Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Thomas Blanks Devils as Wingers Lead Offense to Boston Win

November 16, 2010, 12:53 AM ET [ Comments]
Ty Anderson
Boston Bruins Blogger •Bruins Feature Columnist • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Forget about any talk about the e-mails from Colin Campbell, because the Bruins are simply not going to talk about it. In fact, be surprised if we hear anything about it further than Campbell's comment that dubbed the e-mails "much ado about nothing".

Despite these rumblings that should have NHL-changing implications, but likely won't knowing how this league operates, Boston had a game to focus on with the New Jersey Devils making their first trip of the young season to Boston without two American-born Bruin killers.

Traveling to Boston without captain Jamie Langenbrunner (head), and Zach Parise (knee), the Devils, who have won just five of 17 contests this season, came into town with points in three of their last four games and an offense that appeared to be on the cusp of breaking open.

But standing in their way was the 9-1-0 Tim Thomas, whose goals-against-average (1.45) and save-percentage (.957%) put him atop the NHL.

As the opening seconds of the game included dazzlers of shots with one off the stick of Patrik Elias and another two coming from Mattias Tedenby while a sprawling Thomas--fighting to stay in position--flew across the crease, spinning and wowing with each save, the Bruins quickly settled down and focused their energy towards creating chances against a less-than-stellar Devils squad.

With Senator-turned-Devil Anton Volchenkov going off on a hooking call and as a great bout between B's defensemen Adam McQuaid and Devils' forward Rod Pelley.



Going on the man-advantage, which has gone 1-for-9 in the absence of David Krejci heading into the game, the Bruins found themselves on a 5-on-3 when Adam Mair got a little too involved as he tried to poke the puck in past Thomas after the whistle.

On a tremendous cycle in the attacking zone, the Bruins' power-play finally struck when Michael Ryder, fooling Martin Brodeur--who was looking for a backdoor play--shot the puck up and in for his fifth goal of the season to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead with just under five minutes to play in the first.

Closing out the period with a successful penalty-kill, the Bruins' offense solidified their lead when Nathan Horton, on the receiving end of a great pass from linemate Milan Lucic, sneaked a wicked wrister from just over the blue-line and through Brodeur to give the B's a two-goal lead just 43 tics into the second frame.

Holding the Devils to just seven shots for the second straight period, the Bruins had a near-scare when Ryder took an errant stick to the face from Tedenby, slicing the Newfoundland-native's cheekbone open and putting the Bruins on a four-minute power-play.

Unable to convert on any offensive chances during the double-minor, the Bruins' defense continued to baffle the Devils' offense, notably Ilya Kovalchuk, who was unable to register a shot-on-goal and credited with a giveaway in the period.

Opening up the third period, the Bruins had an identical play that nailed them their second goal when Mark Recchi connected with Blake Wheeler, who fired home his third goal of the season on a near-exact replica of Horton's goal that kicked off the second period.

The weird part? Horton's goal was scored at the 43-second marker of the 2nd. Wheeler's goal? At the 43-second marker of the third period.

*Cue Rod Serling explaining how you've landed into the Twilight Zone*

Responding after the third Boston goal, the Devils began their road at an attempted comeback, firing away 14 shots in the period, their total from the first 40 minutes combined, but when it came down to it--the 36-year-old Thomas simply wasn't tested by New Jersey.

Making routine stops besides a crossbody lunge across the net to prevent a David Clarkson breakaway goal with just under five minutes left in the period, what was left of the Garden Faithful, loaded with members of the U.S Military on the Bruins' annual Military Appreciation Night, rose to their feet and gave Thomas and the Bruins a standing ovation as time winded down with the B's securing their first win at home since Oct. 28 against the Maple Leafs.

BY THE NUMBERS

7-0-0: The Bruins' record on the season when scoring the first goal of the game.

5: Hits by B's defensemen Mark Stuart on the night. Stuart, along with Wheeler, donated nearly 90,000 dollars worth of seats to military personnel for tonight's contest.

100%: Face-off percentage for Bruins rookie Tyler Seguin, whose struggles at the dot have become more noticeable with each passing game. Good to see the 18-year-old have a solid night at the dot.

7: Of Mark Recchi's 11 points on the season have come against teams from the Atlantic Division.

QUOTES OF NOTE

"It stung a little bit, you know, it hit me right on the bone, but it makes you look a little tougher, I guess." - B's winger Michael Ryder on the cut on his cheek that required 'about' ten stitches.

"He’s scoring more than he did last year, right? That would be a start." - Claude Julien on the play of Ryder this season.

"At this point I’ve been all over and I haven’t had it bounce in for me so at this point it’s close your eyes and shoot it." - Bruins' forward Blake Wheeler on how it felt to finally bury a goal after a frustrating few games.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The B's will have Tuesday off before traveling to New York City to take on the surging Rangers. The Rangers, coming off a thrilling overtime win, have seen huge contributions from the fully-healthy Marian Gaborik, who has three goals and an assist in three games since returning from a shoulder injury.

However, for Boston, as confirmed by Julien in his post-game press-conference, defensemen Johnny Boychuk (broken forearm) will travel with the club and be a game-time decision.

Follow me on Twitter , shoot me an email at [email protected], or become Facebook friends with the HockeyBuzz Bruins profile for links, interactions, and updates.
Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment
More from Ty Anderson
» Bruins ownership shares message after down year
» Bruins drop 10th straight; Bancroft signs
» Bruins' McAvoy returns to practice
» B's slide hits seven; Callahan fined
» Bruins lose again, this time to Sabres