In an elaborate April Fools’ Day prank, the Boston Bruins put six goals in a St. Louis Blues net that had allowed just one in their last five games en route to a 6-5, truly nailbiting road victory.
The night began as you expected. The Bruins kept pace with the Blues, but it would be St. Louis that scored first, as Jaden Schwartz tallied his eighth goal of the season, 14:04 into the first.
But the Bruins responded with a Loui Eriksson strike just 41 seconds later, his 28th of the season, and another, this one from David Krejci (his 16th), just 1:50 after that.
St. Louis broke even with the Bruins behind Paul Stastny’s goal early in the second period, but responded with three goals to close out the second period, from Matt Beleskey, Frank Vatrano, and a second from Krejci (one of four points No. 46 finished the night with).
The Blues made it a one-goal game on two different occasions in the third period, and really made Tuukka Rask and Co. sweat this one out, but the Bruins ultimately hung on. Flashback to a year ago and these were the games that the Black and Gold found ways to drop. But on Friday, the Bruins won, and more importantly kept pace with a Detroit Red Wings group that also won.
And that’s really all that matters. But beyond the two points, what did you like about this game?
For one, the play of Krejci. I’ve had this weird feeling that Krejci has been battling through an injury -- or fatigue, or just something -- given his abundance of quiet nights in recent weeks. But in 20:32 of time on ice, Krejci came through with two goals and four points, two of which came on Boston’s power play that finished the night two-for-four. This, which almost goes without saying, is huge for the Bruins.
I’ve always been of the belief (and it’s well documented by now) that when Krejci goes, the Bruins go. You’d be crazy to think that it was a coincidence that Krejci led the postseason in scoring in Boston’s two trips to the Finals since 2011. If Krejci plays like this, the Bruins will be a dangerous team.
One thing I do find interesting is the general sort of pessimism that surrounds the Bruins at every turn.
People were so, so quick to point to the three-goal lead and how the Bruins almost blew it. Or how no lead seems safe with this club, for that matter. But is this really that much different from what you expected from the club this year? Since the start of the season, I thought this team was going to be in an absolute dogfight for third in the Atlantic behind Tampa Bay and Montreal (woof). And they are in exactly that, with a Red Wings team that you still cannot get a real read on. At the same time, can you really say you have any club, even after Game 78, of what the Bruins are this year?
Not every game is going to be a work of art. This team was not built that way. So, if they find ways to beat teams they should lose to, and the Blues without question fit that bill, just take the points and run.
They’re still not out of the woods yet. The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Ottawa Senators by a 3-2 final in a Saturday matinee, and a Red Wings victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs would leapfrog the Wings over the idle Bruins and into third place in the Atlantic, which would put Boston in ninth place.
Imagine being able to relax for even a single minute this season?