Bruins Outlast the Blackhawks 3-2 in Shootout

Are there must win NHL games in October? After the Bruins' 1-3 stumble out of the gate, many looked towards Saturday's game in Chicago as an opportunity to test their mettle against one of the best teams in the league. I don't want to say that a loss would have been panic inducing but it certainly would be cause for concern.

In a battle of two Original Six teams, Saturday night did not disappoint. Tim Thomas made some insane saves and Tyler Seguin scored the game-winner in the shootout for the Bruins.

Bryan Bickell and Patrick Kane scored in regulation for the Blackhawks, while Nathan Horton and Chris Kelly scored for the Bruins.

Chicago set the tone early in the game, as their high energy style of play led to some quality scoring chances in the first. Kane walked in all alone and had a point blank opportunity. Thomas stayed at home and read Kane perfectly, gloving Kane's top shelf attempt. He wasn't done yet, as Kane carried the puck into the Bruins zone, before pulling off a ridiculous spin move on Joe Corvo before unleashing a nasty backhanded attempt, which Thomas turned away.

The Hawks got on the board first, taking advantage of a careless turnover by Andrew Ference that was intercepted by Bickell who walked in all alone, beating Thomas five-hole to give Chicago the early lead.

The Bruins got on the board early in the second while on the penalty kill. Ference blocked a shot from Brent Seabrook that bounced into the neutral zone, setting up a 2-on-1 that saw Chris Kelly take a perfect feed from Rich Peverley and lifted the puck (hope Looch was watching) to beat Chicago goalie Corey Crawford and tie the game.

Less than two minutes later, Kane got his revenge for getting stoned in the first by wristing a shot past Thomas to put the Hawks back on top.

Later in the third, Horton took a feed from Boychuk, who was stationed at the end boards and found the back of the net.

Overtime featured a pair of quality scoring chances from the Bruins. First it was Seidenberg who rang the post on a blast from the blue line and next was a breakaway attempt from Peverley that was unsuccessful.

In the shootout, Seguin beat Crawford five-hole while Thomas stopped Kane, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp. The B's improve to 2-3 while the Blackhawks suffered their first loss (2-1-1).

Game Notes

* My boy Jack Edwards is already in mid-season form, first making fun of the guys on Versus for mispronouncing "Caron" and then later unleashing a classic one liner, yelling "Catamount on Catamount crime!" when Thomas stopped Sharp in the third. Both were UVM alums. He's the best.

* It's always fun to see two Original Six teams play but I'm sure that I'm not alone in wanting more, especially from the Western Conference teams. There is no logical reason why we should not play Chicago and Detroit once, maybe twice a season. I'll give up a game against the Panthers to have an extra Western Conference team. For a sport on the upswing, there's no reason that fans cannot be treated to more marquee matchups.

* Boychuk had a hell of a game. Not only did he set up Horton on the game-tying goal, but he also was a monster in his own end, crushing Toews who was stick handling through the zone before getting put on his ass. He also had a crazy shift in the first, taking a hit from Carcillo before blocking a shot. He was clearly in pain on both instances but stayed on the ice like a champ.

* It won't show up on the scoresheet but Gregory Campbell demonstrated his value to the team once again last night. His fight in the first helped shake the cobwebs off of the team. Dude is game and will throw down with anyone. I love it.

* Kane is one of the best pure offensive talents in the game as displayed last night. He's great in open space but can also use his world class stickhandling to open up space for himself. His move on Corvo was something I'd pull off in NHL '12. You just don't see stuff like that everyday.

* Overall, this was a quality win for the Bruins. A great game against a great team where they relied equally on their superb goaltending as well as strong team play. All lines came to play, which is something they usually need in order to be successful.

Follow @RyanBurns88


Tweet

Welcome Back Hockey: Bruins Win Thrilling Shootout Over Blackhawks

There is rarely a game in October that can turn around an NHL season; similarly, you don't expect the fifth game of an 82-game slate to be a classic and yet here we are with a gift from the hockey Gods that we all received earlier tonight.

The Boston Bruins (2-3-0) went into the United Center and snapped a two-game losing streak with a 3-2 shootout win over the host Chicago Blackhawks (2-1-1).

Nothing beats Original 6 matchups (just ask NESN which spotlighted my Tweet saying as much during the game), especially when it's Boston vs. Chicago since that juicy game usually occurs but once a regular season. Excuse me while I go start praying for a B's-Hawks Stanley Cup Finals next June.

After starting 2011-12 in a malaise, it was great to see this Bruins team respond just like they did in the playoffs last season. Taking on such a talented squad, they played physically but also stepped up in the clutch when it looked like they were going to take another loss and come back home 0-2 on their inaugural road trip.

Nathan Horton (1st goal of the season) made sure Boston would at least get to overtime as he tied it at two 7:56 into the third period. Johnny Boychuk basically made the play out of thin air as he chipped the puck in deep, won it and then found Horton out front for a high percentage shot. Tyler Seguin had the second assist, he leads the team with five points thus far.

The overtime was bananas as it was end to end action, complete with Rich Peverley getting sprung by Milan Lucic for a breakaway. Of course, Pevs went in on Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford (35 saves) and missed the net with his backhander. If missing the net equated to scoring goals, Pevs would be a 50-goal scorer every year, he does it so often.

Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas (2-2-0; 27 saves) showed why he's still the best at his position in the game. He made numerous incredible stops during regulation and in overtime but topped that by stuffing Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp in succession to clinch the shootout. Seguin had the lone goal for the Bruins in the dreaded shootout.

Gregory Campbell squared off with the formidable Jamal Mayers (first Bruins fight of the season) then later Bryan Bickell gave Chicago a 1-0 lead at 16:21 of the first as Andrew Ference turned it over in the neutral zone and handed it right to him.

Chris Kelly (1st goal of the season) answered with a shorthanded tally at 1:33 of the second from Peverley and Ference. It looked like the 2011 playoffs as Peverley and Kelly worked beautifully together to get the goal.

Kane quickly responded for the Blackhawks as he scored at 2:51 on an assist from former Bruins defenseman Sean O'Donnell and Sharp. Kane was left wide open in the slot, which is a deadly proposition and O'Donnell found him from behind the net.

You'll be hard-pressed to find a more star-studded (Kane, Toews, Duncan Keith) team than the Blackhawks (the 2009-10 Stanley Cup champions) but the Bruins didn't back down from the challenge as they outhit Chicago 40-34 and outshot them 37-29 in head coach Claude Julien's 300th win overall/181 with the Bruins.

I fully expect this win to springboard Boston on a nice run starting with their next game: Tuesday at home vs. Carolina. After losing to the Hurricanes 3-2 on Wednesday, you better believe that the B's will look like a different team this time around.

Hockey is officially back, that was a hell of a game and a win. It really got me pumped up for what should be another memorable season with the B's.

Follow @RichSlate


Tweet