Although they didn't come out with this win, which obviously is the most important thing, the Bruins were part of what I think was the most exciting game of the Stanley Cup Finals. We knew the Blackhawks were an offensive team, but last night was just wild. The two teams combined for 11 goals, 5 were scored in the second period. I'll just get right down to how they were scored because this will pretty much take up my whole post.
This crazy night didn't start so well for the Bruins. They were on the power play, and Brandon Saad started up the ice to break free, and he ended up having Handzus with him on the other side for a 2-on-1 and he didn't miss. He shot it right by Rask to give the Blackhawks a shorthanded goal and the lead 1-0. The Bruins would tie it up on the power play when Ference made a nice play to keep the net in the zone, and the puck for going to Saad, but he ended up falling down. It turned out to be costly ad Rich Peverly would get the puck and score over the glove side of Corey Crawford, which is something that happens a lot if you haven't noticed by now. In the second period now, Rozsival put a puck on net and it went in after Jonathan Toews made a great tip. He tipeed it to bounce right underneath the pad of Rask, and he had no chance, and the Hawks had the lead 2-1. This next goal was probably the one that I blame Rask on the most, Bryan Bickell threw a wrist shot on goal, Rask made the save but gave up a huge rebound and it got right to Patrick Kane, who scored on a backhanded shot to make it 3-1. The Bruins would make it 3-2 when Milan Lucic was out in front and made a quick forehand-to-backhand move and shot it in, you guessed it, glove side on Crawford. Less than a minute later though, the Blackhawks would get their 2 goal lead back. There would be a 2-on-1 for the Blackhawks, Frolik would pass it cross ice to Kruger, who quickly skated in front of Rask to the other side and tried to jam it in the net. Rask would make the first save with his pad, but he didn't get lucky with the rebound and Kruger stayed with it easily. By then Rask was way out of position, and Kruger basically had an open net to make it 4-2. Then, on the power play again for the Bruins, who are actually getting better, Chara fired a shot from the point, it was a high shot and missed the net, but it bounced off the glass and came back towards the net. It bounced off the top of it and landed right in front on Crawford, who had no idea where it was. Bergeron, however, knew exactly where it was and was able to lift it over Crawford to make it 4-3. So we finally are in the third period now. Jaromir Jagr is showing that he is more important on starting plays than actually finishing. He won two puck battles and eventually got a pass out to Bergeron out in front who one times it for his second of the game to make it all tied at 4. Patrick Sharp got a goal later on the power play when he picked up a loose puck to make it 5-4. It would be tied at 5 when Johnny Boychuk just shot a monster slap shot than Crawford had no chance on with a partial screen. Surprisingly, nobody would score in the final 5 minutes or so, and we were headed to OT. About 10 minutes into the Overtime, Seabrook would shoot a wrist shot that went far side on Rask to win the game for the Blackhawks. And send the TD Garden crowd home disappointed on what really was a great hockey game. But, I'm sure next game will be back to 3 goals altogether between the two teams, so it was nice while it lasted.
All joking aside, this obviously was not Rask's best game. But, Crawford did not better. I have way more confidence in Rask being able to bounce back than I do Crawford though. The reason is, the Bruins have definitely found Crawford's weakness, and that's the glove side. There have been so many goals scored on that and it's a real problem. Crawford could try to work on it, but I don't think this is something that can be fixed right in the middle of the Finals and will probably take longer to fix it. I'm sticking with my prediction. To get a win at home the Bruins had to lose so I'm right on track. C'mon let's win 2 straight games! It can be done!
#BruinsIn6
~Anthony
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