RECAP: Bruins Bounce Back, Blast Blues 5-2.

First Period:

A vast majority of nothing happened right up until Pat Maroon made the fool decision to try and fight Zdeno Chara towards the end of the period.

It should not come as a surprise to anybody what happened next:

While the trade-off is one the Blues will probably try to make every time...Why in god’s name would you ever even consider trying to fight someone like Chara? D’you think a man that freakishly everything just gets tired because he’s old?

2nd Period:

Early on, good things! Torey Krug managed to put a bullet past Allen from a David Krejci Pass that seemed to draw all three Blues forwards directly to him. 1-0 Bruins!

Special mention to Peter Cehlarik’s secondary assist here, in which he essentially allowed Krejci to get up to speed and draw as many guys as he did to him. And naturally to the heck of a shot that Torey Krug put down on Allen.

So! With that done, the bru-wait John what’re you doing. John. JOHN. BACKPASSING TO NOWHERE IS A BAD IDEA YOU COULD-

1-1 Tie. Guess we have to wait a little bit to start celebrating.

And things would only get worse in those late minute of the period, as an uncharacteristically poor shift in the defensive zone by the first line led to Carl Gunnarsson having a wide open lane to Rask’s glove side, which he took with authority. 2-1 Blues.

Yeah, wasn’t a great night for that pairing but it cannot be overstated how weird it was to watch the Bergeron Line get lapped for several seconds in the zone they’re supposed to be good at getting out of.

Thankfully, the Blues weren’t terribly interested in playing smart, and so took a Cross-checking call against Robert Bortuzzo, and on the power play, David Backes got the sweetest revenge of all by tipping the puck past Allen. 2-2 Tie.

I was behind this goal and until they showed the very slowest motion replay, I thought for sure Cehlarik had tipped it. Great work by both forwards to create havoc in front of Allen.

Both sides took a penalty, one took an even more inexcusable penalty (namely, a too many men call against the Blues on the power play), and the period ended.

3rd Period:

Five minutes into the period and the Bruins seemed to make it a point of emphasis to put their prey down, and JFK sprung the mayor, heart, and soul of Walpole, MA to go all on his own to score what is almost certainly the prettiest goal Chris Wagner has ever scored. 3-2 Bruins!

If Alex Pietrangelo wants out of the sinking ship in St. Louis, he’s gonna have to do a lot better than that. What a great bounce for both JFK and Wagner who have been steadily improving throughout the month.

Not too much later, the torture chamber first line came back in a big way as Brad Marchand took a most fortunate bounce from a McAvoy pass off of Allen’s pad and directly onto his stick, where all he had to do was lift the puck. He did so, and it was 4-2 Bruins!

I’m actually kinda shocked Allen didn’t try to cover it, but maybe he was anticipating shot instead of pass. Still an excellent hustle off of a faceoff.

Finally, getting kinda desperate, St. Louis would vacate their net with 3 minutes left. Boston kinda sat back and just let the clock wear the Blues down as much as possible, and then finally, after a missed shot, and a Krejci pass so basic a child could’ve done it, Sean Kuraly stuck a fork in ‘em with the ENG to finish it out with a 5-2 Boston Bruins win!

Kind of a spicy decision by Craig Berube, considering how the Blues responded to both the Wagner and Marchand goals. If nothing else, it was a good shot. Just not good enough.

Game Notes:

• The #FreeCelery movement’s vindication has been in full effect over the past 48 hours as the 2nd line just smoked the Blues in puck possession, coming out of this with another point for Peter Cehlarik, a healthy three for David Krejci, and while Jake DeBrusk didn’t have a hand in the scoresheet, there were plenty of opportunities and shots where he very easily could’ve had he been just a little bit luckier with his shot/his skates staying on the ice and under him. This line is going to tear the Rangers to pieces.
• Your TOI leaders at even strength? Brandon Carlo and Torey Krug! Your overall TOI leaders? Also Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo! Big game for them!
• Look, I’m not gonna belabor this because it’d have to be it’s own article if I had to expand on it: Moore and Miller shouldn’t be an experiment worth running again. Those two brought out the worst of each other tonight and frankly while I completely understand needing to make sure Matt Grzelcyk learns his lesson, if it means this could possibly happen again? I’d be hesitant to do a replacement even as punishment.
• As a side note, I’m getting real sick of goals for being responded to almost immediately with goals against. Time should come for the B’s to really button down after Zombie Nation stops playing.
• Kuraly line still really fun with the forechecking and all the luck in the world. Still a line putting all their effort forth to get things going.
• Don’t fight Boston’s defense you mooks. It only ends in tragedy for you.
• Tuukka Rask is now tied for most wins for a Bruins goalie with Tiny Thompson. We here in Boston congratulate only the finest goaltenders with names starting with T. One of the new blood in the system better get a name change to get ready for the big time. He walked away from this game with a .933 SV% on 30 shots. Don’t worry, if he plays on Saturday and does the thing? We’ll have the post ready. Until then, be cool and ride this month of phenominal play by Savonlinna’s finest.

Ah ha ha ha ha the Rangers are coming to town as the last game before the break. Let’s get to the weekend and do some point collecting before I start writing really weird stuff for content. See you there!