Ann 2Game 42 Review: Chara & Thomas Lead Bruins To 3-1 Victory Over Canadiens (Highlights Vid Included)
January 17th 2009 16:02
Many were anticipating the fourth encounter between these two Northeast division rivals. More so for the Montreal Canadiens fans who clearly wanted revenge after an humiliating 6-1 defeat in November. The players themselves were also eagerly waiting for this game to show that the team that lost that fateful game isn't the same as the current team which had a 9-1-1 record in its last 12 games. Furthermore, a win for the Canadiens would put them only eight points behind the Conference-leading Bruins. Unfortunately, the game lost a bit of its emotional significance when it was revealed that, similarly to the Canadiens, the Bruins would have to compose with a growing injury list including Patrice Bergeron, Phil Kessel, Andrew Ference, Marco Sturm and Milan Lucic. As for Montreal, they were still missing number-one goaltender Carey Price (ankle injury), and an entire forwards line in Saku Koivu, Alex Tanguay, and Christopher Higgins.
Despite all those injuries, the game didn't lack in intensity. Both teams showed an ardent desire to win but could only retreat to their locker rooms scoreless after the first period. Penalties highlighted the second period, and it's on the powerplay that the game was won by the Bruins. The Canadiens took the lead early in the second via Andrei Kostitsyn while Michael Ryder was serving a minor for hooking. Five minutes later, Zdeno Chara equalized while the Bruins were on the powerplay (defenseman Brisebois was in the box also for hooking). The game turned on its head at the 14th minute of the period when Andrei Kostitsyn was sent to the penalty for five minutes, accused of a boarding penalty on Aaron Ward. The call was ambiguous at best. Although replays showed that the penalty was undeserved (even the NHL retracted Andrei's name from the list which keeps records of repeated offenders, in this case, hitting from behind), knowing that things aren't as easier to judge on the ice as inside the comfort of your living-room, a two-minute penalty would've been enough for the offense. A five-minute man advantage left the door wide open for the Bruins who capitalized on their opportunity on a 5-on-3 situation (again via Chara) when Roman Hamrlik was penalized for cross-checking.
With a one-goal advantage, the Bruins tightened it up in the third period which saw the Canadiens shoot only seven times towards Thomas as opposed to the 17 shots they had in the first period. Those final twenty minutes were clearly for the Boston goaltender to shine as he stopped Andrei Kostitsyn, Maxim Lapierre and Tom Kostopoulos with terrific saves worthy of his All-Star nomination. In reward, his teammates grabbed the insurance goal with two minutes left to go, getting their third consecutive victory against their much-hated rival. They now are 12 points in front of the Habs, and barring a major collapse, should easily win the division, and even the Conference.
What really impressed me about the Bruins that night was how they completely neutralized Tomas Plekanec's line. Rookie Max Pacioretty was given a lesson in battling along the boards as the towering Bruins captain Zdeno Chara crushed the 20-year-old every time he went into the corners. Alex Kovalev was never given space to maneuver. The report on the message boards seems to lean toward the fact that this was one of his off nights, I disagree. Every time, the Wizard came near the puck, he was quickly surrounded by two, sometimes three, Boston players who didn't let up on their pressure. It was a startling contrast to the game against Nashville two days later (the game review will be posted today) where he endlessly toyed with the Predators' defense. All in all, a great defensive effort by the Bruins.
My 3 Stars:
3. David Krejci
2. Zdeno Chara
1. Tim Thomas
Despite all those injuries, the game didn't lack in intensity. Both teams showed an ardent desire to win but could only retreat to their locker rooms scoreless after the first period. Penalties highlighted the second period, and it's on the powerplay that the game was won by the Bruins. The Canadiens took the lead early in the second via Andrei Kostitsyn while Michael Ryder was serving a minor for hooking. Five minutes later, Zdeno Chara equalized while the Bruins were on the powerplay (defenseman Brisebois was in the box also for hooking). The game turned on its head at the 14th minute of the period when Andrei Kostitsyn was sent to the penalty for five minutes, accused of a boarding penalty on Aaron Ward. The call was ambiguous at best. Although replays showed that the penalty was undeserved (even the NHL retracted Andrei's name from the list which keeps records of repeated offenders, in this case, hitting from behind), knowing that things aren't as easier to judge on the ice as inside the comfort of your living-room, a two-minute penalty would've been enough for the offense. A five-minute man advantage left the door wide open for the Bruins who capitalized on their opportunity on a 5-on-3 situation (again via Chara) when Roman Hamrlik was penalized for cross-checking.
With a one-goal advantage, the Bruins tightened it up in the third period which saw the Canadiens shoot only seven times towards Thomas as opposed to the 17 shots they had in the first period. Those final twenty minutes were clearly for the Boston goaltender to shine as he stopped Andrei Kostitsyn, Maxim Lapierre and Tom Kostopoulos with terrific saves worthy of his All-Star nomination. In reward, his teammates grabbed the insurance goal with two minutes left to go, getting their third consecutive victory against their much-hated rival. They now are 12 points in front of the Habs, and barring a major collapse, should easily win the division, and even the Conference.
What really impressed me about the Bruins that night was how they completely neutralized Tomas Plekanec's line. Rookie Max Pacioretty was given a lesson in battling along the boards as the towering Bruins captain Zdeno Chara crushed the 20-year-old every time he went into the corners. Alex Kovalev was never given space to maneuver. The report on the message boards seems to lean toward the fact that this was one of his off nights, I disagree. Every time, the Wizard came near the puck, he was quickly surrounded by two, sometimes three, Boston players who didn't let up on their pressure. It was a startling contrast to the game against Nashville two days later (the game review will be posted today) where he endlessly toyed with the Predators' defense. All in all, a great defensive effort by the Bruins.
My 3 Stars:
3. David Krejci
2. Zdeno Chara
1. Tim Thomas
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