Final, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins were able to hold off a late push from the Devils, and Boston gets the 1-0 win.
Third period, 14:30, Bruins 1-0: Tuukka Rask is quickly becoming the story in this game.
He’s been fantastic so far, and he continues to make save after save after save. Perhaps his best of the night came a couple of minutes ago when Andy Greene skated down from the left point and was able to get a great scoring chance on goal, but Rask was there to make the save. He then made sure to close off any opening between him and the side of the net for any rebound chance.
Third period, 11:18, Bruins 1-0: This is really become the defensive struggle we expected it to be. Both clubs are doing a good job of forcing play to the outside and not letting much get to the slot.
That wasn’t the case a few minutes ago, though, when Jarormir Jagr got loose in the slot. He took a pass from Tyler Seguin and attempted a one-timer, but the puck was blocked by a stick in front and was sent up over the glass behind the goal.
Third period, 7:17, Bruins 1-0: The Devils came out rolling in the third period, but Tuukka Rask continues to look sharp, and he’s the reason the Bruins still have a 1-0 lead.
Rask has stopped all four shots he’s seen in the third, and all 32 shots he’s faced in the game.
Third period, 0:10, Bruins 1-0: The third period is underway.
Second period reaction, Bruins 1-0: We’ re probably harping a little too much on Jaromir Jagr, but whatever. When he plays a period like he just did in the second, it’s impossible to avoid.
Jagr scored his first goal with the Bruins, the lone tally of the game, and the B’s have the 1-0 lead. Jagr also had a good run on the lone Boston power play of the game. And by good run, I mean the entire two minutes of the power play. So there was that. Once the Bruins finally gained possession in the New Jersey end, it looked like an actual real-life power play, which isn’t always the case with the Bruins. They didn’t score, but Jagr brought some life to the man-advantage, and it will be fun to see them build on that. The 41-year-old has seen 13:51 of ice time through two periods, which is the most among forwards on either team.
End second period, Bruins 1-0: The second period comes to an end with the Bruins leading 1-0.
The B’s outshot the Devils 13-11 in the second period, but the Devils still lead in shots 28-19.
Second period, 15:28, Bruins 1-0: This second period has been much better. While they continue to be outshot (New Jersey has actually doubled up in shots 28-14), the B’s are starting to find their groove.
You had to think that there was going to be some sort of breaking-in stage with the additions of Jaromir Jagr and Kaspars Daugavins, but both have looked pretty comfortable so far, and the Bruins are looking more and more comfortable as the game progresses.
Second period, 12:03, Bruins 1-0: It’s still 1-0 in favor of the Bruins, but that’s not without a little help from the post.
David Clarkson just hit the post (the second Jersey has hit in this period) on a backhanded attempt that Tuukka Rask may have gotten a piece of.
Second period, 10:00, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins weren’t able to score on their first power play, despite some fine work from Jaromir Jagr.
He was brought in to help the power play, and he was on the ice for the entire power play there.
Second period, 7:05, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins get their first power play of the evening after David Clarkson was called for interference.
Second period, 6:09, Bruins 1-0: The obvious story in this one is going to be Jaromir Jagr, but it’s worth noting that the first line is clicking on all cylinders right now.
They have had some terrific shifts, and they carried that into the second period where they just put a ton of pressure on Martin Brodeur. The future Hall of Famer was able to keep it a one-goal game, though.
Second period, 1:20, Bruins 1-0: Jaromir Jagr is one of the best offensive players in the history of the game. You don’t get that way without a little luck.
The forward just scored his first goal as a Bruin, and he did so when a puck deflected off his skate and by Martin Brodeur.
Jagr drove to the net down the slot where Brad Marchand threw it toward the slot, and it hit Jagr’s skate and went in.
Second period, 0:01, 0-0: The second period is under way.
Again, if you’re looking for cable listings to see where you can get the game on NESN Plus, go here.
First period reaction: After all the hoopla surrounding Jaromir Jagr’s debut in Boston, there was still a game. It looks like the Bruins may have forgotten that.
The B’s were outplayed in the first period by a New Jersey team that came in having lost its last four games. The Bruins are obviously going to feel the effect of missing Patrice Bergeron for however long he is out, and they likely felt it in the first. Boston just isn’t going to be as good defensively without the Selke winner, and we’re seeing that in his absence. The B’s gave up 17 shots in the first period, a number that is very high for such a defensive-minded team. A lot of that, of course, stems from puck possession. That’s also part of the lingering Bergeron effect. Bergeron is one of the best faceoff men in the game, and you can’t understate his impact there, either. Jersey won eight of the 11 drops in the first period, and Bergeron’s replacement at center, Tyler Seguin, is 0-for-3.
Now, to Jagr. He’s been fine in his first 20 minutes. He’s already logged 5:58 in the first period, and he was able to get a pair of shots on goal. He’s 41 years old, though, which mean he might look a step slow from time to time, or all the time when skating alongside two young bucks like Seguin and Brad Marchand. All in all, though, a solid enough first period from Jagr.
Tuukka Rask has been very sharp so far, stopping all 17 shots he’s faced. He seemed to get better as the period went on, which is good news for the Bruins who got worse as a team as the period went on.
End first period, 0-0: The Bruins were able to kill off the David Krejci penalty, but the Devils were able to get a couple of good chances.
That’s been the story of the first period thus far, as the Devils are putting the pressure on the Bruins. New Jersey outshot Boston 17-6 in the first period, and that’s coming on the heels of Tuesday’s game where the B’s gave up nearly 50 shots.
First period, 16:25, 0-0: The Bruins get the game’s first penalty, which means it’s time for the penalty kill to go to work.
David Krejci was called for holding, and the Devils get the game’s first power play.
First period, 11:26, 0-0: The Devils have had the arguably the best chances of the game so far, but Tuukka Rask was up to the challenge.
Rask made a save on a shot from Alexei Ponikarovsky in the slot, and the Bruins goalie then turned away David Clarkson on the rebound attempt to ensure this game remains scoreless.
First period, 8:00, 0-0: No goals in the first eight minutes of play, and no real big plays, so the story is still Jaromir Jagr.
The new Bruins forward has seen plenty of ice in the early going, and he was able to tip a shot in front on goal during his first shift. Martin Brodeur was able to close his pads and make the save, however.
The Boston first line continues to look sharp. They used some nifty passing and good cycling for a couple of scoring chances on their most recent shift. Brodeur was once again up to the task.
Despite that, the Devils own a 5-3 lead in shots, and Tuukka Rask has looked sharp in the early going.
First period, 0:01, 0-0: We’re underway here at TD Garden for Bruins-Devils.
7:05 p.m.: Jaromir Jagr got another good ovation as he stepped onto the ice just minutes before game time. The Bruins, however, will start with the fourth line.
6:45 p.m.: Pregame warmups are over. It looks like the Bruins are going to go with the same lines that they showed at morning skate a few hours ago.
Those lines are as follows.
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand-Tyler Seguin-Jaromir Jagr
Jay Pandolfo-RichPeverley-Kaspars Daugavins
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton
6:30 p.m.: The Bruins and Devils just took the ice for pregame warmups. Jaromir Jagr was the last Bruin to hit the ice, and he got a nice ovation in doing so.
Tuukka Rask will start for the Bruins, while Martin Brodeur gets the nod for the Devils.
6:15 p.m.: There’s plenty of excitement in this building already, and the Bruins haven’t even taken the ice.
On my way into the Garden down at North Station, I saw someone wearing a brand new Jaromir Jagr Bruins jersey.
3:30 p.m.: Claude Julien did give an update on Wade Redden who was acquired Wednesday. All the head coach said was that the defenseman is “en route.”
2:45 p.m.: So if you’re really into this Jarmir Jagr fella, we’ve got a gallery you might be interested. Here’s a “Jagr’s greatest hits” gallery that probably beats the pants off of doing work while waiting for the game.
By the way, and I’ll throw this link in here a little later as well, the Bruins are going to be on NESN Plus tonight, as Red Sox-Yankees will take precedence on NESN. You can find your NESN Plus listing by clicking here.
1 p.m.: It’s already a busy day in the land of the Bruins, and that all has to do with just one man — Jaromir Jagr.
The forward made his Black and Gold debut of sorts on Thursday morning when he took the Garden ice for morning skate. He’ll make his formal debut in about six hours.
Interestingly, Jagr took line rushes on what has been the Patrice Bergeron line. However, Bergeron is out indefinitely, so Claude Julien has made a somewhat obvious shift. He has moved Tyler Seguin from the wing to center, and inserted Jagr into the right wing slot. That should be a lot of fun to watch, and if they click from the jump, it will provide Julien with a good problem to have once Bergeron returns.
Kaspars Daugavins was on the ice for morning skate as well. It looks like he might find himself on the third line alongside Rich Peverley and Jay Pandolfo. It sounds like Jordan Caron may be the odd man out. In other third line news, Chris Kelly skated with the club during morning skate, and Julien said the center may be just days away from returning.
Tuukka Rask was the first goalie off the ice. Anton Khudobin made the last two starts, so it’s all but a certainty that Rask will get the start in this one.
8 a.m.: The smoke has cleared with the NHL trade deadline has passed, and now it’s time for the push to the playoffs. The Bruins will continue their push for the postseason on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils.
In doing so, the Black and Gold are expected to slot a future Hall of Famer into the lineup. Jaromir Jagr, who was acquired Tuesday by the B’s, is expected to make his debut with the Bruins on Thursday against New Jersey. Once Jagr hits the ice in his Boston sweater, it will be his sixth stop in an NHL career that will eventually end in Toronto.
Jagr might not be alone in making his debut with the B’s. Kaspars Daugavins, who was claimed off of waivers last week by Boston, may also make his debut with the Bruins. Peter Chiarelli confirmed Wednesday that it’s likely Daugavins will be in there.
The Bruins will be without one of their best players, though. Patrice Bergeron left Tuesday’s win over the Senators and did not return. Chiarelli announced Wednesday that Bergeron had suffered another concussion. The two-way forward, arguably the most important player on the Bruins roster, is out indefinitely.
This is the second of three meetings this season between the Bruins and the Devils. The B’s beat New Jersey 2-1 in a shootout back on Jan. 29.
Puck drop from the Garden is scheduled for 7 p.m.
