This game had T-R-A-P written all over it. The Bruins go down to Long Island to face the worst team in the NHL, right after an emotional and exhausting 3-1 victory over the Canadiens, and right before a trip to face the 2nd best team in the East in Washington. In the first period, the Islanders outshot the Bruins 17-5. And in the game, New York had the edge in shots 41-26. The Bruins also lost 55% of faceoffs, against one of the worst faceoff teams in the League.
Tim Thomas was awarded the First Star, and justifiably so. He stopped 40 of 41 shots. The only one to get past him came with 54 seconds left in the game. The puck bounced off David Krejci's skate and into the net, which made the last minute extra exciting.
Against almost any other team, the Bruins would have lost. Thankfully, the Islanders are really bad. The B's mounted no forecheck at all. They were up against a goalie making his 5th career start, and didn't do anything in the 1st period to pressure him.
The Bruins beat this team 7-2 in November, so a 2-1 win is less than thrilling. But they got a shitty game out of their system and have 2 more points to show for it. That's 70 points for the Bruins so far. Last season, they reached 70 points on February 23rd.
Saturday night, Bruins @ Capitals. Washington is one of 3 Eastern Conference teams the Bruins haven't beaten (the others are the Rangers and the Flyers, the Bruins haven't played the Flyers yet).
Source:
ESPN.com
Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Julie Jacobson
