getting into it all night, with Chara and Toews in engaging in a running battle of hits and post-whistle shoves. Lots of intensity and a real playoff feel to this one.
Third Period, 5:20, Bruins 3-0: The Bruins add a huge insurance goal as Nathan Horton stays red hot with another tally.
Daniel Paille ran down a loose puck deep in the Chicago zone and tried to drop it back to Greg Campbell. Campbell couldn't collect the puck at the left post, but Horton gathered it in the slot, deked Crawford and tucked it in at the right post.
Third Period, 3:45, Bruins 2-0: The Blackhawks are mounting the pressure here early in the third with the first five shots of the period.
Third Period, 0:30, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins have just announced that Thornton will not return to this game after suffering a facial cut in the second period.
Third Period, 0:00, Bruins 2-0: The final frame is under way here at the Garden, with the Bruins looking to close out this win over the reigning Cup champs.
Shawn Thornton is not on the Bruins bench to start the period.
Second Intermission Notes: The Bruins continued to carry the play for most of the second period and were finally rewarded with a apir of goals from defensemen as Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk scored on point shots through traffic in front.
They could be leading by even more, but Corey Crawford has kept the Blackhawks in the game despite Boston's 30-17 edge in shots (18-12 in second period). Tim Thomas hasn't seen as many shots, but has also come up with some big saves when needed.
It continues to be a chippy affair with plenty of hits and scrums, though only two penalties so far and both were to the Bruins, who have yet to have a power-play chance. There is also concern for Shawn Thornton, who left with a cut to the face after appearing to take a skate up high in a collision. No word yet on his condition.
End Second Period, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins are sent off to the rousing chorus of cheers as they head to the second intermission with a two-goal lead following another strong period against the reigning champs.
Second Period, 18:00, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins nearly score again as Krejci threads the needle to Lucic driving down the middle, but Crawford makes the point-blank save.
Second Period, 14:22, Bruins 2-0: The Bruins strike again with another point shot eluding Crawford. This time it's Johnny Boychuk with the blast from the right point.
Recchi picks up the primary assist with a drop pass back to Boychuk, moving Recchi past Paul Coffey and alone into 12th place all-time in scoring. Lucic gets the secondary assist.
Second Period, 12:02, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins didn't miss the net that time, as Zdeno Chara sent a shot in from the left point through a crowd in front to break the ice.
Bergeron and Marchand pick up the assists, but Recchi deserves credit as well for setting the screen in front of Crawford.
Second Period, 11:46, 0-0: The Bruins continue to get chances, but still can't get anything past Crawford. They're also being a little too fine with their shots at times, trying to pick corners and missing the net on a lot of bids.
Second Period, 8:40, 0-0: Toews charged the net and barrels over Thomas on a bid. Chara looks for a goalie interference call but none is coming.
Second Period, 5:36, 0-0: The Bruins kill off the penalty and threaten at the other end, but Chara's attempt to keep the puck in at the line for a one-timer is just a little late and it's blown down for offsides.
Second Period, 4:56, 0-0: Things are getting nasty now, as Marian Hossa takes out Andrew Ference away from puck but no interference called. Ference then takes out Hossa's legs and rides him into the boards and agin nothing is called. Scrums after every whistle as they one looks poised to explode.
Second Period, 3:36, 0-0: The Bruins will be shorthanded again as Marchand is sent off for slashing.
Second Period, 3:09, 0-0: The Bruins are picking up the pressure again, this time with the fourth line leading the way. Thornton is denied with a point-blank bid from the top of the crease.
Down the opposite end of the ice, Thornton gets cut by a skate to the face in a collision behind the Bruins net. He tries to go after someone on the bench for making a comment before heading off for repairs.
Second Period, 0:00, 0-0: The middle frame is under way here at the Garden, with both teams still looking to open the scoring.
First Intermission Notes: The Bruins got the start they wanted, jumping all over the tired Blackhawks early and pouring shots on Corey Crawford. They led the shot count 9-0 before Chicago went on the power play 7:37, but Boston couldn't capitalize on those chances.
The Blackhawks had just two shots on goal at even strength all period, but the game is still all even after one. Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand have shown plenty of jump so far, combining for six of Boston's 12 shots.
There's also been plenty of physical play, with Chicago actually leading 10-8 in hits. There's been chippy play as well, with Marchand getting under the Blackhawks' skins and Thornton in the middle of a couple scrums. Tim Thomas hasn't faced many shots, but came up with some huge saves on Chicago's lone power play.
End First Period, 0-0: The first 20 minutes are in the books, and so far nothing has been settled as it remains scoreless despite the Bruins controlling lay for most of the period.
First Period, 18:42, 0-0: More chances for the Bruins, who continue to dominate play everywhere but the scoreboard. The latest was a 3-on-2 rush by the Kelly line that nearly produced a goal in front.
First Period, 13:32, 0-0: Michael Frolik fires one on Thomas from the left circle. That's Chicago's first shot on goal at even strength in the game.
First Period, 13:15, 0-0: Thornton takes exception to a shove by Fernando Pisani that knocks him down while trying to play the puck up in the air, but Pisani wants nothing to do with Thornton when the Bruins tough guy goes back at him along the boards.
First Period, 9:37, 0-0: Thomas was tested as the Blackhawks put their first three shots on him with quality bids, but the Bruins survive they penalty as the sides return to even strength.
First Period, 7:37, 0-0: The Bruins take a bad penalty as Milan Lucic is called for holding deep in the offensive zone. Boston has a 9-0 lead in shots as the Blackhawks start the game's first power play.
First Period, 6:46, 0-0: The Bruins are carrying the play early in this one, with the Bergeron line creating several more quality chances. Marchand is skating with a purpose in this one, leading a 3-on-2 break, then Bergeron had another chance in front. Only Crawford is keeping Chicago in this one, as the Bruins ahve a 7-0 edge in shots so far.
First Period, 4:30, 0-0: The physical play is picking up, with Bryan Bickell running over Boychuk at the blue line, then Chara belting Teows behind the Bruins net.
First Period, 3:12, 0-0: Marchand in alone on a clean break, but Crawford comes up with a huge early save.
First Period, 3:04, 0-0: Shawn Thornton goes for the big hit on Niklas Hjalmarsson, but the Chicago defender sidesteps it and they collide leg on leg. No penalty called, but Hjalmarsson goes off hurt.
First Period, 0:58, 0-0: Early pressure by the Bruins on the first two shifts. Boston needs to jump on Chicago early as the Blackhawks are no doubt weary from playing an overtime game Monday night against Detroit.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: This one is finally under way here at the Garden, where the Bruins will get a good playoff tuneup in their only meeting of the year with the reigning Cup champs.
7:30 p.m.: The Bruins will start this one as they do most games, with Patrice Bergeron between Brad Marchand and Mark Recchi up front, Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk on defense and Tim Thomas in goal.
Chicago counters with plenty of star power as it's Troy Brouwer, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane up front, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook on the blue line and Corey Crawford in net.
7:25 pm.: No surprises in the scratches, with Michael Ryder, Steven Kampfer and Shane Hnidy officially out for Boston.
Enforcer John Scott took the warmup for Chicago but has been scratched again. Injured forwards Dave Bolland and Patrick Sharp and defenseman Jordan Hendry remain out for the Blackhawks.
7:15 p.m.: The Bruins stuck with the same combinations they've been using in their warm-up drills.
Here's how the lines look:
Lucic-Krejci-Horton
Marchand-Bergeron-Recchi
Peverley-Kelly-Seguin
Paille-Campbell-Thornton
Defense pairs:
Chara-Boychuk
Kaberle-Seidenberg
Ference-McQuaid
7:05 p.m.: No sign of Michael Ryder, Steven Kampfer and Shane Hnidy in warm-ups, as the Bruins are indeed sticking to the same lineup as Sunday.
6:55 p.m.: Tim Thomas and Corey Crawford lead the teams out for warm-ups, confirming that will be the goaltending matchup for this one.
6:30 p.m.: It was a quiet morning at the Garden, as the Bruins held just an optional morning skate and the Blackhawks had the morning off completely after beating Detroit in overtime Monday night.
Tuukka Rask was among the eight players who did choose to get some extra work in at the optional skate, likely indicating that Tim Thomas will get the start in this one.
Bruins coach Claude Julien stated this morning that he didn't expect to make any lineup changes, so Michael Ryder, Steven Kampfer and Shane Hnidy are expected to be the scratches again.
Corey Crawford will make his 21st straight start in goal for Chicago.
8 a.m.: The Bruins clinched a playoff berth in their last game, edging the Flyers 2-1 in Philadelphia on Sunday.
On Tuesday, the Bruins will return home to see the other team from last year's Stanley Cup Finals when they host Chicago. The reigning champs are in a battle just to make it back to the postseason out West, but have been picking up steam of late.
Chicago has won three of its last four games and is 12-3-5 in its last 17 games and 21-10-5 since the start of January. Despite that run, the Blackhawks are still battling for a playoff spot. They beat Detroit 3-2 in overtime on Monday but remained in the eighth and final playoff spot in the West after Anaheim beat Colorado later in the night. Chicago is just three points ahead of ninth-place Calgary and four points ahead of 10th-place Dallas.
"That's a desperate team, and we talked about how those kinds of games should be helpful for us to stay on top of our [game] and realize that if you're not ready for games like that you can get embarrassed pretty easily," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "Those are the type of games that we need to prepare for the playoffs coming up. This is a team that has a lot of skill. In the offensive zone they're creative and make some good passes. If we don't have our heads on a swivel in the D zone we could get ourselves in a lot of trouble. They're a team right now that's fighting to stay in the playoffs and I think we'll see them at their best."
Marian Hossa scored the OT winner on the power play on Monday and now has 11-9-20 totals in his last 16 games and 23-29-52 totals overall this year. Jonathan Toews added a goal against Detroit to improve to 31-44-75 and Patrick Kane chipped in two assists to up his totals to 25-42-67. The Blackhawks are without forwards Patrick Sharp (knee) and Dave Bolland (concussion), along with defenseman Jordan Hendry (torn ACL in left knee).
The Bruins, who have won three of their last four to move seven points ahead of Montreal for the Northeast Division lead, lost both meetings with the Blackhawks last season, falling 5-4 in a shootout in Chicago and 5-2 at home. But the Bruins are 259-235-79-3 all-time against their Original Six rival and 163-90-34-0 against Chicago on home ice.
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m., so check back here throughout the day for updates on all the action.
