The Bruins managed to barely avoid snatching defeat from the jaws of victory (that was a confusing phrase to write) with Aaron Ward’s laser-beam (weak) shot that beat Nittymaki forty-three seconds into overtime. Nittymaki was in a tough situation as he had just come out of his net to play the puck so that Marco Sturm would be prevented from having a break-away chance. This strategy worked but it, unfortunately for the Flyers, left the puck in an open space on the ice and Ward let a shot go that, while not exactly a bullet, had enough to get by Nittymaki as he tried to settle himself back into his net. This is the second timely goal this year that Ward has scored on a confused goalie to end a game suddenly, the first being against San Jose. It was a fitting and exciting end to a game that was sloppy, filled with unexpected events, was totally entertaining and was extremely physical. Words cannot express the amount of fun I had watching this afternoon’s game…and yet I’m still writing this blog. Mysterious.
The first period began horribly for the Bruins who decided they only needed four Bruins on the ice to defeat five Flyers. That belief had to be reconsidered as the Flyers buzzed around in the Bruins’ zone on their power-play opportunities. Though the period ended with the shots tied 8-8, the Flyers undoubtedly had more scoring chances and missed the net more than the Bruins did. Somehow this didn’t bite the Bruins too hard as they managed to hold the Flyers to one goal, a shot from Carter that was set up by a strong bounce from the boards behind the net.
The first period looked like a scene from Gladiator. There were bodies flying everywhere, bloodied faces, guys in helmets and sticks flying like flaming arrows. There was, however, no wolf on the ice. Jeremy Reich was hit in the ankle, shin or foot with a shot and he needed help to return to the dressing room. He would return in the second period. Milan Lucic also needed to visit the dressing room as he flung himself into the dasher when hitting Jason Smith and he busted his own nose open. Lucic said that’s the end of his dreams of being a model but I think Ogre Magazine may have something to say about that. Lucic has been extremely physical this year and especially over the last three games. He has played with reckless abandon and soon he’ll have enough scars to attract any scar-digging chick he wants.
Scott Hartnell decided he didn’t like a solid hit from Ward and he set about trying to hit any Bruin he could find, including Chara, who may have been a little too big for Hartnell to bowl over. That’s the type of hockey I like to see.
The second period wasn’t quite as physical and the Flyers were the ones that spent the bulk of the time in the penalty box. Marc Savard scored a power-play goal, which he jokingly said was probably 102 mph, and Marco Sturm also scored a power-play goal. The Bruins out-shot the Flyers 13-4 in this period and they definitely had their legs going. Unfortunately, that would stop in the third period.
Though the first goal in the third came from a nice redirection by Schaefer of a slap shot from Chara, the Bruins would take the 3-1 lead and then just stop skating. The Flyers started dominating the play and Briere and Hartnell ended up beating Alex Auld to tie the game. It would take extra minutes to decide this game. At this point, if Claude Julien’s name was Bruce Banner, then everyone probably would’ve been in a lot of trouble. If there’s one thing he can’t stand, it’s a lack of effort. The Bruins always seem to think that they can just coast along after a string of good effort puts them ahead. This has to stop because they’re not always going to win in OT.
Though the OT period actually began with the Flyers having more spring in their step, a heads up play by Savard to clear the defensive zone after a Flyers’ scoring chance was what set the Ward goal in motion. I was very pleased to see the Bruins take this OT contest because I think we all know that when the Bruins are playing four-on-four they look about as capable as the three stooges.
Some notes:
P.J. was out with a foot problem. This has been a common theme for Bruins this year with Ward and Thornton both missing time for broken or bruised feet. We might have to add Reich to this list too depending on how he reacts to that shot block from today.
I think calling up Vladimir Sobotka was a good call. He has some great on-ice awareness. He showed how well he could avoid hits today and I was really impressed with his mobility and even his puck handling.
Tim Thomas sat out, which is surprising since the Bruins have the next four days off. They don’t play again until they take on the Leafs next Thursday. I guess it worked out though as Auld made a whole bunch of great saves for the Bruins.
I was surprised to see Nittymaki play against the Bruins. Even if Biron is struggling as of late, he usually is a brick wall against the Bruins (last game they played excepted).
The one thing I’m proudest of about the Bruins this year: they’re almost never out-hit. Even today, in Philly, in a physical game, they had 17 hits to 14. In adjusted hits, the Bruins are fourth overall in the NHL and second in the East.
In closing, that was a heck of a game but it was more entertaining than it should’ve been. The Bruins need to stop letting their foot off the gas. Only a couple of players seem to understand this.
THE CONTEST (it’s not like the one from Seinfeld)
In the comments of my last blog, I promised that I would organize some sort of contest. I did this because my readers deserve only the best (and because I’m tired of being hassled about the lack of contests). Well here it is:
Gerry Bourdeau is proud to present the Gerry Bourdeau contest for excellence in commenting on Gerry Bourdeau’s blog. The commenter who leaves the funniest comment (any topic will do as long as it’s funny, clever and fairly tasteful but hockey comments are encouraged) will win a brand new Boston Bruins beer mug, a Batman PEZ dispenser, a VHS copy of Don Cherry’s Rock ‘em Sock ‘em 5 and a VHS copy of the Third Annual WWF Survivor Series, which I would date to around 1988. The main event on that is the Hulkamaniacs (Hulk, Jake the Snake, and Demolition) vs. the Million $ Team (Ted DiBiase, Zeus and Powers of Pain). I know it sounds too good to be true but that package can be yours for absolutely free if you just leave the funniest comment. The comment can be a one off or it can come as a result of conversation. It doesn’t matter.
The comment will be judged by me and possibly a panel of rag-tag Hockeybuzzers that I will arrange at a later date. The contest will run until I feel there is a good enough sample of funny comments or mid-January, whichever comes first. If there is an absence of comments then your chances of winning go up (assuming you leave one).
This contest is open to fans of any team and people of all ages, makes and models, though I will be totally biased towards the Bruin fans. I will be even more biased towards attractive female Bruin fans with their own source of income. This is why I think I’ll need a panel of judges. If you are a fan of another team and you win the contest, you’re still getting a Bruin mug so don’t ask me to change the prize package.
Let the games begin.
-Gerz
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