Stanley Cup of Chowder - Complete Coverage: Ottawa Senators at Boston Bruins, 12/27David Pastrnak is legend.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/11233/stanley-fave.jpg2017-12-28T06:00:02-05:00http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/rss/stream/165844232017-12-28T06:00:02-05:002017-12-28T06:00:02-05:00RECAP: Bruins beat Senators 5-1, run win streak to 5 games
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<img alt="NHL: Ottawa Senators at Boston Bruins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2GKZmyncUvNNC1GxF0BRXSkr7kU=/0x0:3900x2600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58127617/usa_today_10500429.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Danton Heinen made several strong plays in this game. | Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Performances by ‘youth movement’ drove success in this game.</p> <p id="PHfycJ">WOW, what an entertaining game this turned out to be. You could be tempted to call this a rout by the <a href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Bruins</a> - and, in some ways, it was, such as on the scoreboard - but it wasn’t simply a hot-vs-not lopsided win. Boston played well - especially their depth - and exploited a few <a href="https://www.silversevensens.com/">Senators</a> weaknesses in the process.</p>
<p id="uJF4zZ">Let’s get started.</p>
<h3 id="D1eYCU"><strong>First Period</strong></h3>
<p id="hsiXhP"><span>Danton Heinen</span> struggled to get the puck out of the defensive zone on his first shift, and it may have been his only down shift of the night. Ottawa managed to slide a puck through the crease - in the wrong direction. <span>Charlie McAvoy</span> got away with a high-stick while checking an Ottawa player. Life went on.</p>
<p id="FfZ60F"><span>Kevan Miller</span> netted his first goal of the year, one-timing an atrocious rebound off a tough-angle shot by <span>David Backes</span>. <strong>1-0</strong>, Bruins!</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kevan Miller off of the rebound scores his first of the year to put the Bruins up 1 roughly 5 minutes into the first<a href="https://t.co/88AN02eLC6">https://t.co/88AN02eLC6</a></p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/946174138351267842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2017</a>
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<p id="bmswMN">Zone-time advantage for the B’s began leading to more and more shot attempts, as they were clearly taking the ‘shoot early, shoot often’ approach. Their transition game made quick work of flipping turnovers back in their favor, and off one of these, <span>Matt Grzelcyk</span> found <span>Ryan Spooner</span> on the cross-ice neutral zone pass, who then froze <span>Fredrik Claesson</span>, accelerated, and from below the goal line laid a beautiful drop-pass to Danton Heinen as he crashed the crease. <strong>2-0</strong>, Bruins!</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Spooner burns around Claesson and finds Heinen for the easy tap in in front to double the Bruins lead<a href="https://t.co/72LEsMaO8T">https://t.co/72LEsMaO8T</a></p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/946175440762400769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2017</a>
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<p id="HhspyW"><span>Matt Duchene</span> got a bit irritated and took a slashing penalty; there was almost too much puck cycling by Boston’s PP unit at first, though they did manage five shot attempts.</p>
<p id="hRzfbL">A <a href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/12/27/16824336/fredrik-claesson-hit-on-noel-acciari-nhl-ejections-ottawa-senators-vs-boston-bruins">nasty hit by Claesson</a> sent <span>Noel Acciari</span> to the dressing room. One would hope that he also went through concussion protocol and cleared, as that is not a gentle hit. <span>Tim Schaller</span> challenged and earned a ‘win’, along with a 2-minute instigator, a 5-for-fighting, and a 10-minute misconduct for Schaller, while Claesson earned 5 minutes for the hit to <span>Acciari</span>’s head, 5 for fighting and a 10-minute game misconduct, resulting in his ejection. Play resumed at 4-on-4 for two minutes, and the 3-minute power play for the Bruins that followed would take us to the intermission without much fanfare, other than Heinen ringing the crossbar.</p>
<p id="yv4kzD"><strong>Second Period</strong></p>
<p id="eXvaeg">An early goal by <span>Riley Nash</span> would appear to tip this game, as he blocked a shot by <span>Erik Karlsson</span> and then beat <span>Karlsson</span> to his own net. THAT RARELY HAPPENS - and Nash knows it, according to himself postgame. <strong>3-0</strong>, Bruins!</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Riley Nash with the block, then turns on the burners to stay ahead of Karlsson, then wires a shot past Anderson<a href="https://t.co/nxWG2KzuxT">https://t.co/nxWG2KzuxT</a></p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/946185974236708870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2017</a>
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<p id="sxYuFG">ABout two minutes later, <span>Thomas Chabot</span> would chip into the B’s lead, one-timing a slow pass past Tuukka. <strong>3-1, </strong>B’s still in the lead.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chabot with the one timed bomb from the top of the circle cuts the Bruins lead back to 2, 3-1 Bruins<a href="https://t.co/9C7kvXRDqt">https://t.co/9C7kvXRDqt</a></p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/946186763902570497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2017</a>
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<p id="9lEq14">The middle of this period was a series of dumps, chases, and icings. Around the midway point, Boston nearly took advantage of an offensive-zone faceoff but Pasta just barely missed the net. Scoring wizard Kevan laid out <span>Tom Pyatt</span>, a TOTAL surprise. Heinen had an outstanding series of backchecks and made the smart play by dumping it into David Backes’ corner to burn some clock.</p>
<p id="Iifn4D"><span>Anders Bjork</span>, not wanting to miss out on the fun, picked Dion Phaneuf’s pocket and left a tidy backhand in front of a streaking Nash. RiElite Nash carried the puck to the doorstep, out-waited Anderson, and tucked home a backhand around the goalie’s outstretched pad. <strong>4-1</strong>, Bruins!</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bjork with the steal, feeds Nash who catches Anderson leaning looking pass. All Riley Nash knows how to do is score goals. 4-1 Bruins<a href="https://t.co/cp12M9bxDS">https://t.co/cp12M9bxDS</a></p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/946191872619438082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2017</a>
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<p id="UvyWdU"> <span>Patrice Bergeron</span> took a penalty late in the period, and the bruins would kill it off, sending us to the third.</p>
<p id="e4UR79"><strong>Third Period</strong></p>
<p id="afXEjO">If anything could be taken from the first five minutes of this period, it would be that the Bruins’ youth got the backchecking message, as DeBrusk, Bjork, and Kuraly all were able to disrupt otherwise-clean zone entries by Ottawa. Save for one passing sequence around the point, they couldn’t hold the puck in the Bruins’ zone for longer than a few seconds. On the opposite side, the Bruins were content for some stretches by wrapping the puck around the offensive boards to play keep-away, but it was not a placid ‘sit on your heels’ period. If it was anywhere other than in the Bruins’ possession, they hunted it down. Heinen. Spooner. Bjork. <span>Jake DeBrusk</span>, whose name is surprisingly absent on the scoresheet given his play. Everyone had a hand in closing out this game, and how fitting it was that Grzelcyk would set up the nail for Backes. <strong>5-1</strong>, Bruins, with under two minutes to play.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Backes plays Grzelyck's wide shot perfectly, while Anderson cant hold the post. 5-1 Bruins, and thatll do it<a href="https://t.co/G4s7IOsXEh">https://t.co/G4s7IOsXEh</a></p>— StanleyCup ofChowder (@cupofchowdah) <a href="https://twitter.com/cupofchowdah/status/946206693767204865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2017</a>
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<p id="Pg5eq1"><strong>Takeaways</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="LmtASu">
<span>Tuukka Rask</span> is on form. He may not have seen many shots tonight but Ottawa did make some solid efforts in the third that warranted his undivided attention, and he gave it.</li>
<li id="zpGjKO">Kevan Miller played a solid if not spectacular game. Goal-scoring and his usual sandpaper aside, he has been relatively unnoticed - which is good for your third defensive pair. Tonight in particular, he and Grzelcyk were able to eat into captain Zdeno Chara’s minutes, rest that will help to sustain the team for the rest of the regular season. (McAvoy was not so lucky, and still neared 22 minutes. Krug, Carlo and Grzelcyk each nearly had 20.)</li>
<li id="Ff1Icr">Despite missing the scoreboard, the first line were not passengers - and didn’t get the same consideration from the coaching staff on minute-reduction as Chara. They were adept at their intangibles, pushing the puck out of the Bruins zone and generating some chances. <span>Brad Marchand</span>, Patrice Bergeron and <span>David Pastrnak</span> totaled 5 of 23 Bruins shots. That doubles if you include shot attempts that Ottawa blocked.</li>
<li id="oocbof">It may be time for coach Bruce Cassidy to try and balance the lineup a bit more evenly as the season rolls along, both for the young players’ experience and the veterans’ rest. It’ll depend on the opponent for sure, but it has been paying off on the ice lately.</li>
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<p id="lz9287">Short turnaround, as Boston hops to Washington to face the much tougher <a href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Capitals</a> tonight at 7:30pm. Stick around with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl-playoffs">Stanley Cup</a> of Chowder as we keep tabs on the action.</p>
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https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/12/28/16824154/recap-bruins-beat-senators-win-streak-5-games-tuukka-rask-anton-khudobin-anders-bjork-riley-nashAdam Denhard2017-12-27T20:05:30-05:002017-12-27T20:05:30-05:00Noel Acciari injured on a dirty hit by Fredrik Claesson
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<img alt="Winnipeg Jets v Boston Bruins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1ZcqqTbHKKbnnKEVrF22csGa-HI=/0x0:1741x1161/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58125449/896859018.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>High, blindside and to the head. Adios, Fredrik.</p> <p id="zFZnKn">Late in the first period of tonight’s game, <span>Noel Acciari</span> was dazed after a hit to the head by Ottawa’s <span>Fredrik Claesson</span>.</p>
<p id="SuXAA6">Via Chris:</p>
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<p id="RffFk0">Unnecessary and directly to the head. </p>
<p id="MJ7Zg9"><span>Acciari</span> had no idea it was coming, as he was reaching for a <span>Charlie McAvoy</span> pass.</p>
<p id="YA9XWs">Claesson appeared to target Acciari’s head, and he connected; Acciari remained on all fours for a few moments before getting to his feet and heading down the tunnel.</p>
<p id="WrbRec">Claesson had to answer to <span>Tim Schaller</span> immediately after the hit:</p>
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<p id="Ro9C9y">Claesson received a five minute major for a hit to the head and was ejected.</p>
<p id="lu4gW4">The <a href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Bruins</a> ended up with three minutes of PP time after Schaller’s instigator, but were unable to score.</p>
<p id="zOPLIn">Acciari didn’t return (EDIT: he's back out there to start the second).</p>
<p id="kvvXav">Expect Claesson to hear from the league after this one’s over.</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/12/27/16824336/fredrik-claesson-hit-on-noel-acciari-nhl-ejections-ottawa-senators-vs-boston-bruinsDan.Ryan2017-12-27T11:12:10-05:002017-12-27T11:12:10-05:00Projected Lines: Senators at Bruins
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<img alt="NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Ottawa Senators at Boston Bruins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kqf_jFIxIc9rAuacRKimHMwackc=/0x1:2414x1610/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58113805/usa_today_10028011.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Cassidy’s Kids get set for a home game. | Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Who’s in, who’s out for tonight’s game!</p> <p id="XyewPy"><em>Check out tonight’s lineups!</em></p>
<p id="Oc1SkM"><em>Updates from morning skate:</em><br><em>David Krejci on IR; skated in non-contact jersey. Peter Cehlarik was on the ice as well, in a regular sweater. Adam McQuaid is still on IR as of 11am, and also skated with the team. Frank Vatrano and Paul Postma are still human.</em></p>
<h3 id="RR6wHM"><a href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Boston Bruins</a></h3>
<p id="gUzrJi"><strong>Forwards</strong></p>
<p id="SXlMon">Brad Marchand - <span>Patrice Bergeron</span> - David Pastrnak</p>
<p id="PUSxAi">Jake DeBrusk - <span>Ryan Spooner</span> - Anders Bjork</p>
<p id="CsWHIP">Danton Heinen - <span>Riley Nash</span> - David Backes</p>
<p id="JQL1hn"><span>Tim Schaller</span> - <span>Sean Kuraly</span> - <span>Noel Acciari</span></p>
<p id="EqVKN1"><strong>Defense</strong></p>
<p id="5UX9Ah">Zdeno Chara - <span>Charlie McAvoy</span></p>
<p id="geTjHo"><span>Torey Krug</span> - Brandon Carlo</p>
<p id="o45PgL">Matt Grzelcyk - <span>Kevan Miller</span></p>
<p id="hHbWlx"><strong>Goalies</strong></p>
<p id="ZAr1Ry">Tuukka Rask</p>
<p id="yq7RZj">Anton Khudobin</p>
<p id="WhwdZn"></p>
<h3 id="kDPfcj"><a href="https://www.silversevensens.com/">Ottawa Senators</a></h3>
<p id="CLiQtr"><strong>Forwards</strong></p>
<p id="TjiKdK"><span>Ryan Dzingel</span> - <span>Matt Duchene</span> - <span>Alexandre Burrows</span></p>
<p id="gZ5vFU"><span>Nate Thompson</span> - Derrick Brassard - <span>Mark Stone</span></p>
<p id="ScL3Ao"><span>Mike Hoffman</span> - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - <span>Tom Pyatt</span></p>
<p id="BkEzWK">Philip Chlapik - <span>Nick Paul</span> - Chris DiDomenico</p>
<p id="t10nV5"><strong>Defense</strong></p>
<p id="25PWzs"><span>Johnny Oduya</span> - <span>Erik Karlsson</span></p>
<p id="Zb1JSw"><span>Thomas Chabot</span> - <span>Cody Ceci</span></p>
<p id="v10GaD"><span>Fredrik Claesson</span> - <span>Ben Harpur</span></p>
<p id="iZIuaf"><strong>Goalies</strong></p>
<p id="mf32gH"><span>Craig Anderson</span></p>
<p id="KjkXVf"><span>Mike Condon</span></p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/12/27/16820572/projected-lines-senators-at-bruins-tuukka-rask-anton-khudobinAdam Denhard2017-12-27T06:30:02-05:002017-12-27T06:30:02-05:00PREVIEW: struggling Senators visit red-hot Bruins
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<img alt="NHL: Detroit Red Wings at Boston Bruins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6bnojTgHQYI7n9wKMF5Ec9xaKiQ=/72x0:3861x2526/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58113753/usa_today_10495996.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Patrice Bergeron carried Boston into the holiday break, and will resume his saintly duties this evening. | Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Will we get a bit of vindication from last spring’s playoff series?</p> <h3 id="l5b9dI">Just The Facts:</h3>
<p id="TSZwLX"><strong>What</strong>: The <a href="https://www.silversevensens.com/">Ottawa Senators</a> 11-15-8, 30pts, 7th in ATL) visit the <a href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/"><strong>Boston Bruins</strong></a> (19-10-5, 43pts, 3rd in Atlantic)</p>
<p id="vsbeql"><strong>When</strong>: 7:00 PM ET</p>
<p id="owbgZq"><strong>Where</strong>: TD Garden, Boston, MA</p>
<p id="EwmY3G"><strong>Where to watch</strong>: <strong>NESN</strong>, TSN-3</p>
<p id="AggUZU"><strong>Where to listen</strong>: 98.5 The Sports Hub</p>
<h3 id="kSrNOC">Preview</h3>
<p id="4tNzDb">Ottawa has eight losses in their last ten games, and have dropped three in a row. <span>Alexandre Burrows</span> is the first-line right wing, proving you CAN eat your way to the top of SOMETHING. It’s been a bit of a fall since last year’s playoff run.</p>
<p id="tXLrLT">Boston, meanwhile, is walkin’ out of the holiday break like...</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">When you feel like showing off that new outfit at Christmas dinner. <a href="https://t.co/S2VRPonkBw">pic.twitter.com/S2VRPonkBw</a></p>— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/945391227721142272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2017</a>
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<p id="OcED9m">The Bruins have played solid hockey for several weeks in a row, going 8-2-1 record in December. This is an excellent spot for the Bruins at this point in the season - they’re in a good spot in the Atlantic division, holding a decent grip on third with the <a href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> just two points ahead of them in the standings. They’re building confidence and now that the early-season injury bug is passing (hopefully, along with the illness bug from last week). </p>
<h3 id="NuNdTY">Players to Watch:</h3>
<ul>
<li id="eNfgon">Let’s see if <span>David Backes</span> stays hot following the birth of his second child; he had two assists in Saturday’s win over Detroit.</li>
<li id="WptEXz">Bratrice Pastrchand is humming along as well, with the wingers already topping 30 points each and Saint Patrice winning nearly 57% of his faceoffs. Yikes!</li>
<li id="V6oyK2">Never. Stop. Watching. <span>Charlie McAvoy</span>.</li>
<li id="3g61sq">Ottawa’s loss of <span>Kyle Turris</span> via trade has stung, with the acquired <span>Matt Duchene</span> still lagging in the points category despite playing on the top line. A saving grace for the Senators has been depth contributions from <span>Mark Stone</span> and <span>Mike Hoffman</span>.</li>
<li id="5m7uop">The goalie tandem of <span>Craig Anderson</span> and <span>Mike Condon</span> has been... less than stellar. While it’s not entirely their fault, Ottawa allows 3.21 goals per game, good for sixth-most in the league.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="O6SJNa">NEVER 4GET:</h3>
<p id="BqMKkJ">Sean Kuraly’s arrival in the 2017 ECQF:</p>
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https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2017/12/27/16820378/preview-struggling-senators-visit-red-hot-bruins-patrice-bergeron-david-pastrnak-tuukka-raskAdam Denhard