Monday, November 24, 2014

Game 23: Bruins Needed This One

There comes a point when talking about injuries with this team becomes moot. Breaking news will surface when players actually start returning, not going down. From this moment forward, discussing injuries will be no more. The only way to keep fighting is just having the next man step up.

Random soliloquy over. However, it is worth noting that Brad Marchand made his return to the lineup for this game. 

Anyway, the Boston Bruins needed to win this game. This week will be relatively light with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, so getting some points at home was the only salvageable aspect of their recent struggles. On Monday night, the B's hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins.

We all know the deal: Sidney Crosby is arguably the best player in the world. The Penguins also have a few new (and less) faces, but playing with "The Kid" proves to work. Sitting pretty in the Metropolitan Division, the Penguins are rolling. 

The Bruins are hanging in every game themselves, but they just are not finding that many scoring opportunities. Tuukka Rask, who has done his part lately, was back in net for the Black and Gold...the real one. Sorry, Pittsburgh fans.

In the first period, the Bruins were on the receiving end of some bad-luck happenings. They had a goal disallowed and also--specifically Reilly Smith--was the victim of a tough goaltender interference call. Regardless, Boston still had great zone time and puck possession. It was the Penguins who emerged with the lead on a goal by Crosby.

The Bruins pounded the Penguins down to size when they beat Marc-Andre Fleury for two quick goals in the second period. Joe Morrow was one of the goal scorers, making that his first-career NHL goal--one heck of a slap shot. 

The heavily-depleted Bruins squad matched the physicality brought along by Pittsburgh, but they could not hold the lead. The game was tied at two goals each after 60 minutes of regulation hockey. 

All it took was an extra 32 seconds for the Penguins to strike. Evgeni Malkin netted the beautiful one timer past Rask for the full two points. The Bruins lose a tough one in overtime. 

The Bruins will play again on Black Friday evening against the Winnipeg Jets.

Gold Star: Dougie Hamilton.....The kid is maturing at such a rapid rate. Without Zdeno Chara, he is the number one option back there. He added an assist in this game to boot. 

Black Star: The entire fourth line (Jordan Caron-Alexander Khokhlachev-David Pastrnak)....This was a make-shift line with all three of these players combining for under five NHL games this season. With the line recording a minus-2 rating, these guys hardly saw any ice time as the game went on.

Game Twenty-Three Box Score

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