Final, Bruins 4-1: And the Bruins have ended their skid with an impressive 4-1 win over the Devils at the Garden, maintaining their hold on first place in the Northeast Division as they await the Candiens’ visit on Thursday.
The Bruins are guaranteed of remaining in first place after that clash as the Canadiens lost 2-0 to Buffalo. The Bruins now have a three-point lead with two games in hand on Montreal. They would still feel a lot more secure if they can get a win over the Habs on Thursday, but at least now after this victory against the Devils Boston will have some momentum going into that highly-anticipated clash.
Third Period, 19:20, Bruins 4-1: And Mark Recchi finds the empty net to put this one away.
Third Period, 18:51, Bruins 3-1: The Devils’ net is open as Brodeur heads to the bench for the extra attacker.
Third Period, 16:13, Bruins 3-1: The Bruins finally get some separation, as Milan Lucic makes it a two-goal lead with a one-timer from the left slot.
Chara started the play with some great stick-handling to keep the puck alive in the New Jersey zone, then Patrice Bergeron dropped a pass from the goal line out to Lucic for his 30th tally of the season.
Third Period, 13:27, Bruins 2-1: Back-to-back icings by the Bruins keeping the fourth line trapped out there. They need to relieve this pressure.
Third Period, 10:51, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins great some great PK work when they needed it most there. Marchand and Bergeron and Peverley and Kelly were the pairs up front, Chara and McQuaid and Seidenberg and Boychuk on defense for that huge kill.
Third Period, 8:51, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins face a huge penalty kill here, as Greg Campbell is sent off for tripping. The Devils needed just 12 seconds to score on their only other power play.
Third Period, 5:19, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins threaten again as Adam McQuaid fires in a shot from the blue line and Rich Peverley tries to jam home the rebound, causing a scrum in front.
Third Period, 4:18, Bruins 2-1: Krejci is back out there. He didn’t miss a shift. Seidenberg, however, remains a menace, as he now hits linesman Tim Novak with a clearing shot.
Third Period, 1:19, Bruins 2-1: David Krejci gets hit with a Dennis Seidenberg slap shot and limps off in pain. He stayed on the bench though and hasn’t headed to the locker room.
Third Period, 0:00, Bruins 2-1: The final frame is under way here at the Garden, with the Bruins looking to close out what would be a crucial win.
Brick Breaks Down the Game: Spent a few minutes between periods with NESN analyst Andy Brickley to get his thoughts on the game so far and what the Bruins need to do in the third to hold on to this victory.
Here’s Brick’s breakdown:
“The last 7-8 minutes of the first period were much better. The Bruins started to do a better job in the neutral zone. The first 11-12 minutes were a classic Jacques Lemaire neutral zone game. And that [New Jersey] power-play goal was way too easy. But it woke the Bruins up and they got more invested in the game physically and emotionally.
“They started to gain control after that and that was an awesome power-play goal by the Bruins. That’s what everyone has been looking for. It was a great subtle little move by [David] Krejci to open up the lane for [Milan] Lucic for that one. [Tomas] Kaberle has been real good, probably his best game in a Bruins uniform. He’s been good on the power play. All the power-play adjustments have been good. [Tyler] Seguin looks good out there. He understands the value of creating those 2-on-1s down low.
“The problem is New Jersey is comfortable in these kind of games. How many 2-1 games have they played already this year? I’d like to see us get a little more separation on the scoreboard.”
End Second Period, Bruins 2-1: Much better period for the Bruins, who pulled ahead with the lone goal of the frame and outshot the Devils 17-8 in the period.
Second Period, 15:54, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins had more good pressure on that chance, but again came up empty as it remains a one-goal lead.
Second Period, 13:54, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins are on the power play again, this time with David Steckel sent off for interference. Boston has climbed all the way back to even the shot count at 21-21.
Second Period, 12:45, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins can’t get another one on that power play, but they did create a few good chances to keep the momentum swinging their way.
Second Period, 10:45, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins will get a chance to continue their power-play revival, as Dainius Zubrus is now sent to the box for holding.
Second Period, 8:17, Bruins 2-1: And the Bruins finally score on the man-advantage, with Zdeno Chara making the Devils pay for tripping him.
Chara made a back-door cut and one-timed it home from the left circle for Boston’s first power-play goal in four games and their first 5-on-4 goal since Feb. 18. That goal was Chara’s 400th career point, with Milan Lucic and Tomas Kaberle picking up the assists.
Second Period, 8:08, 1-1: The Bruins will get another crack at the power play. This time it’s Nick Palmieri going off for tripping Chara.
Second Period, 6:12, 1-1: Julien has long shuffled his defense pairs throughout the game, but in this one he’s doing the same with his forward lines. Other than keeping Krejci, Lucic and Horton together, he’s mixing and matching the other three units shift to shift.
Second Period, 3:48, 1-1: Fayne with a shot from the right point that Thomas ties up. That’s New Jersey’s first shot since before Boston’s goal, a span of well over eight minutes of game time.
Second Period, 2:23, 1-1: The Bruins looked much better on that power play, but the result was the same as they failed to convert. It wasn’t for a lack of chances though, as the shots are now 16-12.
Second Period, 0:23, 1-1: The Bruins will get another power-play chance early here as Mark Fayne is sent off for hooking just 23 seconds into the period.
Second Period, 0:00, 1-1: And the middle frame is under way at the Garden, with the Bruins looking for a better start than what they had in the opening period.
First Intermission Notes: The Bruins are lucky to get a do-over for this one. They didn’t show up until about 15 minutes into play, but came out of the first period tied 1-1 with a chance at a fresh start in the second.
Boston actually has some momentum with their strong finish to the first. The Devils had a 14-1 advantage in shots when they went up 1-0 and it was 16-2 before the Bruins tied it. Boston actually had the final four shots of the period to close the gap to 16-6.
Special teams continue to be a problem for the Bruins. New Jersey needed just 12 second to score on their only power-play chance, while the Bruins couldn’t even get a shot on net during their only chance, and even gave up two shorthanded shots to New Jersey. Only Tim Thomas kept this one close early, as he seems to have regained his form a bit.
The Bruins have other areas to worry about as well, as New Jersey was taking it to them physically for much of the period with an 11-7 edge in hits and the Devils also dominated the draws, winning 61 percent of the faceoffs.
End First Period, 1-1: The Bruins survived the Devils’ early onslaught and head into the break deadlocked at 1-1.
First Period, 15:39, 1-1: The Bruins still trail the shot count 16-3, but they’re tied on the scoreboard as Shawn Thornton deflects a Dennis Seidenberg shot in front to even this one up.
Seidenberg took a crossing pass from Tomas Kaberle at the blue line before launching the blast with Thornton set up in front of Martin Brodeur.
First Period, 13:44, Devils 1-0: The Bruins still can’t get anything going on the power play, as they don’t even put a shot on goal. The Devils had two more shots while shorthanded, and now lead the shot count 16-2.
First Period, 11:44, Devils 1-0: The Bruins get their first chance on the power play with Dainius Zubrus sent off for holidng.
First Period, 11:05, Devils 1-0: It doesn’t take the Devils long to convert on the power play, with Ilya Kovalchuk making a backdoor cut and firing it home from the left circle. Shots are now 14-1.
First Period, 10:53, 0-0: More trouble for the Bruins, as they’re now shorthanded with Mark Recchi sent off for hooking.
First Period, 10:07, 0-0: This one is looking ugly early, with the Bruins managing just one shot in the first half of the opening period. The Devils have 10 shots so far, many of them quality scoring bids, and only some sharp work by Thomas has kept it scoreless.
First Period, 8:03, 0-0: Thomas with another big stop as Kovalchuk’s bid from the left boards was knocked down in front, but David Clarkson had a second chance from the top of the crease that Thomas denied.
First Period, 6:38, 0-0: Thomas comes up big with a point-blank stop on Patrik Elias at the right post. The Devils have a 7-1 edge in shots so far. This after allowing just 25 shots combined in their last two games.
First Period, 4:43, 0-0: Rough shift there for the Bruins, who failed to clear the puck on several opportunities, then Thomas can’t hang on to a point shot. Ilya Kovalchuk nearly pokes it home in a mad scramble in front before Thomas finally corrals it.
First Period, 3:17, 0-0: Marchand is now out with the fourth line as expected from warm-ups. Ryder is skating with Bergeron and Recchi. Those are the combinations we should see the rest of the night.
First Period, 1:25, 0-0: Solid start for the Bruins in the first couple shifts with Marchand flashing his speed and Lucic and Horton throwing some hits to set the tone.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: And this one is under way at the Garden, as the Bruins look to snap out of their slump and build some momentum heading into Thursday’s first-place showdown with Montreal.
Boston could be out of first in that game if they lose this game and Montreal beats Buffalo (7:30 start).
7 p.m.: Brad Marchand skated with the fourth line in warm-ups, but will start the game on the second line with Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi. It will be interesting to see if that combination stays together or if the Bruins revert to the units used in the pre-game skate. Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk are starting on defense, with Tim Thomas in goal.
The Devils counter with former Bruin Brian Rolston up front alongside Travis Zajac and Nick Palmieri, with Henrik Tallinder and local boy Mark Fayne on the blue line and Martin Brodeur in net.
6:55 p.m.: The Bruins’ scratches are official, with Kampfer, Paille and Shane Hnidy sitting this one out.
The Devils have scratched Mark Fraser and Vladimir Zharkov. Rod Pelley, who fought Adam McQuaid in the last matchup here, returns to the lineup with Zharkov out.
6:40 p.m.: Steven Kampfer and Daniel Paille were not on the ice for warm-ups, so they appear to be the scratches as expected.
Brad Marchand skated on the fourth line in drills as he makes his return from suspension. Here’s the full rundown of the line combinations in warm-ups:
Lucic-Krejci-Horton
Ryder-Bergeron-Recchi
Peverley-Kelly-Seguin
Marchand-Campbell-Thornton
Defense pairs:
Chara-Boychuk
Kaberle-Seidenberg
Ference-McQuaid
6:30 p.m.: Tim Thomas leads the Bruins out onto the ice for warm-ups. he’ll be in goal for this one as expected.
Martin Brodeur in net for New Jersey.
6 p.m.: The Bruins will take on New Jersey in just about an hour, looking to snap out of their recent slump against one of the hottest teams in the NHL.
The Bruins held just an optional skate with minimal attendence this morning, leaving little indication of what the lineup will look like.
Daniel Paille, Steven Kampfer and Tuukka Rask did skate, which could indicate Paille and Kampfer will be scratches and Rask will be backing up Tim Thomas, but that won’t be certain until after warm-ups.
Shane Hnidy is also ready to return from his shoulder injury, but will not play in this one. Martin Brodeur will start in goal for the Devils.
8 a.m.: The Bruins return home on Tuesday from a disappointing four-game road trip to face a Devils team that’s as hot as any club in the NHL right now.
After a miserable 10-29-2 start that cost first-year coach John MacLean his job, New Jersey has posted a remarkable 24-5-2 record since Dec. 9, good for 50 points over those 31 games. To give an idea how impressive that run has been, that works out to a 132-point pace over a full 82-game season.
Of course, the Devils were on just a 44-point pace through the first 41 games, which leaves them still seven points out of the final playoff spot in the East with three teams to pass in the final 10 games.
“They’ve really turned it around,” Bruins forward Shawn Thornton said. “I don’t know what to attribute it to, but they’re a good team right now. They’ve been really hot of late, so we’re going to have our hands full.”
The Bruins have had their hands full with just about everyone lately. After a season-best seven-game win streak, Boston has managed just one win in its last seven games. That skid hit a new low with Saturday’s 5-2 no-show loss in Toronto that Thornton admitted Monday was “a bit of a wake-up call.”
The Bruins better wake up fast, as their lead in the Northeast Division is down to just one point on Montreal, which makes its final visit to the Garden on Thursday. The Bruins can’t afford to get caught looking ahead to that one though, as they first have to deal with the red-hot Devils.
Bruins coach Claude Julien is embracing the challenge, which he hopes is just what his club needs to find its focus and get back on track.
“It will be a good challenge for us, something that we probably need right now,” Julien said. “Some good opposition and obviously some better games from our group.”
Julien also hopes that going through this recent rough patch will pay dividends later on, but that will only happen if the Bruins end their slump first.
“You’ve got to work your way out of it,” Julien said. “You hope at the end of the day or the end of the year you can look back and say that adversity made us a better hockey club. But in order to be able to do that, you have to get the results, and that’s what we need to get right now — the results.”
The Bruins will get forward Brad Marchand back, as he has completed serving his two-game suspension, while defenseman Shane Hnidy is also eligible to be activated from injured reserve on Tuesday, though Julien isn’t sure when the veteran blueliner will see his first game action.
The puck drops at 7 p.m., so check back here throughout the day for updates on all the action.
