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!