After the Blue Jackets scored three third period goals in their Game 5 loss Saturday night in Boston, head coach John Tortorella’s postgame chat with the media was a brief one. But one where Tortorella told the assembled media his Blue Jackets would be back for Game 7.
“Things happen for a reason. We have chances to tie it again,” Tortorella said. “Things happen for a reason, and I truly believe that. We’ll be back here for Game 7.”
Then on Monday, the Blue Jackets’ head coach was back at it again. But this time, Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask was his topic.
“I think one of the bigger points in our last game, in Game 5, is that we dented their goalie. I think that was very important,” said Tortorella. “I think they dented our goalie. We’ve dented their goalie in that third period, which is very important going into Game 6.”
Unfortunately, for Tortorella and the Blue Jackets, the only thing dented in Game 6 were the pipes behind Rask, and ultimately, the Blue Jackets playoff hopes. The Blue Jackets hit at least four posts in Game 6.
“It’s the playoffs, there’s mind games always. It’s the entertainment industry, I guess, so that’s what the fans and media want,” Rask said following the Bruins series-clinching victory Monday night. “When I’m playing, I don’t read it. But if I’m a spectator, I like to read it because it’s entertaining.”
Entertaining was Rask throughout the duration of the Bruins series with the Blue Jackets. Excellent is another “e” word that you can use to describe Rask’s series. Without a doubt, Rask was the Bruins best player against Columbus.
“He was definitely our most consistent player through the whole series. We had players have good performances from game to game but he was there every night and he certainly deserves whatever accolades he has coming to them,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy.”
The Bruins thought they had themselves a 1-0 lead in the first period, but after another lengthy review, it was deemed that Joakim Nordstrom had interfered with Blue Jackets’ goalie Sergei Bobrovsky just prior to Sean Kuraly’s goal.
In a series where several reviews, or lack of, have gone against them, the Bruins did what they’ve done all series long. They shook the misfortune off and got back to their game. The resiliency shown in the series by a Bruins team that has now won three straight is a big factor as to why they’re moving onto the Eastern Conference Finals.
As massive as Rask was in the series, he’s played long enough in this league to know that a team effort is needed in order to win in this league.
“You play enough in this league, and you tend to learn a thing, that’s not all about you,” said Rask. “You don’t have to do anything spectacular, it’s a team sport and you play for each other. That’s helped me a lot and I’m trying to keep carrying that on.”
It’s been well-documented how much criticism Rask takes in this town. Often Rask his compared to the man he replaced: Tim Thomas. In a playoff run where Rask has given everyone a piece of what they want from Rask, he showed a little Thomas in Game 6. When Jackets’ captain Nick Foligno got a little too close for comfort, Rask made sure he knew Rask was there, throwing several blocker shots at him.
“I was just trying to have fun with Foligno there a couple of times. I think as the series went on, they kind of felt that they needed to do that to get in my head a little bit, but it’s funny when that happens because you know you have the better of them at that point,” said Rask. “But if they start running you, you’ve got to defend yourself and throw a couple of shots. I gave Foligno a couple of body shots, for sure.”
The series began with Bobrovsky being the talk of the series. He was outstanding in Game 1, and followed that up with an even better performance in Game 2, stealing a double-overtime win in Boston.
With was well as Bobrovsky was playing, Rask was not to be outdone, playing equally as well. As the series moved along, the Bruins were able to finally get to Bobrovsky, while Rask continued to stymie the Blue Jackets.
“Outstanding, again,” Cassidy added about Rask’s overall play in the series. “You need your goalie to deliver, and I think that’s stating the obvious. He did a real nice job for us.”
Rask finished the series with a .948 save percentage and a 1.71 goals-against average. Had it not been for the call that went against the Bruins in Game 4, Rask would have finished the series with two shutouts.
All series long, the Blue Jackets did a good job of getting to the net and putting themselves in high danger areas, but Rask was up to the task.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Blue Jackets had 53 high danger shots against Rask, scoring on just five of those high danger shots.
The last time Rask and the Bruins appeared in the Eastern Conference Finals, they swept the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2013. You may remember that as the series where Rask and the Bruins allowed just two goals.
When asked whether or not he felt he was playing better this playoff run than he did in 2013, Rask didn’t want to go there.
“I feel good. Yeah. You guys can make that call,” said Rask. “I just try to, game-by-game, be there.”
Rask has been there alright, and in a big way.
Charlie McAvoy facing potential suspension
McAvoy only got two minutes for a hit to the head of Blue Jackets’ forward Josh Anderson, but in the coming days, another form of punishment may be coming his way.
There was a lot of debate surrounding the hit as McAvoy avoided a misconduct. Based off the rule, the referees got the call right, however, I think the rule has a major flaw.
After McAvoy’s hit on Anderson, the referees got together for a lengthy discussion. I would assume this was to decide if any of the on-ice officials felt that McAvoy deliberately targeted the head, or attempted to injure Anderson. Clearly, there was none of that. It was a simple matter of a hockey hit gone wrong.
“I put my shoulder into him. When I hit, I do my very best—I keep my elbow tucked so I don’t get it out there. I hit with my shoulder and try to, you know, hit with as much power as possible,” said McAvoy.
“He’s a bigger guy—it was a hockey play. I tried to deliver a check. I was penalized two minutes for it. I served it and came back and played.”
According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, McAvoy will have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety. I do expect some form of discipline to come his way. McAvoy has no prior history with the DOPS.
In last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, Kings defenseman Drew Doughty was given a one-game suspension for a hit to the head of Vegas’ William Carrier.
Taking a closer look at McAvoy’s hit, the Bruins defenseman does appear to leave his feet, with Anderson’s shoulder being the target. As McAvoy tries and drive through the shoulder, Anderson’s head drops and takes the brunt of McAvoy’s hit.
Thankfully Anderson was not injured on the play and he remained in the game. After the Bruins win, McAvoy and Anderson exchanged smiles and handshakes as the two teams congratulated each other on one heck of a series.
"That’s between me and the individual,” McAvoy said when asked what was said between the two. “We went at it pretty good this series. I have a lot of respect for him. He plays the game as hard as anyone. I mean, it was good to see him back out there.”
Hockey players, man.
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