Once again, the Bruins displayed a half-assed effort and Tampa Bay finally got their power play going last night, winning 5-4 and tying the series 3-3. Game 7 is tomorrow night in Boston.
In what is quickly becoming a theme this series, the Bruins once again allowed a goal in the opening minute of the first period. After David Krejci got kicked out of the faceoff circle, Teddy Purcell took the puck off the faceoff and fired a strike past Tim Thomas to take an early lead. Purcell shifted to his left after Chris Kelly replaced Krejci in the faceoff dot and made a great adjustment along with Vinny Lecavalier
The Bruins responded with goals from Milan Lucic and David Krejci. Both shots were wristers that beat Roloson top shelf glove side. The Bruins dominated the first period after getting scored on early and it looked like it was going to be another long night for Roloson.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, Game 6 was all about the power play. Taking advantage of a Denis Seidenberg cross check and a shitty interference call on Rich Peverley, the Lightning were finally able to capitalize on the man advantage.
While Tampa could lay claim to the best PP in the NHL playoffs, the Bruins PK unit bottled them up in the first five games of the series, as Tampa was just 2 for 18 with the extra man. All of that changed last night.
Martin St. Louis and Teddy Purcell each scored in the 2nd on the aforementioned power plays and just like that, Tampa was up 3-2 after 2 periods.
It obviously wouldn't be a Bruins game without allowing another early period goal, and that is exactly what happened, when Steven Stamkos scored on the PP just 34 seconds into the third. The Lightning had a man up because of a cross check penalty on Andrew Ference at the end of the third. More on this shitty call later on. This game seemed to be over after the Stamkos goal but the Bruins answered with a PP goal of their own, as Krejci scored his second of the night.
The celebration didn't last long, thanks to another St. Louis goal just 30 second later. Krejci scored once more to cut the lead to one with a bit more than six minutes left. His hat trick was wasted as the Bruins could not tie the game, even as their frantic effort produced several scoring chances. Time ran out and Game 7 was guaranteed.
*Game Notes*
*The Bruins power play sucks balls. Yes, Krejci scored a PP goal in the third but the Bruins had more than a few chances to make Tampa pay for their penalties. Julien had Chara down low for the first two PP attempts and they were actually able to keep the puck in the Tampa zone. However on their third attempt, Chara was back on the blue line and the Bruins mounted virtually no offense. Not only does their decision making suck, but their breakout is just brutal. Kaberle is clearly not the man for the job, as the Tampa forecheck imposed their will on the Bruins PP.
*Tampa had no problem on the power play last night. Probably because they have skilled players who have the ability to gain entry in the zone. On most occasions, Stamkos was the QB of the power play, taking the puck from his own end attacking the Bruins' blue line with skill and speed, something that Kaberle lacks. If you need a guy to dump it in the corner though, Kaberle's your man.
*Would this series still be going on if we were a bit better on the PP? I don't think so. If the Bruins are lucky enough to win the Cup with this awful PP, it would be the equivalent of Trent Dilfer winning a Super Bowl despite being the most average QB ever.
*I am back to despising Michael Ryder. As an alleged "sniper", he should put the puck on net more. But he would much rather try to dangle through the entire defense and see what happens. He had only one shot on net. There were three or four times last night when Ryder tried to make it a one man show, rather than just throw a puck on net and hope for a rebound. The worst occasion was late in the third when he held onto the puck and took it around the net, only to run into Kaberle and lose control of the puck. I'm literally running out of ways to bash Kaberle. He actually got more ice time in Game 6, skating for just under 20 minutes just one game after only skating 13. I expect less minutes for him in Game 7, especially on the PP, but you know how much Claude loves sticking to his guns.
*Speaking of sticking to your guys, it's time for Mark Recchi to start getting Shawn Thornton minutes. He is simply giving the Bruins nothing at all offensively, failing to record a point thus far in this series. In his 15 minutes of ice time (about 5 minutes too much) Recchi failed to put a shot on net. Not exactly the kind of production you want from a top 6 forward. I'd like to see Seguin on this line in game 7 but Julien will undoubtedly stay the course.
*Both Tampa Bay and Boston's best players showed up last night. Lucic, Krejci, and Horton combined for 7 points and Stamkos, Lecavalier, and St Louis combined for 8. Both top lines will have to play like that in Game 7 to give their team a shot.
*Downie is such a homo. Did anyone else see the kiss face he gave to Ference? If this was the regular season, Downie would still be lying on the ice right now. Just total garbage.
*Is the Versus color commentator on the Tampa payroll? I am used to biased commentary from Jack Edwards but not from a national broadcast. Listen Eddie, I know the Bruins sucked last night, I have eyes. I don't need you telling me what they "should have done". Just shut up, call the game and leave the talking to Doc.
*I don't normally blame refs but last night was absurd. As Julien alluded to postgame, Guy Boucher asked a "particular" ref to be more balanced, and we saw that last night. The Peverley and Ference penalties were just bullshit, no other way to put it. Hats off to Tampa for taking advantage, but those were calls that shouldn't have been called in the first place.
*One more game. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared shitless.
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