Bruins/Islanders: Game 1

And the Match is set. Several days ago it was cemented that in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs the Bruins would square off again the New York Islanders. Who had just come off a high contested series against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, who they vanquished in six games. The Islanders at times this season gave the Bruins fits. Of course, that was before the injury to their captain Anders Lee and the trade deadline which was a game-changer for the Bruins. Game With a fury of chances from either side, no one manages to find the back of the net until almost twelve minutes in, on the powerplay, Beauvillier tips one in from Dobson, to give the Islanders 1-0 lead. Bruins answer back on a powerplay of their own with 24 seconds left in the period. When David Krecji kicks the puck out to Pastrnak at the right point, putting it home for the game-tying goal, 1-1 to end the first. Eleven minutes gone in the second, Bergeron finds a rebound out front that he sends out to passionate in the same spot, for the same result, his second goal of the game, on a diving attempt by the Islanders netminder,  to put the Bruins ahead 2-1. Not a minute and a half later, Pelech re-ties the game for the Isles on a bomb from way out, 2-2. For periods of time, it felt like the Bruins were being outdone by the Islanders' forecheck. Six minutes later Charlie McAvoy put any doubters to rest, on a slapshot from David Krejci to put the Bruins ahead 3-2. David Pasternak completes his second career playoff hat trick with a little more than 4 minutes left in regulation when he picks off a pass in the neutral zone that he brings it up ice, straight down main street, creating time and space for his third goal of the game, as the Bruins start to pull away 4-2. Taylor Hall puts a big, bright, shiny bow on it, with the empty net tuck with a minute and a half left in regulation for the eventual lopsided 5-2 victory in front of the raucous, full capacity Boston crowd, the largest of its kind thus far in the NHL this season.

Bruins/Capitals: Game 5

The Boston Bruins aimed to close out their first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals with a victory in Game 5. Soon as the puck drops you get a feel and sense of desperation in the play of the capitals. We saw a flip of the script if you will, with Washington doubling up the Bruins with shots on goal. Much like previous games in the series, we saw a scoreless first period, with skill and talent at a premium. With about two and a half minutes gone and the second period, Morgan Riley feeds David Pastrnak who skates across the middle, splitting the defense, putting the puck in on the far edge, giving the Bruh ns the 1-0 advantage. A little less than 6 minutes remained in the second period when Pastrnak is tackled to the ice freeing up the puck to Morgan Riley who feeds the puck out front to Bergeron, who puts the puck home uncontested for the now 2-0 Bruins lead. 11 seconds into the third period, Conor Sheary of Washington returns the favor, cutting the Bruins lead in half, 2-1. Seven and a half minutes remain in regulation when Pastrnak attempts to corral a puck that goes through his skates and drops back to Bergeron, who is able to settle it and fires it in for his second goal of the night, 3-1 Bruins. After a valiant effort by Washington is called back on goaltender interference, the Boston Bruins claim victory in five games, eliminating the Washington Capitals from playoff contention while being outshot 41-19. The Bruins await the winner of the Pittsburgh Penguins/New York Islanders series

Bruins/Capitals: Game 4

Coming into their game four matchup against the Capitals, the Boston Bruins looked to take a commanding series lead in the best of seven series. Right away it's evident that the Bruins are the team with more jump in their game right off the hop, outshooting Washington 37-20 throughout the game. Although scoreless, the Bruins looked dominant in the first period but it wasn't until eight minutes left in the second period did the Bruin manage to get on the score sheet. While on the powerplay after a vicious hit on Miller which resulted in him exiting the game, Brad Marchand gets the redirection on a David Pastrnak shot, 1-0 Bruins. Bruins continue to play a disciplined, well-structured defensive game throughout the remainder of the period, ending it on the power play which continued into the third. Thirty seconds into the period, after obliging his teammates in a game of tic-tac-toe with the Washington defense, David Pasternak finally finds that long-awaited goal, getting off the snide to make the score 2-0 Bruins. Not thirty seconds later, Charlie Coyle picks up Jake DeBrusk's loose change out in front of the net to make it a three-goal lead. At this point Washington looks visibly spent and frustrated, all the while being outhit and shot by a wide margin as well. Five minutes in, Washington salvages a goal finally but only on a deflection off of a Bruins' stick which is awarded to Ovechkin on the powerplay, 3-1 Boston. Ten minutes later, Matt Grezclyk, puts a bow on it, scoring the Bruins third powerplay goal of the night. The Bruins put the Capitals on the brink of elimination as the series shifts back to the nation's capital Sunday night for game 5.

Bruins/Capitals: Game 3

Ahead of the game three matchup, we saw the Washington Capitals make a change in net, going with llya Samsonov over soon-to-be 40-year-old Craig Anderson who had started the previous two games for the club. Bruins looked to take a lead in the series, with a little home brewing in front of a raucous Boston crowd. In a back-and-forth game of defensive chance, we don't see the first goal until almost halfway through the game, 8:21 into the second, when Ovechkin on the powerplay puts one past Tuukka Rask from office for the 1-0 Washington lead. Less than a minute later, Craig Smith delivers a tremendous pass in front to a spinning Taylor Hall who puts it up high to even the score at 1. Less than two minutes remaining on the period Washington gets the lead on a Garnett Hathaway pass to Dowd with the tip-in out in-front, 2-1 Caps. Bruins find the equalizer almost halfway through the third while on the powerplay Brad Marchand puts his best homerun swing on the net putting home the game-tying goal from Bergeron, 2-2. Bruins are save by two pipe-ringers down the stretch as now all the games in the series are now extended to overtime. After a scoreless yet eventful extra frame, the goes to a second overtime. Five minutes in Craig Smith retrieves a puck behind the net that goaltender Samsonov had left for Schultz, wrapping the puck around before the netminder had time to set, for the game-winning goal. The Bruins come from behind for the 3-2 victory!

Bruins/Capitals: Game 2

In game two of the Bruins/Capitals first-round playoff series, we saw the pugilistic spirit from the first game carry over off the get. Right off puck drop, there's a fury of hitting not to mention several breakaway chances for Washington. The Bruins get the first laugh five minutes in when Jake Debrusk pots his second goal in as many games from Coyle, 1-0 Bruins. A minute and a half Washington answers right back, a tip-in shot on the powerplay, tied 1-1. Almost three minutes later, Pastrnak finds Bergeron out front who beats Anderson glove-side for the Bruins' second goal on five shots, 2-1 Bruins. With about three minutes left in the period Washington yet again finds the equalizer on a deflected shot to tie the game at 2. After a scoreless, heavy second period where we saw the Bruins play a more organized, in-sync game. They came out in the third, immediately taking unnecessary penalties, which eventually rear their ugly face in the form of a Washington powerplay goal, seven minutes gone In the period to give the Capitals their first lead, 3-2. The Bruins dig deep and on a play where Taylor Hall brings the puck to net as chaos ensues. Hall skates around the other side of the and manages to poke the puck through amidst the scrum, tying the game at three with 2:49 left in regulation. Marchand makes quick work of the Capitals in the overtime period, just 39 seconds off a Matt Grezclyk feed. Bruins win 4-3, evening the series 1-1, as it shifts to Boston for Game 3 Wednesday evening.

Bruins/Capitals: Game 1

In the first game of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Bruins, the #3 seed, faced off against the Washington Capitals, the #2 seed. In a game defined by physically, we saw both teams delivering equal punishing hits. The Washington defense lived up to their billing, making life difficult for the Bruins every time attempting to enter the zone. The puck drops and, as I previously stated, hits were at a premium, and shots seemed to take a back seat, at least to start the game. Washington broke the scoreless tie about six and a half minutes into the game when Charlie McAvoy broke his stick on an attempted slapshot. Washington transitions the puck the other way on a breakaway chance while their best defenseman is trying to defend without a stick. Tom Wilson roofs the puck over Rask's left shoulder to give the Capitals the early 1-0 lead. A little more than 3 minutes later, right off the faceoff, Jake DeBrusk rockets a missile into the back of the Washington net, tying the game at 1. The shot sent Capitals goalie Vitek Vanecek into a split trying to stop the attempt, which saw him exit the game in favor of 39-year-old Craig Anderson. The heavy back and forth affair carries onto the second, and at around almost nine minutes into the period, Brendan Dillon fires in a bouncing puck that changes direction off of Jeremy Lauzon's stick, putting the Capitals ahead 2-1. Play continues, and about eight minutes pass when Nick Ritchie, while on the power play, dribbles one past Anderson that barely squeaks over the goal line, all even at 2. After an eventful yet scoreless third period, the game is extended to overtime. During the extra frame, TJ Oshie rips a shot from out high on Rask that Nick Dowd manages to get a stick on that dribbles through Rask's five-hole for the game-winning goal,. In order to remain competitive in this series, the Bruins need to up the physicality, fine-tune their game, particularly that of the first line, who seems to be half a second behind on each play. The two teams get back at it Monday evening for game two.

Sharks Are Eliminated From Playoffs + Season Wrap

The Sharks were fully entrenched and embattled in a highly contested four-game series against the Colorado Avalanche, and there was no wavering change in game two of the series. Alexander Barabanov has been nothing short of absolute gold for the Sharks since he came up, who quickly pots his second goal of the season from Hertl and Karlsson just past four minutes gone in the first, 1-0 Sharks. Sharks make their best effort to waiver the Colorado onslaught but start the falter about 7 minutes gone in the second, giving up the following three unanswered Colorado goals, 3-1 Avalanche. Almost midway through the third, while on the Avalanche powerplay, Evander Kane snags a turnover at mid-ice that he puts on net that and Logan Couture cleans up in front of the net for the Sharks score, 3-2 Avs. Five minutes later, Miko Rantanen tips in another Colorado goal. A little over 2 minutes later, Tomas Hertl attempts to mount a Sharks comeback on a deflected shot that goes in, but time expires, Sharks lose 4-3.

Any inkling of playoff hope lies in the balance for the remainder of the season. In game three of the four-game series against Colorado, the Sharks saw more of the same see-saw play as in game three. Evander Kane gets the Sharks on the board almost four minutes in when he cleans up Alexander Barabanov's shot out front to give the Sharks the 1-0 early lead. Two minutes later, Nathan McKinnon off the faceoff who feeds Miko Rantanen to tie the game at 1. Moments into the second period, the Avalanche turn the puck over in their defensive zone, and Hertl skates in and puts it home, 2-1 Sharks. Six minutes or so later, Hertl feeds Kane on the breakaway, adding to the Sharks lead, 3-1. A few minutes before the first ends, Colorado makes it 3-2 on a Nichushkin wrist shot. Three minutes into the third period, Timo Meier makes the score 4-2 when he scores a highlight-reel worthy goal, which would prove to be the last goal the Sharks score of the night. Sharks again prove their inability to hold the lead against the caliber of present company, for Colorado goes on a tear, scoring the following three unanswered goals ultimately surrendering the game-winner in overtime. Sharks lose 5-4 and are officially eliminated from playoff contention.

In the fourth and final game of the Colorado series, as the Sharks season winds down, they find themselves playing with more freedom and without the weight of playoff expectations and all the scrutiny that comes with that—just playing the game that they're accustomed to. After an uneventful opening period and half the second, Colorado gets on the board with two quick strikes starting at 15:49 and then again at 18:18 for the 2-0 Avalanche advantage. As Colorado aimed to escape the second period unscathed, Barabanov put a breakaway pass onto Evander Kane's stick, who dishes it over to Hertl, scoring the first of his two goals in his 500th career game with 13 seconds remaining in the second period, 2-1 Colorado. Then again, in the third, without even three minutes gone by, Kane throws it out front to Knyzhov and then to Hertl, who puts it home as he stumbles to the ice to tie the game at 2-2. Around 10 minutes left in regulation, Erik Karlsson puts the Sharks ahead when he catches a dish across the point from Kane, and this time the Sharks managed to weather the Avalanche offense down the stretch, getting a much-needed W in the final meeting between the two teams. Colorado blows the two-goal lead. Sharks win 3-2!

When the Sharks welcomed the Arizona Coyotes to the SAP Center for the start of their final two-game series of the season and a game for all intents and purposes, I was supposed to be at but couldn't make it. The Sharks came out with considerable step, perhaps a high off snagging a game against Colorado, who knows. But the Sharks get the scoring started with his little less than four minutes left in the first period when Erik Karlsson rockets in a wrister from beyond that beats Kuemper stick side, 1-0 Sharks. Sam Jose makes it 2-0 with three and a half minutes gone in the second when Timo Meier scores on a two-on-one breakaway, saying one over Kuemper's left shoulder. Arizona mounts the comeback scoring the following four unanswered goals to take a commanding 5-2 lead. Sharks doomed themselves on breakaways and lack of defensive presence in front of the net.

As they continue down the stretch and attempt to swallow their pride and play meaningful hockey with an emphasis on the youth movement, the Sharks attempt to salvage the last remaining game of the season against the Arizona Coyotes. Alexei Melnichuk gets his first start since February 11th, but the Sharks stumble off the get, surrendering the initial goal of the game, a wrist shot with only three and a half gone in regulation, 1-0 Yotes. Sharks respond with an answer three minutes later on a slapshot by Balcers from Chemelevski to tie the game at 1. About 5 minutes later, Arizona breaks the tie on a powerplay goal to put the Totes ahead 2-1. Almost four minutes go by in the first, and once again, San Jose gets the game-tying equalizer from Kevin LeBanc, an unassisted wrist shot, 2-2. Come more than five minutes gone in the second, Timo Meier scores a true power forward's goal when he skates across the crease, putting it past Hill for the 3-2 Sharks advantage. Arizona goes on to score over the following two unanswered goals before trade deadline sensation; Barabanov ties the contest at four in the initial moments of the third period. Still, the coyotes ultimately come away with the victory on a Phil Kessel overtime game-winner. Arizona sweeps the Sharks. Sharks lose another one 5-4.

In the final game of the season for the Sharks, the Vegas Golden Knights aimed to fine-tune their game before the start of the playoffs. The sharks who had been eliminated last week again we're playing for nothing other than pride. Vegas outclasses them in the first period, though, scoring the first six unanswered goals for a 6-0 shutout to end the Sharks 2021 season. Was this the final time we Patrick Marleau and Brent Burns suit up for San Jose? I think the shark showed a lot more promise as a makeshift AHL team this season than they did last season. They obviously had a lot of ups and downs, a lot of good things to build on but also a lot of things to work on in the offseason. I expect the Sharks to be a more competitive club going forward. The Sharks finish the season at 21-28-7 with 56 points, good for 7th in the Honda West Division

Bruins Qualify For Playoffs + Season Wrap

The Bruins and Buffalo Sabres square off at the Boston Garden for the final time this season. Craig Smith gets the Bruins on the board right away at the 1:21 mark with a tip-in shot from Krecji and Hall, 1-0 Bruins. Sabres, even the score on a score after a breakaway chance right out of the box, tied 1-1. With a little more than four minutes left on the first, Sean Kuraly scores his first goal on 31 games on a feed from Nick Ritchie to put the Bruins ahead 2-1. Captain Patrice Bergeron makes it 3-1 on a deflected shot, five and a half minutes into the second, and then Nick Ritchie comes through with a tuck of his own, a tip-in shot from Matt Grezclyk, a little over 3 minutes into the third. About 2 minutes later, Craig Smith adds his second of the game, a wrist shot after a dish from Mike Riley to make the score 5-1 Bruins. Sabers attempt to mount their ill-fated comeback a minute and a half later, finding the back of the net cutting it to 5-2 Bruins. Craig Smith completes his hat trick with six minutes left in regulation, another tip-in shot. Smith's second career hat trick. Bruins win 6-2!

On Monday, May 3rd, the Bruins traveled to New Jersey to take on the Devil's at the Prudential Center. The Bruins dominated the pace of play, outshooting New Jersey 29-8 in the first period and 42-20 overall. The Bruins got offensive contributions from Nick Ritchie, Patrice Bergeron, and Matt Grezclyk, two snapshots, and a slapper resulting, Zorbil, Kuraly, Bergeron, and Marchand (x2), all with apples, in 3-0 shutout for Boston. The game saw its first penalty at the 13:18 mark of the third when A.J. Greer boards Jakub Zorbil and is forced to answer a bell, chucking knucks against Connor Clifton; Zorbil returned soon after, appearing unscathed. Tuukka Rask records his 52nd career shutouts, and with the win, the Bruins qualify for the playoffs for the 5th straight season.

In the second game of the series, The Bruins chose to keep Jaroslav Halak fresh with a look instead of riding the young hot hand of Jeremy Swayman in net. The devil's hit the back of the net first with a powerplay shot right off the face-off at 11:18 of the first period, 1-0 Devils. The Bruins find the equalizer in the second period with a powerplay goal of their own when Pastrnak stick-shattered pass to Bergeron that he finishes to knot it all at 1. Around ten minutes of play pass when Taylor Hall tips in his own pass from Matt Grezclyk as he is upended in a brilliant play, 2-1 Bruins. Five or so later, after a defensive breakdown in front of the net, the Devil's put it home to even the game at 2. A minute and a half later, the puck rolls around the left end board where Nick Ritchie throws it out to the front of the crease where puck battle ensues until Sean Kuraly deposits his second goal in three games and thrust the Bruins ahead 3-2. It would, unfortunately, be the last Bruins goal of the night as the Devils come screaming back, scoring the final two on the answered goals, including the game-winner in overtime at the 2:42 mark of the extra frame. Bruins drop an embarrassing effort 4-3. Quite possibly the last time we see Halak dress in a Bruins uniform.

The Bruins welcome an emotionally spent Rangers team into the Garden, a game after their highly contested series against Washington, which garnered many reactions from across the league. The Bruins turned back to their young, hot stud Jeremy Swayman. The Bruins start their assault about seven minutes into the first period when Marchand dekes out four Rangers defenders to find Bergeron out front, who deposits it in the top corner of the net for the 1-0 Bruins lead. Later on, while on the powerplay in the waning moments of the period, Charlie MacAvoy with a rocket beats Ranger goaltender Georgiev with the man advantage and again Marchand with the apple, 2-0 Bruins. Then about six minutes gone in the second, Jake DeBrusk skates in and, with a wicked wrister, makes it 3-0 Bruins, getting the monkey off his back. His first score in 13 games. Brandon Carlo, who has missed 28 games this season, kicks off the third period with his third goal of the season, skating around the boards and banking a shot of the back of the New York goaltender. Bruins win 4-0, Jeremy Swayman records his second career shutout.

In the second game of the series, the Bruins seemed to come out with good legs under them, but we're trying to do too much, whether it was one pass too many or an errant stick in the play that didn't need to be there. Tuukka Rask is back in net, Bruins with solid, grade-A chances in the first, but it's the Rangers who get on the board first six minutes into the second. Bruins find the equalizer at the 18:12 mark on a Nick Ritchie wrister evening, the score 1-1 heading to the third. Twenty-one seconds into hird, David Pastrnak makes it 2-1 Bruins with a tip-in shot from Marchand, but the Rangers seem up to the task, compiled with a crumbling Bruins defense scoring the next three unanswered goals on four shots, 4-2 Rangers. Brad Marchand comes through with a powerplay goal from Krecji with six minutes left in regulation to pull it close 4-3 Rangers. More defensive miscommunication leads to another Rangers goal. Thirty seconds later, Bergeron adds the last Bruins offensive output they can manage to muster up. Bruins lose 5-4.

Bruins welcomed Ondrej Kase back to the lineup and also welcomed an early-season bane of their existence, but a foe they have fared well against as of late. While the Bruins have gone 10-3 since the trade deadline, the Islanders have only gone 5-6. If there is anything dire to do against the Islanders, it is to score first, and that is precisely what the Bruins managed to do with 39 seconds left in the first period when Taylor Hall buries a 5-3 powerplay goal from Krecji, where on the same play Marchand is slashed, and Pastrnak received the butt end of a stick to the chest from Leo Komarov, 1-0 Bruins. The Islanders answer right back with a powerplay goal of their own with less than 2 minutes gone in the second period. Less than five minutes later, Brad Marchand adds his 29th goal of the season, a tip-in shot from David Krecji, 2-1 Bruins. Before the start of the third period, it is announced that Kase would not be returning to the game. Matt Barzal re-ties the game a little less than 2 minutes later at 2, roofing a wrist shot over Rask's head. The two teams extend the game to the extra frame. Taylor Hall grabs a pass from Krecji at the redline and powers his way into the zone from the left hash marks, skating through the Islanders defense, putting one past stick-side for the game-winning goal! With that win, the Bruins secured the third seed in the Atlantic division and are set to face the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs.

In the final game of the season, a makeshift Bruins lineup squared off against the foe they are set to meet in the first round of the playoffs, the Washington capitals. The Bruins put out a lineup, resting most all of their regular starters, putting a lineup on the ice of fourth-liners, call-ups, and prospects of the future. Both teams played a heavy game with lots of promise of the future. The game remained a scoreless affair until a little past Midway point of the second period, when Jarred Tinordi skates to the back of the net and finds Curtis Lazar for the goal in front, 1-0 Bruins. About 6 minutes later, Washington answers back with the only way they know how to beat Jeremy Swayman, and that's with a dirty, grimy goal. This young inexperienced Bruins squad shows that they can hang with the everyday mainstays of the Caps, all the way down to the last 2 seconds of regulation. Washington's Raffl fires in a terrible angled shot that manages to go in and out high bar. Bruins lose a heartbreaker of a regular-season finale 2-1. The two teams are set to start their playoff series on Saturday, 5/15. The Bruins finish the regular season at 33-16-7 with 73 points, good for 3rd in the Mass Mutual Atlantic Division.

Marleau Honored at Home + Sharks Get Off the Snide

Saturday, April 24th, for the first time all season, people were allowed to attend a Sharks game at the SAP Center. Players families and Arena workers only but still the perfect occasion for the Sharks to hold a pregame ceremony commemorating Patrick Marleau and his recent historic achievement. The Wild gets on the board only 19 seconds into the game on the first shot Martin Jones saw, which predicted the game to come. The Wild scored the next four unanswered goals until about a minute into the third, when a gift from God finds the loose stick of Logan Couture in a scramble in front of the net for his first score in 16 games, 4-1 Minnesota. About three minutes later, Minnesota makes it 5-1 on a powerplay score. Sharks make it interesting, though, scoring the next two goals, including the 1st goal of Joakim Blichfeld's career, until Nick Benito effectively ends the game for the Wild with his 6-3 empty-net score. To extend the sharks losing streak to an abysmal eight games.

After eight long games, the longest Sharks losing steak since the 2005-2006 season, sick and tired of being on the wrong end of almost every bounce, the sharks look to get back on track finally and put a W in the win collum when the Arizona Coyotes skated into the Tank for a two gamer. In a role reversal of the previous game, the Sharks get on the board only 17 seconds into the game on a feed from the back of the net to Noah Gregor for the early 1-0 Sharks advantage. San Jose assaulted Arizona netminder Darcy Kuemper with a barrage of shots scoring the three unanswered goals with scores by the big guns: Burns, Couture, and Karlsson, a 4-0 Sharks lead. Arizona proves they aren't going away quietly, scoring the following three unanswered goals themselves. Sharks still lead 4-3. With 8:50 left in regulation, Evander Kane enters the zone. He puts the puck on net, which ricochets and rebounds, which Alexander Barabanov, playing in his first NHL game, cleans up out front scoring what is eventually the game-winning goal to make it. 5-3 San Jose game. Jakob Chychrun of Arizona, a thorn in the Shark side all night, makes 5-4 with a little less than 5 minutes remaining in regulation. Evander Kane seals the deal, finally finding the net for 6-4 empty netter. Breaking the eight-game losing in front of their first actual crowd of fans of the season, securing the Sharks first victory since April 9th, and Josef Korenar picks up his first career NHL win

In a game that was virtually a mirror image of the game previously, the Sharks and the coyotes kicked off the second game of this set in virtually the same fashion. Sharks score first, early and often, potting the first three unanswered goals of the game by Kane, Balcers, and LeBanc. Until Arizona comes storming back, scoring the next two of their own. The Sharks, whether the storm, fighting off several Arizona surges before Tomas Hertl puts a bow on it, scoring the empty-net goal. Sharks win 4-2, a decisive sweep of the two-game series, a series in which the Coyotes never lead!

The upper echelon juggernauts of the Honda West Division, the Colorado and Vegas' out there are not opponents to be taken lightly. That is precisely what should be so worrisome to the Sharks when they travel to Denver for the first of four straight against the Avalanche. It is of the utmost importance that the Sharks are not drawn into penalties against this team for they tout one of the most lethal powerplays in the league. Sharks chose to find that out the hard way firsthand, when they are baited into two separate penalties, resulting in two separate powerplay goals for the Avalanche, 2-0 Colorado. After skating on their heels for most of the period and taking two more additional penalties, the Sharks managed to escape the second period unscathed. The Sharks entered the third with no high danger scoring chances through the first two periods, which continued well into the third, after a spirited, feisty bout between Kevin LeBanc and Nathan McKinnon and then a nullified Hertl goal after review. Sharks are shutout 3-0 after an empty-net goal as Time dwindled down.

Win Streak Snapped at Six but B's Still Surge

The Bruins go for the trifecta in the final game of the three-game series against the Buffalo Sabres. Boston found themselves without top forward Patrice Bergeron after the Bruins Captain blocked a shot with his foot last game. Another Buffalo goaltender, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, makes his NHL debut in net. Bruins get on the board two minutes into the game when Taylor Hall leads the breaks out after a pass from Rask, who dishes over to Steven Kampfer, who puts it home for the 1-0 Bruins lead. The Bruins soon find out the young Sabres have the better jump and legs under them in the game, scoring the next four unanswered goals, before Rask is ultimately relieved in favor of Halak, freshly returned off the Covid-list. The Bruins are just not there tonight in their mental execution and look visibly spent. The Bruins managed to score three unanswered of their own by Ritchie, Miller, and Hall in the waning minutes of regulation before an untimely Pastrnak turnover seals it for the 6-4 Sabres victory.

Bruins traveled to Pittsburgh for a flexed matinee affair Sunday afternoon, April 25th. Where we saw Captain Patrice Bergeron reinserted into the lineup, a sigh of relief to Bruins Nation, Jeremy Swayman was once again spectacular, surrendering only one goal in the game that came 4 minutes into the third period but unfortunately, that would be the only goal surrendered by either side. The Bruins suffered in aggravating 1-0 shutout. A game near flawlessly executed from an officiating standpoint with only one penalty being called late in the third on the Bruins on a high stick call. Bruins need to reach back and resurge what made them so effective during their six-game winning streak.

The Bruins vowed revenge on the heels of a 1-0 shutout at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Maybe revenge is too strong of a word, but fine-tuning their game is what they were looking for when Trent Frederic saw the ice for the first time in 21 days. A goaltenders clinic and defensive prowess engulfed much of the first two periods of the back and forth effort until David Krecji makes it 1-0 Bruins on a backhand shot from Charlie McAvoy. Marchand adds to Boston's lead a little more than halfway through the third when he brings the puck in and deflects it off the net. A scramble ensues; he reacquires the puck, putting it home for the 2-0 lead. Three minutes later, Taylor Hall scores his fourth in a Bruins uniform for a commanding 3-0 lead. There was a mere 3:39 that separated Tuukka Rask from his 51st career shutout when Jeff Carter gets a soft one past, but Bruins still cruise to the 3-1 win!

As the season winds down and Bruins' strong playoff push with games in hand doesn't go unnoticed, I think the Bruins must remember when the Buffalo Sabres and the New Jersey Devils of the world come into the garden not to play down to the level of competition. With eight games remaining, half of them against opponents mentioned above, and the two or three division seeds within reach, eight games are remaining but more importantly, 16 points still up for grabs. The Sabres came into Boston for their last series of the year against the Bruins. David Pastrnak gets the Bruins on the score sheet right away, 1:16 after puck drop on a one-timer from Bergeron and Marchand, the three most beautiful words in the English language to Bruins fans. Later in the period, Buffalo ties the game on a point-blank Bruins turnover in front of the net that the Sabres make them pay for. As Time expires in the first period, David Krecji beats the clock on a powerplay bomb from the point to put the Bruins up 2-1 going into the second period. The second period is marred by turnovers and undisciplined play that we see throughout the game. Still, it comes to a head in the third period, when Sam Reinhardt is left uncontested out in front of Tuukka Rask, tying the contest at 2. Which left me to question this team's compete level at times against opponents such as these. That was soon put to bed, though, when Charlie Coyle snaps the longest goalless streak of his career when he unassisted snaps the puck top shelf past Buffalo goalie, Luukkonen, to put the Bruins up 3-2. The Bruins put a dagger in them with a highlight reel assist by Krecji to Hall, then Marchand later with an empty-netter for the decisive 5-2 victory!