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The Boston Bruins had two days of intense practice in which they focused and worked hard. They needed to put this past week behind them and get back on the winning track. They hosted the hottest team in the NHL, the New Jersey Devils, who were 23-3-2 in their last 28 games. With a 4-1 win over the Devils, the B's virtually ended the Devils chances of recovering from a horrid start and making the playoffs.
The Devils came out and out-skated the B's for most of the first period. They were all over the ice, logging 16 shots and scoring only seconds into their first power-play. Momentum shifted as Shawn Thorton tipped in a Chara wrist shot from the blue-line to knot the game at one.
The power-play has been a serious issue for the Bruins as of late; scoring only once in their last 29 chances (3%). The power-play came out and looked really good tonight. They had great puck movement, and skaters moving without the puck. The B's took a 2-1 lead on a PP goal in the second. Lucic set up on the half-wall as Krecji moved to the middle, forming a triangle with the three forwards. With all Devil eyes on Lucic and Krecji, Chara cut back-door for a one-time as Lucic went tape to tape to take the lead.
The B's had all momentum on their side as all four lines brought their skating game and were being aggressive. The icing on the cake came when Chara carried the puck over the blue line and dangled through three defenders. He dumped the puck in and Bergeron, who was fresh off a line change, scooped it up behind the goal line and feed perfect pass to Lucic in the slot for a one-timer that ended up in the net.
Mark Recchi added and empty net goal, stretching the lead to three. Tim Thomas returned to form as he was fantastic in the first period, stopping 15 of 16 shots, and 30 of 31 overall.
The B's really looked good in this game. They skated circles around the Devils for most of the game. Brad Marchand returned from his two game suspension and looked hungry. He was being his usual self, out-skating opponents and causing turnovers.
Michael Ryder played on the fourth unit, along side Thorton and Campbell; as Paille was a healthy scratch. Tyler Seguin stayed on the third line with Peverley and Kelly. This line looked really good. They didn't score, but they provided a ton of energy, thus creating multiple scoring chances. I'm glad coach Claude Julien decided to keep Seguin on the third line, and also put him on the power play. He seems to be adapting to Julien's system quite well and is starting to show the offensive skill that we all know he has.
Lucic netted his 30th goal of the season, becoming the first 30 goal scorer in a Bruin uniform since Phil Kessel in the 08-09 season. Also, Zdeno Chara logged his 400th career point in this game with a goal and two assists.
The Bruins pull three points ahead of the Canadiens in the Northeast Division, with Montreal losing to Buffalo tonight 2-0. The Bruins will host the Canadiens Thursday night in a game that will surely be a physical one. This will be the first time the two teams will meet since the infamous Chara hit. I'm sure a few Canadiens will take a run or two or 85 at Chara, but in the end, the two points are huge.
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