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It was impossible for the Boston Bruins to be upset with the finish to their four-game homestand.
After losing ugly to the Tampa Bay Lightning last Sunday, the Bruins won ugly against Calgary, dominated the Chicago Blackhawks, and came close to downing the East-best Washington Capitals in an overtime defeat. Overall, the B’s nabbed five of a possible eight points, and remain in the thick of the hunt for the Atlantic Division. But even though the venues will change, the grind remains just as difficult for the Black and Gold, beginning with Monday’s head-to-head with the Florida Panthers.
With one game in hand over the Bruins, the ‘Cats currently hold a one-point edge over the B’s for second in the Atlantic, and come into action with wins in 20 of 33 home games this season.
One of the bright spots in Florida has been the play of the 44-year-old Jaromir Jagr. An actual immortal, Jagr has seemingly set record after record this season, and most recently tied Gordie Howe for third all-time on the NHL’s point list, with an astonishing 1,850 in 1,612 games. One more point and No. 68 moves into sole possession of third place on that list, too. Nine of those 1,850 came during Jagr’s 11-game regular-season deadline stint with the B’s back in 2013, too.
The Jagr in Boston stint is generally regarded as a failure, and that.. well.. that bothers me.
Jagr did not score the goals many expected him to, especially in the playoffs, but to suggest that he was not productive is just insane. After that 2-7-9 line in 11 regular-season games, Jagr contributed 10 assists in 22 postseason games with the Bruins. And though his postseason came with zero goals, it wasn’t for a lack of trying, as Jagr must have struck post about a dozen times over that stretch. His work ethic was incredible, and still, two goals and 17 assists in 33 total games was anything but terrible.
Still, the Bruins thought Jagr, then 41, was at the end of his rope. And after adding Loui Eriksson and Jarome Iginla to the mix that offseason, there was no room in Boston for Jagr to return to the club.
And Jagr, who wanted to return to Boston in the worst way, was left with a last-second chance to revive -- or continue to revive, rather -- his illustrious career with the New Jersey Devils. 62 goals and 162 points in 221 games later between NJ and Florida, and with no signs of slowing down, he did.
Hard to think that the Black and Gold said that they had no room a guy like that.
But if the Bruins want to leapfrog Jagr and the Panthers tonight in Sunrise, it will begin in net, as the Bruins have relied on great goaltending from Tuukka Rask over the last week. Rask took the overtime loss behind a 28-of-30 night, but comes into action with wins in five of his last seven games, with a .937 save percentage over that stretch. Rask has been straight-up monstrous against the Panthers in his career, too, with 14 wins (three shutouts) and a .955 save percentage in 17 games.
Florida counters with Roberto Luongo.
The veteran took the loss behind a 23-of-26 effort against Colorado last Thursday, but comes into this tilt with 17 wins (three shutouts) in 27 games at BB&T Center this year. The 36-year-old has recorded 14 wins and a .927 save percentage in 33 career starts against the Black and Gold.
With Kevan Miller (upper-body) out after his boarding at the hands of Washington captain Alexander Ovechkin, one of Joe Morrow or Zach Trotman will draw back into the lineup.
The Bruins have won both head-to-heads with the Panthers this season.
Ty Anderson has been covering the National Hockey League for HockeyBuzz.com since 2010, has been a member of the Pro Hockey Writers Association's Boston Chapter since 2013, and can be contacted on Twitter, or emailed at Ty.AndersonHB[at]gmail.com.