3/2 Bruins 1 – Devils 0
As the Boston Bruins try to extend their 15 game point streak, Brad Marchand was playing in his 666 career game and what better team to play against than the New Jersey Devils. It seemed as though it was going to be Brad Marchand’s night as he also had 666 career penalty minutes heading into this game. Sure enough it was Marchand who would score the lone goal in this one to give the Bruins the win for their 16th straight game with at least a point. The goal came just over two minutes into the game on the power play, and then the goalies were great. Tuukka Rask got his 3rd shutout of the season as he stopped all 20 shots he faced. With the win, he also has become only the second goalie in NHL history to have multiple point streaks of 17 games or more. He has been on a whole different level since the new year began, and he has definitely played his way into the Vezina Trophy conversation.
3/5 Bruins 4 – Hurricanes 3 (OT)
It was Whalers Night in the Garden as the Carolina Hurricanes donned the old Hartford Whalers jerseys for the second time this season. It was the first time that jersey was worn on the ice of TD Garden in over 20 years, and the only travesty is that the Bruins did not wear throwback jerseys themselves. Just like those days of the Whalers against the Bruins, the B’s would skate away with the win. I guess some things never change.
The Hurricanes would open the scoring in the first period in this one as Sebastian Aho would score the first of his two goals on the night. Early on in the second period they would double their lead before the Bruins woke up the offense and got back into this one. With about seven minutes to play in the second period, Chris Wagner would score his 10th goal of the season to get the Bruins on the board. Jake DeBrusk would tie the game with less than two minutes to go in the period as he has been on an absolute tear since the start of February. As the third period got underway, the Bruins would take a penalty and go shorthanded, but they would take the lead anyway as Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand connected on Bergy’s 23rd goal of the season. The lead wouldn’t hold up as the Hurricanes would get the game tied with just over seven minutes to play. In overtime the Bruins were saved by Jake DeBrusk whose great fore-check led to a stolen puck and a wide open David Krejci who would end the game with the OT winner.
3-7 Bruins 4 – Panthers 3
For the second game in a row, the Bruins found themselves giving up the first goal in the game and eventually trailing 2-0. However, just like last game the Bruins would fight back to tie the game at 2. After the Panthers scored their second goal, David Krejci was at it again, scoring his 17th goal of the season to give the Bruins some life heading into the third period.
Patrice Bergeron would tie the game in the 3rd, as he scored another huge shorthanded goal for his 3rd shorty of the season and 24th goal of the season.
Roughly two minutes later the Panthers would score again to take a 3-2 lead leaving the Bruins to try and fight back into this one to keep their point streak alive. With 37 seconds to go, Matt Grzelcyk of all people scored to tie the game at 3, only his second goal of the year and no better time.
Just as the game was headed for overtime with the Bruins point streak alive, Patrice Bergeron broke the hearts of the Panthers when he scored with 7 seconds left lifting the Bruins to a 4-3 win and improving that point streak to 18 games in style.
What a game, what a week, and what a streak. This team is so hot and David Pastrnak who was leading the team in scoring before his injury is making his way back. Keep your eyes on this team…they are special.
The Week Ahead
The home-stand will come to an end after Saturday’s game where the last place Ottawa Senators come to town at 7pm. The Bruins will quickly hit the road and travel down to Pittsburgh where they will take on the Penguins Sunday night at 7:30. On Tuesday the Bruins will be in Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets at 7pm, ending the week on Thursday where they will be in Winnipeg taking on the Jets at 8pm.
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