Bruins can't find the back of the net in 1-0 loss to Florida

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 1, 2010 9:59 PM EDT in Game Recaps

The Bruins controlled play all night long, but the Bruins once again struggled to find the back of the net as they fell to the Florida Panthers 1-0 on Thursday night at home. The Bruins directed a staggering 86 shots towards net (36 shots on goals, 32 blocked shots, and 18 missed shots), but they could not manage to put one past Scott Clemmensen, who earned his first shutout of the season.

The Panthers spotted themselves an early 1-0 on a goal by Keith Ballard 7:15 into the game. Jason Garrison had the puck at the left circle and passed the puck below the goal line to Corey Stillman, who found Keith Ballard in the slot for Ballard's 7th goal of the season. It turned out that a 1-0 lead was too much for the offensively inept Bruins to overcome.

Final - 4.1.2010	1	2	3	Total
Florida Panthers	1	0	0	1
Boston Bruins	0	0	0	0

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Notes:

- Tuukka Rask was deservedly named the winner of this year's 7th Player Award in a pre-game ceremony.

- The biggest difference in this game was the Florida Panthers defensive zone play. While Boston controlled the play and the B's spent a lot of time in the attacking zone, the Panthers did a great job of limiting the number of shots that made their way through to their goaltender. Keith Ballard led the Panthers with 6 blocked shots (same number of shots that the Bruins blocked collectively).

- Zdeno Chara had 12 of the 18 shots he attempted blocked.

- The Bruins went 0-3 on the power play.

- The on-ice officials delayed the game for several minutes to review a play. The never explained what play they were looking at. Turns out the review was for a play where Scott Clemmensen hit the water bottle with his stick, making it look like the puck may have hit it on a shot from Milan Lucic.

- Shawn Thornton missed the game with an upper body injury. Brad Marchand replaced him in the lineup.

- The Bruins honored the memory of former equipment manager Kenneth "Doc" Fleger during tonight's game

- Washington beat the Atlanta 2-1 and The Islanders downed the Flyers 6-4.

- For more on tonight's game from a Panthers fan perspective, check out Litter Box Cats

- The Bruins will host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

Comment of the Game

Dick move by the Sabres to lend the Panthers Ryan Miller for a game and dress him in Clemmensen’s jersey.

by Phil Unwin on Apr 1, 2010 8:38 PM EDT

Tweet of the Game

@HackswithHaggs

30 shots on net/zero goals for Bruins in a 1-0 game with 10:38 to go. Even the TD Garden dancing guy just got tackled from behind. Bad night

...hopefully, he is talking about "Mustache Guy" and not a drunk Crash Clark starting his vacation early. That would be a rough week for him.

Tweet Comment 9 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Excellent comment by Phil. We’re just as confused.

The Litter Box - Your Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Apr 1, 2010 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

If the B’s make the playoffs, they will have backed in on the complete incompetence of the teams around them. Philly and ATL choked just as much as the B’s last night, and that could mean the difference in a week or so. No one wants into the playoffs. I’m not sure I blame them for that.

by Arenacale on Apr 2, 2010 8:20 AM EDT reply actions

The thing is, the B’s played really well; they just couldn’t find the back of the net. My well-received comment about Clemmensen aside (woo-hoo!) it was as much a product of missed chances as anything. Looch somehow missing a net that was about 75% open in the second period stands out.

But it was a great effort for 60 minutes, and that’s been the norm lately. Ever since that stinker against Pittsburgh, the B’s have been playing with a lot of hustle and heart.

by Phunwin on Apr 2, 2010 8:37 AM EDT reply actions

I completley agree. I have a good feeling about this team still.

No more Cowbells!

by bestbostonsports on Apr 2, 2010 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s definitely a good sign, but I’m having flashbacks to 2007-2008, when the back half of the season the B’s couldn’t buy a goal. Maybe it means we’ll be back to last years levels next season, but it doesn’t bode entirely well for the playoffs.

by Arenacale on Apr 2, 2010 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Totally agreed

I posted early in the game last night how much I feel this team is really starting to find its way. Sturm missed an open net as well as looch. That goal by Florida should never have happened. Anyways the good outweighs the bad by alot at this point. It would be cool to hear/feel the Garden building shaking again like it did in 07-08

by Ljcav7788 on Apr 2, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Your kidding right?

Hard work is expected around here. You can’t praise them for trying. You praise them for wins and goals. The name of the game is GOALS! Do you feel good about Wheeler, Coattail-Ryder, Wide-ofthenet-man? The lack of talent on this team is plainly obvious. They’re not at the bottom of league in goals scored for nothing. The best thing that came out of last night was the two points FLA got over Toronto. That’s where this team will get the talent to compete in this league, the draft. It was Clemmensen’s first shutout of the year for crap’s sake…

by spraga on Apr 2, 2010 9:33 AM EDT reply actions

Small point – The name of the game is actually ‘Hockey’.

by Theodles on Apr 2, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes but they havent played as well as they are all year long. Also they are the best NHL Defensive team. Chara, Boychuck, Stuart looks nasty good.
I feel this team is hungry…and are proving it with some good wins. If I was Claude I would run practice only with pucks. Feed em pucks til they throw em up in the net!

by Ljcav7788 on Apr 2, 2010 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions