2019 Winter Classic RECAP: Bruins power play comes up big and Sean Kuraly picks up the tie breaking goal in 4-2 win!

First Period:

The period was...pretty sloppy, to say the least. Passes weren’t connecting, and the B’s werent doing a lot to try and break up the Blackhawks passing. And the Bruins didn’t make it any better for the fans in attendance by giving up a truly gross goal in which nobody knew where Brendan Perlini scored to put the Hawks up 1-0.

Thankfully, the Hawks didn’t decide to bring their discipline with them, and took their first of many many penalties. Which allowed David Pastrnak an opportunity to tie the game up 1-1!

Great celly. What a legend. Supposedly this was a botched attempt at a Lebron celebration? I dont know enough about basketball to dispute it’s quality.

The period drew to a close after another successful penalty kill, and onto the 2nd we go.

2nd Period:

Things didn’t improve in the second, in fact it was probably a lot worse because the Hawks dropped 16 shots on the Bruins and ran their show for a good portion of it. They also got Dominik Kahun out in front of Rask and tipped it through Rask’s five hole. 2-1 Hawks.

Thankfully, the Hawks discipline still sucked, and the Bruins got back on the power play, and who else but Patrice Bergeron would save the B’s once again with a ludicrous backhander to tie the game up at 2-2 all over again!

In times of doubt, Saint Patrice is there to dissuade us.

Matt Grzelcyk would take another penalty late and the B’s would leave the period with a penalty to kill. On to the third.

Third Period:

The Blackhawks near immediately squandered their power play by taking two penalties within 30 seconds of each other, but the Bruins couldn’t mount anything serious against the Hawks...

...but then the fearsome fishbowl wearer Sean Kuraly put the game on his stick and buried it. The entire 4th line really took over and paid dividends for the B’s and got the Bruins up 3-2!

And after this goal, Boston really took over for good, as the Hawks seemed to have their spirits broken by the Kuraly goal. They pulled their goalie, and well...

...A one line team should have everyone on that line score, right?

Bruins celebrated, A Hawk broke his stick on the net, and the Bruins walked away from the 2019 Winter Classic the victors!

Let’s all shake hands and get ready for another game on Thursday against the Flames.

Game Notes:

• While the first goal was...less than ideal, Tuukka Rask had a .947 SV% and was making big stops all over the dang place, allowing the Bruins to mount their comeback! He had a huge game and it could not have come at a better time.
• Fancystats-wise, your 2nd line ran the show apparently, getting the most out of their 13ish minutes between Debrusk, JFK and Krejci with 58.62%, 57.69%, and 54.17% respectively.
• The Bruins’ special teams had a banner night at the perfect time, saving their skins twice and keeping the Hawks off the scoreboard on their power plays. Granted it isn’t hard to do that lately but given how wobbly the B’s looked at 5-on-5 it really helped with the confidence.
• Kevan Miller stole some of David Pastrnak’s penalty drawing magic and got two power plays within seconds. What a game he had.
• The first line reminded everybody why they’re still so god dang good with several dominant shifts throughout the game. And of course...the goals helped, but the level of quality between the lines was palpable.
• Sean Kuraly’s goalscoring prowess seems to improve the second he’s in clutch situations. It’s like he knows. Fourth line ended up having a pretty solid night, in fact. Maybe Kuraly should just keep that goofy fishbowl on his helmet.
• Doc Emrick can kinda get on people’s nerves but I thought the real thing that made itself more confusing to me was his insistence on calling Dominik Kahun “Kaboom” several times.
• Lol the Hawks can’t win at the Winter Classic. They’re 0-3.
• While the Bruins found a way to win by taking advantage of the Hawks discipline and then their defensive deficiencies with a great shift, the Boston Bruins desperately need to figure out lines 2 through 4 at least in terms of consistent performance and having them on a stage like this didn’t improve that feeling. Keeping the other team in a holding pattern until the Bergeron line gets to the ice can only work so many times and it has been shown to be quite counterable. Whether it means mining Providence for new players or looking for guys elsewhere, it wouldn’t hurt to start considering your options.
• Dallas has control of the Winter Classic now. Godspeed, Defending Big D.

See you Thursday!