The Bruins did something last night that they'd failed to do in all 5 previous games this season: they didn't allow a power play goal. They didn't allow any goals, in fact. Tim Thomas registered his most impressive outing of the young season, stopping 27 shots.
It's difficult to overshadow a goalie's shutout, but the collective efforts of the Bruins did just that. Marc Savard had 2 goals, Bergeron had a goal and an assist, Ference was a well deserved +2 with 3 blocked shots, Lucic and Chara were credited with 5 hits, and Derek Morris blocked 5 shots.
As a team, the B's blocked a staggering 24 shots. Dallas could not get through the vaunted layered defense the Bruins mounted. It was this same team-oriented defense that gave the Bruins the #1 seed in the East last year.
None of the Bruins goals were magnificent. There was a touch of luck to them. But the opportunity for that luck was a result of good play. Savard's 2nd goal was an absolute snipe from an extreme angle beyond the faceoff circles. Savard's 1st goal, and Bergeron's goal were deflections. Very fortunate deflections.
This roadtrip along with a nice shakeup in the lines (the Sturm-Savard-Ryder line played excellent in this game) could be just what the doctor ordered. The Bruins travel to Phoenix to take on the Bankrupts. The puck drops at 9 Eastern.
Source:
ESPN.com
Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Mike Fuentes
