In the second leg of their third back-to-back in March, and with three more sets of back-to-backs yet to be played in a month that’s just 31 days long, an early start for the Boston Bruins proved crucial in their 2-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes at TD Garden on Thursday night.
Captain Zdeno Chara struck 5:54 into the first period for Boston at the expense of Massachusetts’ own Keith Yandle, who committed an egregious turnover in his own zone, putting the Bruins up 1-0. The goal, which gave the 36-year-old defensemen his 16th marker of the season, and put him just three away from matching his career-high of 19 (set in 2008-09), was huge.
It took the pressure on a ‘Yotes club currently on the outside looking in in the Western Conference playoff picture (they entered tonight’s game in the ninth spot, though just one point out of eighth). And with a chance to respond by way of a four-minute power play following Jordan Caron’s double-minor on a high-sticking penalty against Jeff Halpern, Phoenix struggled.
That may even be putting it lightly, too.
They put just one shot on Tuukka Rask during their lengthy man advantage.
Minutes later, Boston extended their lead to two behind a Jarome Iginla tip late, and the Coyotes, despite spending yesterday in the Hub while the B’s played the division rival Canadiens up in Montreal, were not coming with the energy that their coaching staff expected (and needed).
“Not enough push. We turned over some pucks and for a team that played last night, we wanted to come out and push a little bit,… Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said after the loss. “We didn’t have enough push. Made a couple mistakes that cost us in the first period, and then third period I thought we pushed a little harder but couldn’t find the one we needed to even it up.…
And despite two more power play opportunities in the middle frame, things really didn’t get much better for the Coyotes, who amassed a whopping two shots in the period. Not that the Bruins did much better though, as they finished with three shots in the second. A five-shot period. (Zzz.)
“It felt like they had some action outright, with the power plays and everything, but we blocked a lot of shots today throughout the game and then especially in that second period,… Rask noted after the win, his 30th of the season. “It’s a funny thing that even though you don’t have any shots you feel tired because you’re kind of following the play and moving a lot. So, no I didn’t catch any rest.…
Blocking 10 of the Coyotes’ 20 shot attempts through 40 minutes of play, the Bruins’ fatigue seemed to show through in the third period when Lauri Korpikoski tipped home his ninth of the year, cutting the Boston lead in half with over 11 minutes left in the game.
The Coyotes’ rush, the one that Tippett wanted earlier, was on.
Just swarming Rask and Co. for what felt like the rest of the period, the B’s were able to hang on to their lead, due in large part to a huge glove save on Antoine Vermette late in regulation.
“The glove side, that one? When I dove? Yeah, I’m not sure if I got a piece of it,… Rask admitted. “It kind of felt like my glove hit something but then Carl [Soderberg], well he was the one who passed it back, he got the rebound there. So I’m not sure if I saved it, but whoever saved it did a great job.…
Stopping 21 of 22 shots on the night, Rask and the B’s hung on, winning their seventh straight game, and getting coach Claude Julien his 300th win behind a Boston bench. And in a crazy note that seems to defy logic, with tonight's victory, the 27-year-old Rask improved to 4-0-0 with a .930 save percentage when playing on zero days rest this year.
For Julien, it's a neat milestone, but one that Julien’s not focused on following Game 66.
“I hope I’m here for another 300,… Julien quipped.
Krug scratched, Meszaros plays left side
Scratched for the first time this season, Torey Krug has nothing to worry about when it comes to his role on this team, really. At least if you listen to his coach, anyways.
Following the B’s win tonight, Julien refused to even take the slightest dig at the 5-foot-9 blue-liner’s game (and rightfully so). The Bruins seem adamant about letting you know that Krug’s scratch was all about seeing what Andrej Meszaros can do when paired with somebody not named Chara.
And when on the left side.
In 15:33 of time on ice tonight, the 28-year-old Meszaros blocked two shots, and found himself still adjusting to the Bruins’ system after spending the last few seasons with the Flyers. (As noted at every turn, the B’s play more of a zone system while Philly prefers a man-to-man defensive system.)
“I feel good, it’s just different and I played on left side, last time I played on the right side. So coaches are trying something different, and I felt comfortable. I felt good, and obviously a big two points,… said Meszaros. “[It] doesn’t matter to me where I play. I like both sides, I’m used to both sides. So wherever they’re going to put me, I’m going to play.
“Obviously, the system is new for me so I’m still learning, still watching video, talking to the coaches. You know, they’re trying to correct me if I do something wrong, so it’s great,… the Slovak defender noted, adding, “But there’s not much of a practice time, so the learning process - I have to be quick. Hopefully game-by-game it’s going to get better and better.…
Expect the defensive shuffle to continue. Perhaps Matt Bartkowski is next.
Up next
The Bruins will practice at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington, Mass. tomorrow before playing host to the Carolina Hurricanes for a Saturday matinee. The Bruins have won both of their two prior meetings with the ‘Canes in 2013-14, and should expect to see old friend Anton Khudobin in net.