Down 2-0 against an airtight defense with 20 minutes to go, the Bruins' hopes of victory were small. Three even-strengthed goals by Kobasew, Savard, and Wideman, and now the Bruins are on the road to 2 points. With 105 seconds left, Patrick Elias ties it. In overtime, Jamie Langenbrunner nets his second of the game to win it for New Jersey. So were the Bruins fortunate to pocket a point, or unfortunate to drop one?
Both.
Speaking of fortunate, the Devils may have made a deal with their namesake. Langenbrunner's OT goal was the first that came directly off the blade of a New Jersey stick and into the net.
Their first goal was straight out of Angels in the Outfield, but this time it was Devils in the Crease.
On the power play, Bergeron was at the point. He fanned on a shot, and Travis Zajac joined Langenbrunner on a breakaway. Bergeron defended it well and the puck. Langenbrunner shot the rebound off Savard's inside skate. The puck bounced off his outside skate, between Thomas' leg pads, then off the inside of his knee before trickling over the line. It was a freak goal. Plain and simple. The Bruins dominated the 1st period but found themselves behind 1-0.
Despite the bad fortune, the Bruins made plenty of costly mistakes. They've been doing too much of that recently. That's how they lost to St. Louis, and it's why they lost tonight. Giveaways in the defensive zone, low percentage passing in the neutral zone, missed passes at the offensive blue line.
The good news is, this team is good enough to turn it on when it has to. To score 3 goals in a period against New Jersey is rare. Hopefully the B's can keep their foot on the gas enough to earn that #1 seed, then slam the throttle to the floor in the playoffs.
More good news: Montreal lost their 5th straight tonight. The Bruins have a 16 point cushion in the Northeast Division.
Even more good news: Phil Kessel made his return and had two assists. The Bruins now have Bergeron, Kessel, Lucic, and Andrew Ference back and healthy.
The Bruins host the Rangers Saturday afternoon. These teams faced each other in November, and the Bruins lost in a shootout.
-The Commodore
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