Bruins/Islanders: Game 6

With their backs against the wall, the Bruins hope to stave off elimination against the New York Islanders in game six of their highly contested playoff series and get the series back to the Garden for a potential game seven. Before that can happen, the Boston Bruins need to handle business in game six first. On the brink, the Bruins find themselves shorthanded, particularly on the blue line, with a trio of teammates missing in Brandon Carlo, Kevan Miller, and now Curtis Lazar. Showing faith in his starting goaltender, coach Cassidy confirms Tuukka Rask will get the net despite coming out of game 5 in favor of Jeremy Swayman, in what Cassidy described as “maintenance”. Come puckdrop, both teams exhibit exuberance and excellent energy on par with the physical precedent in which had been established early on in the series. The first nail in the coffin of the Bruins season is hammered in at 8:52 when an unfortunate Travis Zajack wristshot on the rebound finds the back of the Bruins net, 1–0 Islanders. The first penalty of the game is called at the 5:47 mark of the first period putting the Bruins on their first powerplay, which is extended into a second powerplay. Bruins find the equalizer on a sweet dish by David Pastrnak to the right side, finding Brad Marchand who puts it over Varlamov for the game-tying goal 1–1 at the 17:36 mark of the first. The second period in the previous few games proved to be critical unraveling points for the Bruins, a motif the Bruins aimed to avoid at such a critical juncture. Though seems to remain futile at 5:20 of the second, when a Matt Grezclyk turnover finds the stick of Brock Nelson and the back of Tuukka Rask’s net for the 2–1 Islanders lead. The second period bloodletting continues when the Bruins defense promptly mishandles a pass from Rask along the boards when Brock Nelson scores his second on the night, but dinner begins to start to smell done at 16:07 of the second when a Kyle Palmeri goal trickles underneath past Rask for the daunting 4–1 Islanders lead. The Bruins are outshot 11–3 in the second going into the final period of their season. In an anticipated move of desperation to start the third, I expected to see young, upstart Jeremy Swayman inserted in net, I was shocked to see Rask resume his post at puckdrop. Bruins attempt to surmount their comeback while on the power play at 5:38, Brad Marchand straps his work boots on and powers his way in through the Islanders crease, scoring a gritty, blue-collar, backhand goal to cut the lead to 4–2. That would be as far as they would go though. the Islanders scored two empty-net goals while shutting down the neutral zone, controlling the pace of play, and limiting the Bruins to zero shots on goal until the clock expired on the Boston Bruins' 2021 season. Quite frankly, an embarrassing effort in an elimination scenario, that I was almost certain would produce different results. Bottom line: the Bruins looked overmatched at times during the series with too many passengers. Lacking true, quality depth at several key positions. The Bruins have several looming off-season questions on the horizon. They own the 20th overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft on July 24th, but this offseason will have the Seattle expansion draft to contend with as well three days beforehand. Enjoy the offseason and we’ll talk soon…

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

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