BOSTON — The Bruins played one of their best games of the season Monday night to earn a 5-2 win over a talented Detroit Red Wings team that’s difficult to play against.
“That was a great example of how we have to play, pretty much for the rest of the season, it’s pretty simple,” Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said.
“We had the right attitude and right approach right from the first drop of the puck. They put some pressure on us, especially in the second (period) when they got some power plays going, but I thought we handled it well. Our young guys really stepped up, our veteran guys were obviously leading the way, but I think it’s a great example of how we need to be.”
Here are four takeaways from Monday’s game at TD Garden.
1. Strong First Period
The Bruins scored three first-period goals for the first time this season and had a 23-11 shot attempt edge at even strength in the first 20 minutes. Their 19 shots on goal were a season-high for any period.
Boston received goals from Reilly Smith, Carl Soderberg and Gregory Campbell. All three were scored in and around the crease or were aided by B’s players creating traffic in front of Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard. The Bruins won puck battles in the corners, along the boards and in front of the net, and showed in the process the increased commitment that head coach Claude Julien wanted to see from his team.
Boston now has a plus-five goal differential in first periods this season, its best of any period.
2. Brad Marchand-David Krejci-Reilly Smith Line Impresses
Krejci hadn’t played more than 15 even-strength minutes with Smith or Marchand this season before Monday night, but the trio quickly developed enough chemistry to score a first-period goal and combine for nine shots. Smith scored the goal, his ninth of the season and first since Dec. 16.
The Bruins could opt to keep this line intact even when Patrice Bergeron returns from injury. The Bruins have controlled more than 60 percent of even-strength shot attempts when Bergeron doesn’t skate with Marchand and Smith. Bergeron drives puck possession regardless of his linemates, and it benefits a playmaker such as Krejci to have two wingers who like to shoot the puck often.
3. Bruins Power Play Benefiting From David Krejci’s Return
Krejci returned to the lineup after an 11-game absence with an undisclosed injury on Dec. 17 and the Bruins have scored three power-play goals in that span (six games). The B’s were 1-for-20 with the man advantage in the 11 games prior.
Krejci made a perfect pass on a third-period power play to set up Seth Griffith for a quality scoring chance from the left faceoff circle. Griffith beat Howard with an excellent shot to give Boston a much-needed insurance goal and a 4-2 lead.
It was a good example of the elite playmaking skills the B’s were lacking on the power play when Krejci missed 20 of the first 36 games. He’s able to play the point, set up behind the net or position himself on the half wall when Boston has a man advantage.
The Bruins now rank 19th with a power-play success rate of 17.4 percent.
4. Bruins Shoot Early And Often
The B’s tallied a season-high 45 shots on goal, which is their highest total in a non-overtime game since they put 50 on the Ottawa Senators’ net on April 2, 2013. Boston’s previous high this season was 39 shots against the Red Wings on Oct. 15.
The Bruins fired many shots from the point and created rebound chances because of the traffic in front of Howard. Boston defensemen combined for 20 shots, with Dougie Hamilton leading the group with six.
“We used them because they were open,” Julien said when asked about his teams shot total from the point. “If they’re going to be open all night, then keep feeding them all night because it creates some great scoring chances and some goals with rebounds. … We did it as long as they were open and we used them and the (defensemen) did a great job of getting shots on net and shooting to score.”
The Bruins had a 53-38 shot attempt edge at even strength, which is impressive because the Red Wings are the third-best puck possession team in the league with a 53.24 Corsi-for percentage.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
