The Bruins gained their sixty fifth hockey recreation on Thursday and eventually came upon who their first-round playoff opponent can be.
And, oh, B’s followers received one other little scare, although the B’s did their greatest to tamp down any panic after a 5-4 win in Montreal.
By advantage of their loss to the Hurricanes, the Florida Panthers will face the Bruins within the opening spherical that may begin on the Garden, presumably on Monday. The Cats personal the excellence of being certainly one of two groups to beat the B’s twice this 12 months with each wins coming down in Sunrise. The B’s gained each video games in Boston.
Meanwhile, captain Patrice Bergeron – probably enjoying his final recreation in his residence province – left the sport after the primary interval and 5:36 of ice time for what was membership termed as “precautionary” causes with an higher physique damage. Maybe so, however that’s not precisely what Bruins’ followers had been hoping to see within the final recreation of the season. Add the captain to the checklist that features Linus Ullmark and David Krejci of essential gamers nursing accidents that they hope gained’t preserve them from enjoying Game 1 on Monday.
Coach Jim Montgomery instructed reporters in Montreal that the captain needed to return within the recreation however the coach exercised his veto energy.
“(No.) 37’s fine,” stated Montgomery, who didn’t know when the damage occurred. “He wanted to go back out. I said no.”
Knowing the grueling street that lays forward, Montgomery took one final peek again on all this staff completed this 12 months. The greatest penalty kill within the league. The file for residence wins (34). Tying the file for street wins (31). Two defensemen (Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy) over 50 factors. Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman (with a one-game cameo by Keith Kinkaid) profitable the Jennings Trophy. The factors file at 135 and wins mark at 65. The checklist may go on.
“There’s numerous statistics and metrics that you can look at that make this season special,” stated Montgomery. “But for me, it’s how much those guys care about playing for each other. That’s what makes it special.”
For the primary time all 12 months, the Bruins spent stretches of the sport wanting like they didn’t care whether or not they gained or misplaced. They gained anyway, scoring twice within the third interval to take the glorified recreation of shinny over the Montreal Canadiens on the Bell Centre. As extensive open a recreation because it was, it was in step with the we’ll-beat-you-in-any-kind-of-game mantra the B’s have espoused all season.
“It was a little bit different game. It was the 82nd game of the year, so it was a little loosey-goosey to be honest, but glad we got the ‘dub,” stated David Pastrnak, whose 61st objective was his league-leading thirteenth game-winner. “Honestly, for our group it’s been a long season and we work hard, so I guess it’s understnadable there was a little bit of looseness in today’s game. But now it’s over and the fun begins next week.”
After recognizing the Canadiens the primary objective – a tally from UMass Lowell product Lucas Condotta on his first NHL shift – the B’s bounced again with a pair of targets from Trent Frederic (No. 17) and Jake DeBrusk, who matched his career-high together with his twenty seventh objective regardless of lacking a month with a damaged bone in his leg that he suffered within the Winter Classic.
The B’s discovered themselves down by a objective within the second interval after Nick Suzuki tipped residence a protracted shot in a 4-on-4 and a foul determination by Jeremy Swayman led to the Habs’ go-ahead objective. With Rem Pitlick popping out of the penalty field, a puck bounced over Pastrnak on the proper level and skittered right down to the Boston finish. Swayman skated out to get it on the left boards, however Pitlick simply beat him to it. With a large open internet, Pitlick dished it to Michael Pezzetta for the gimme.
When the B’s determined to play, they dominated the Habs, like they did on a shift later within the interval. At the top of it, Dmitry Orlov took it deep and one way or the other slipped a shot over goalie Sam Montembeault’s shoulder and underneath the bar to tie it with an ideal shot.
But the sloppiness continued within the third for the B’s. On an influence play (0-for-5, together with a full two-minute 5-on-3), they meandered again into their very own zone because the Habs buzzed round earlier than Justin Barron blasted a unfastened puck previous Swayman.
Ho hum. Charlie Coyle tied it once more with a 11:12 remaining within the third, roofing a nifty shot over Montembeault. Just 2:12 after the Coyle objective, Pastrnak scored his 61st on a tap-in. It held up as the sport winner.
Now the sport’s are for actual once more.
“It was a terrific regular season,” stated Montgomery. “But now the real fun begins, where every day matters. It’s just an exciting time of year. NHL playoff hockey. We’re excited to be a part of it.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com