Welcome to TD Garden for tonight’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Blue Jackets are here via a sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy winning Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. The Blue Jackets fell behind 3-0 in the first period of Game 1, and from there, turned things on, never looking back as they completed one of the most surprising sweeps in playoff history.
The Bruins are fresh off another home Game 7 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, in a series that saw the Bruins pull of wins in back-to-back elimination games. The B’s didn’t play particularly well in the series, but they got timely scoring when needed, and goalie Tuukka Rask was excellent in the series, more so games five, six and seven.
For the Bruins to win this series, they need to be better five-on-five, much as they were in Game 7. For the first six games of their series with the Maple Leafs, Toronto was by far the better team at even strength.
Over the course of their seven games with Toronto, the Maple Leafs scored 12 goals at even strength five-on-five, while the Bruins scored 11. Three of those 11 came in Game 7.
Similar to the Bruins, five-on-five scoring was an issue for the Blue Jackets. The Jackets’ top line of Artemi Panarin, Pierre-Luc Dobois and Oliver Bjorkstrand combined for just two five-on-five goals in the series.
Seth Jones and Zach Werenski are a nice top d-pair, but the duo was not as sharp as you may believe, considering the Blue Jackets completely shut down a dangerous offensive team in Tampa Bay.
The pair finished the series with a Corsi rating of 45.38 five-on-five. They were out shot by three and were a minus-three in the scoring chances for department. However, they did win the scoring battle, being together for three goals scored and just two allowed.
The Blue Jackets’ line that scares me the most is their “second line.” Ryan Dzingel, Matt Duchene and Cam Atkinson have come together nicely to form a dangerous trio. Coming over to Columbus at the trade deadline from Ottawa, Dzingel finished with 12 points in 21 regular season games with Columbus.
Duchene leads the Blue Jackets in playoff points with seven.
Bruins defenseman John Moore is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but Connor Clifton is fully healthy and will be back in the lineup for Game 1. After being a healthy scratch in Game 6 and 7, Chris Wagner returns to the lineup, with Karson Kuhlman the odd man out.
Bruins projected lines:
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Danton Heinen
Jake DeBrusk-David Krejci-David Pastrnak
Marcus Johansson-Charlie Coyle-Chris Wagner
Joakim Nordstrom-Sean Kuraly-Noel Acciari
Zdeno Chara-Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug-Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk-Connor Clifton
Tuukka Rask
Blue Jackets projected lines:
Artemi Panarin-Pierre-Luc Dubios-Oliver Bjorkstead
Ryan Dzingel-Matt Duchene-Cam Atkinson
Alexandre Texier-Nick Foglino-Josh Anderson
Brandon Dubinsky-Boone Jenner-Riley Nash
Zach Werenski-Seth Jones
Dean Kukan-Dennis Savard
Scott Harrington- Adam Clendening
Sergei Bobrovsky
Prediction: Bruins in six
First period:
20:00: The Blue Jackets begin with Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner, Josh Anderson, Seth Jones and Zach Werenski. Bruins counter with Joakim Nordstrom, Sean Kuraly, Noel Acciari, Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy.
16:41: The Bruins have come out with almost all the zone time and it forces the Blue Jackets into a penalty. Scott Harrington for tripping.
15:23: Bruins getting called for too many men. Johansson will serve the minor. 43 seconds of four-on-four.
14:33: Huge shorthanded chance for the Bruins, but Bobrovsky turns it away. All Bruins so far.
13:23: Johansson out of the box, both teams 0-1 on the power play. Bruins leading in shots 7-1. The Bruins are buzzing, but Bobrovsky has been sharp early on.
10:40: Second power play of the night coming up for the Blue Jackets. Coyle for hooking.
9:26: It's the bottom-six guys once again. Noel Acciari with the shorthanded goal, 1-0 Bruins.
5:08: Another massive save from Bobrovsky, this time on Marchand. Bruins could easily have a two, three goal lead.
3:49: First real chance of the night for the Jackets, but Rask comes up with the big save.
0:00: Bruins will take a 1-0 lead into the second period.
Thoughts after 20:
The Blue Jackets do not like Game 1 first periods.
As expected, after eight days off, the Jackets came out looking extremely rusty in the opening 20. Bobrovsky however, did not. The only reason this a one goal game is because of the Blue Jackets goalie who was by far the best player in the period, coming up with a handful of difficult saves.
In the period, the Bruins led in shot attempts, 26-7, shots 14-4, and scoring chances 11-4.
You already can see the difference in space the Bruins have against the Blue Jackets, then what was available against Toronto, especially on the power play. One of Toronto's keys on the penalty kill was to take away the Bruins bumper, and take away those east to west passes. But in the first period here in Game 1, the Bruins were working the puck through the bumper, and had lanes open for their east to west passes.
Speaking of space in the offensive zone, much of that was also available to the Krejci line who looked dominate in the period. They held the advantage in shot attempts 6-1, and shots on goal 3-1.
Given how well the Bruins played in the period, coming out of it with just one goal seems like a bit of a disappointment, even with how well Bobrovsky played. The Blue Jackets started to show some life in last five minutes or so of the frame, and should come out with a better push in the second.
Second period:
17:04: Back to the power play for the Bruins, old friend Riley Nash with a trip.
15:48: Another high danger chance for the Bruins, but Marchand hits the crossbar.
15:04: Nash out of the box, Jackets kill off the penalty.
14:44: More five-on-four hockey coming up. Krejci for tripping.
12:44: Krejci out of the box, Bruins once again kill the Blue Jackets power play.
7:23: Not much going on since each team's power play. Blue Jackets bringing more energy in the second.
5:13: Power play time for Columbus, Bergeron for hooking.
3:13: Bergeron out of the box, Bruins kill off another Blue Jackets power play.
1:12: Penalty filled period continues as the Bruins head to the power play. Werenski for interference.
0:00: Buzzer sounds as the Bruins take a 1-0 lead into the third period. Bruins will start the period with 48 seconds of power play time.
Thoughts after 40:
A much quieter period in the second, but one that saw four penalties called, two for each team.
After a late push to end the first period, the Blue Jackets found their game a bit in the second period, getting more pressure in the Bruins zone. All that pressure resulted in 10 shots on goal.
Outside of a few low danger chances, there was not much going on the Blue Jackets end.
If the Bruins are going to pot one here in the third five-on-five, you have to expect it to come for the Bergeron line. The trio five-on-five is winning the shot attempts battle 12-0, the shots on goal battle 5-0 and the scoring chances for battle, 6-0.
Third period:
19:12: Another failed opportunity on the power play for the Bruins as Werenski vacates the box.
18:40: Chara draws a Blue Jackets penalty behind the Bruins net. Jenner for holding. Jenner was not too happy with the call.
16:40: Same ol' song and dance. Jackets kill the Bruins power play.
12:21: Blue Jackets finally break through as Nash beats Rask on a deflection. 1-1.
12:08: Jackets strike again with another deflected puck. 2-1, Jackets.
6:02: Bruins finally starting to get some zone time back, but the Jackets are making life tough on them, not giving the Bruins much to work with.
4:35: What a feed from Johansson and Coyle ties the game at two.
0:00: Game 1 is going to overtime.
Overtime:
15:14: A few chances back and forth, but nothing too dangerous going on in OT thus far.
14:45: Have a day, Charlie. Coyle does it again. Bruins win Game 1 in OT.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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