Crunch Time

Game 69 at Columbus (3/15/11):

After a needed weekend away from the action, the B’s traveled to Nationwide Arena in Columbus for a date with the Blue Jackets (32-27-9-73, 12th place, Western Conference). These teams generally meet once or twice each year, so there’s not a lot of familiarity with the Jax. The B’s currently hold a precarious two-point lead over Montréal in the Northeast. The coach shook up the lineup further by benching Michael Ryder with Tyler Seguin taking his spot. Mark Recchi moved into fifth-place all-time in games played with his appearance in this game. Tuukka Rask started in net against Steve Mason (who is undefeated against Boston). The B’s were caught with too many men on the ice at 57 seconds, giving the Jax an early power play and Rask was called on right away to make a couple of key stops. It took awhile for the B’s to get their act in gear as the Jax out-shot them 8-2 over the first 10 minutes. Recchi then fed Horton, who had a wide open net, but couldn’t bury the puck (!). On the play, Antoine Vermette went off for hooking and the 1-23 power play went to work…for five seconds as Bergeron was called for interference right off the faceoff. On the 4-on-4, RJ Umberger’s shot rang the iron and then Boychuk fired a blast from the right circle that Mason knocked aside. Peverley had a great chance on a feed from Bergeron that Mason turned away. Grant Clitsome put the Jackets ahead at 19:07 when he beat Rask glove side on a wrist shot from directly out in front of the net. Though the B’s picked up their play somewhat in the period, they still lacked focus and execution in both ends of the rink.

Something might’ve been said in the dressing room between periods as the B’s came out flying to open the second. Recchi had a nice chance on a pass from Kelly but his snap shot was deflected away. Thornton was called for holding at 3:45 after Calvert took a dive but the PK unit did a good job of keeping the puck away from Rask. The Jackets remained quicker to the puck and winning most of the 1-on-1 battles. There was a little scrum behind Mason after Marchand crashed the net but no penalties were called. At 12:20, Chara fired a bullet from the left point that made it past Mason to tie the score. On the play, Lucic dug for the puck in the right corner, moved it to Krejci at the right point, who fed Chara breaking in from the blue line. Late in the period, Rick Nash had a golden chance directly out in front of Rask but his shot went just wide. Jan Hejda followed up that chance with a bullet that Rask smothered. Seidenberg was then called for tripping at 18:49 but the PK gang stepped up and limited the Jackets to only one serious chance by Nash.

The B’s killed off the penalty to open the third and the offense kicked into high gear. Six minutes in, Chara’s shot went just wide as the B’s had their best sequence of sustained pressure in the Columbus end. Halfway through, Rask made his save of the night on Derek Dorsett’s point blank shot after a turnover behind the net. Scottie Upshall scored at 12:19 when he banged in a loose puck uncontested in front of Rask as the B’s defense was out to lunch on the play. Horton then went off for holding at 13:06 and Rich Peverley scored a spectacular shorthanded goal, starting in his own zone and breaking in alone, going from the backhand to the forehand and stuffing the puck behind Mason. It was one of the top goals of the season. Rask then made a tremendous save off of Vermette’s tip-in attempt of Upshall’s pass. Krejci was then called for cross-checking at 15:24, giving the Jax yet another power play. Rask robbed Voracek on a shot from in tight and the B’s killed off the penalty, due in large part to Daniel Paille’s effective play. Rask then denied Vermette on a point-blank opportunity and then smothered the puck with Upshall camped on the doorstep. Rask then stoned Brassard on a backhanded attempt as the game moved to overtime.

In the extra session, the B’s opened up with a flurry of shots on Mason. But the Jax came right back as Nash skated down the ice and had a chance that Rask knocked away. Chara then had a stuff attempt but Mason held the post. Rask then stopped Voracek’s attempt and Kaberle kicked away a loose puck heading into the net. Mason then made a nice glove save of Bergeron’s wrist shot from the high slot and the game went to a shootout. Rask stopped all three shots and Tyler Seguin scored the game-winner as the B’s ended their four-game losing streak. Montréal lost 4-2 at home to Washington, so the B’s lead in the Northeast increased to four points.

Game 70 at Nashville (3/17/11):

Prior to the St. Patty’s Day tilt in the Music City, the NHL announced that Brad Marchand was suspended for two games for delivering an illegal elbow to the head of Columbus’ RJ Umberger in Tuesday night’s overtime win. Marchand was not assessed a penalty on the play and Umberger did not miss any time, but the NHL is serious about abolishing head shots. It was a stupid and dirty head shot from behind, clearly in violation of Rule 48.1. Given the League’s hypersensitivity regarding hits to the head one can rightfully question Marchand’s hockey sense in this instance.

The Predators (35-25-10-80) are in 10th place in the Western Conference and are within striking distance of a playoff spot, and are desperate for points with the season in the stretch drive. With Marchand’s suspension, Ryder was back in the lineup and Tuukka Rask started in goal against fellow Finn Pekka Rinne. Tyler Seguin put the B’s on top at 1:50 when he took a feed from Peverley and went top shelf. Shea Weber then rang one off the post. Ryder and Kampfer then came back with tries that Rinne struggled to cover. McQuaid made a nice stick check to knock away Franzen’s attempt on the break. Sergei Kostistyn then tied the score at 7:53 as he poked in a loose puck in a crowd. Kostistyn was then called for interference at 8:23 but the power play had no punch. After the Legwand Line put heavy pressure on Rask, McQuaid was sent off for interference at 13:17 and the B’s PK unit completely shut down the Preds’ attack. Lucic was then robbed by Rinne on a shot from directly out in front. At 17:30 Seguin then took a vicious elbow to the head by Hornqvist, who received a five-minute major for elbowing and a game misconduct. Seguin immediately went to the dressing room for medical attention. The B’s played much better in that period than in the entire game in Columbus.

Seguin came out to start the second period, which was a relief to see. Early on, Lucic had a one-timer but his shot went just wide and that was the only chance the B’s put forth in that lengthy power play. Franzen’s bomb from right wing was snared by Rask. Ryder was sent off for interference at 5:56 when he collided with Jordan Tootoo when Tootoo crashed the net. Weber fired a blast from the point that Rask smothered. Paille then was called for holding at 7:16, setting up a 5-on-3 for 40 seconds. Bergeron then fed Ryder as he came out of the box on a breakaway and Rinne stoned him cold. The B’s did a good job killing the penalties, limiting the Preds to a couple of shots from the point by Weber. Colin Wilson then put Nashville ahead at 10:59 when he took a pass from Blum at left wing and fired a wrist shot that made it past Rask. Krejci then tied the score at 13:33 on a rebound from Horton’s shot from directly out in front as he drove to the net. Geoffrion was then denied by Rask on a point-blank wrist shot as the Preds came back with a vengeance after giving up the tying goal.

Patrice Bergeron put the B’s ahead at 1:42 as he took a pass from Recchi and fired the puck past a screened Rinne. The goal was the result of Recchi’s digging for the puck on right wing and finding Bergeron skating unmolested toward the front of the net. Minutes later, Bergeron then fed Recchi from behind the net but Rinne was able to knock the puck away. Erat then went off for a high stick on Bergeron at 8:46 and Horton’s shot hit the post but the rest of the power play was a dud. David Legwand then tied the score at 10:56 as Erat had a breakaway coming out of the box on which Rask made a great save but Legwand was waiting for the rebound and banged it home. McQuaid took a high stick to the face and went down for a moment in front of the net but no penalty was called. McQuaid only missed one shift before heading back out there into the fray. Tootoo had a point blank chance to score the game-winner with a minute left but Rask made the stop and the game moved to overtime. Kampfer was called for holding Mike Fisher halfway through the extra session, setting up a 4-on-3 and Shea Weber’s blast from the point was the game winner. Canadiens beat Tampa Bay in a shootout, so the B’s lead in the Northeast was down to three at 85-88.

Game 71 at Toronto (3/19/11):

The B’s wrapped up their four-game road trip at Air Canada Centre for a date with the Leafs (31-31-10-72, 11th place, Eastern). The Leafs are outside looking in at the playoffs (four points back) but have played the B’s tough this year, winning in overtime at the Garden the last time the teams met. Tim Thomas started in goal against James Reimer. Andrew Ference returned to the B’s lineup after having missed the last nine games with an injury. Chris Kelly had a great chance early on that was knocked away by Reimer. Lupul came right back on a feed from Bozak that Thomas tipped away. Ryder went off at 6:41 for delay of game after inadvertently flipped the puck over the glass. This was the 26th shorthanded situation in the last six games. Grabovsky had a tip-in attempt of Brent’s shot that Thomas smothered but that was the only chance Leafs had on that power play. Luke Schenn put Leafs ahead at 9:44 on a snap shot when he went the length of the ice, skated around McQuaid and ripped the puck past Thomas. After the goal, the Leafs put a video tribute to Tomas Kaberle and he received a standing ovation from the crowd. Adam McQuaid tied the score at 11:46 when his shot from the right point deflected off Dion Phaneuf’s skate and into the net. But the Leafs came right back to take the lead at 12:26 when Nazem Kadri’s long-range wrist shot went through a crowd, deflected off of McQuaid and past Thomas. It was Kadri’s first NHL goal. Leafs have done a good job standing up the B’s at the blue line so far. Lucic then broke through and had a golden chance on a feed from Horton directly out in front but his shot went over the net. Late in the period, Kadri had a wraparound attempt that Thomas knocked away as Leafs seriously outplayed the B’s in that period.

Ryder and Lucic had chances on Reimer in the opening seconds of the second period. Tyler Seguin then broke in alone on Reimer and was stoned cold. Tim Brent went off for delay of game at 3:21 and Reimer stopped Seguin’s shot on a pass from Recchi. Kaberle then had a shot from the point that Reimer snared. After the power play produced four shots, the B’s continued buzzing around Reimer but Crabb then put Leafs ahead at 7:53 when Boyce screened Thomas and Crabb’s shot whizzed past Thomas. 29 seconds later, Leafs made it 4-1 when Mike Brown tipped in a shot from Brent on a 2-on-1 break. At that point, the coach yanked Thomas in favor of Tuukka Rask. Phil Kessel set up Lupul with a great chance at the right post that Rask knocked away. Keith Aulie made it 5-1 Leafs at 17:23 as his wrist shot from the high slot made it past Rask. Despite having the bulk of possession in the Leafs’ end, the B’s simply made too many mistakes at inopportune times as the second period was a horror show.

Tim Thomas came back out in goal to open the third as the B’s looked to recover from an awful period. Seguin was denied twice in the early going as the B’s came out flying as they had chances but just couldn’t cash in. Brown then crashed the net and was called for goaltender interference at 5:42. Midway through the period, Horton went after Phaneuf and got his ass whupped for his trouble as the two had been jousting all night away from the puck and Horton finally boiled over. Recchi was called for hooking at 13:55 as he lifted Lupul’s stick while Lupul broke in with the puck and was caught red handed. Chara was hit in the left leg with a slap shot and was slow making his way to the bench. He did not return. Paille then scored at 19:40 as he knocked in a rebound of Thornton’s shot but it was way too little, way too late. This team has a lot of soul searching to do…

Game 72 v. New Jersey (3/22/11):

After Saturday night’s humiliating loss in Toronto, the B’s returned home to face the Divils, who have been playing really well of late (24-5-2 in their last 31), though they probably won’t make playoffs this year. Jacques Lemaire is a master tactician and his players always seem to be at the right place at the right time. The B’s have been in an awful slide and needed to right the ship in a hurry. Tim Thomas started in goal against the great Martin Brodeur. In the first five minutes, the B’s came out banging, but couldn’t get the puck anywhere close to Brodeur, as the Divils’ D forced the play to the outside. During that time, Jersey put six shots on Thomas and were able to move to the front of the net with relative ease. Midway through the period, Jersey was out-shooting the B’s 10-1. Recchi was sent off for a hook at 10:53 and Ilya Kovalchuk wasted no time, firing in a wrist shot from the left circle at 11:05. Kovalchuk is finally living up to the humongous contract the Devils paid him last summer. The B’s went on the power play at 11:44 as Zubrus was sent off for holding. The power play was useless, failing to muster even one shot. The B’s finally scored at 15:39 on a slap shot from the right point by Seidenberg and tipped in by Thornton. The play was set up by a beautiful horizontal pass from Kaberle at the left point. Ryder nearly made it 2-1 on a shot in front of the net but couldn’t lift the puck over Brodeur. The goal energized the B’s, but for the most part they were badly out-played in that period.

Jersey’s Mark Fayne went off for hooking at 23 seconds giving the woeful power play another chance. This time, they had a little more success putting three shots on Brodeur—but nary a goal. Adam Mair had a great chance early in the period but Thomas stoned him cold. Thomas came right back to make a nice pad save off of Andy Greene’s shot from between the circles. The B’s went back on the power play at 8:08 as Nick Palmieri tripped Chara behind the net. Chara put the B’s ahead at 8:17 as he broke in from the left point and took a tape-to-tape pass from Lucic and banked the puck past Brodeur. It was the first 5-on-4 power play goal in over a month. Zubrus went off for holding at 10:45, giving the power play yet another opportunity. After that power play fizzled, Steckel interfered with Boychuk at 13:54, but the fifth time, just like the fourth was no charm. Despite going 1-4 on the power play in that period, the B’s played much better in that period, taking the Devils completely out of their game.

Krejci was hit with a slapshot by Seidenberg in the first minute of the third and struggled to get back to the bench. Fayne’s slapper from the point then rang the iron. Moments later, the B’s crashed the net and tried to push the puck past Brodeur, to no avail. Campbell was called for tripping at 8:51 and Kovalchuk fired a bomb that Thomas stopped. Marchand had a shorthanded tip-in chance that Brodeur knocked away as the PK unit did an effective job. After the Devils started to press hard, Milan Lucic scored at 16:13 on a beautiful pass from Bergeron. The play was set up by Chara, who carried the puck deep into the zone and flipped a shot that Brodeur knocked away. Bergeron hustled to grab the rebound and passed behind his back to Lucic, who one-timed the puck past Brodeur. The Devils pulled Brodeur with a minute to go and Recchi scored an empty-netter at 19:20. The B’s did a good job of overcoming their early deficiencies to post a big win. Buffalo beat Canadiens 2-0, so the B’s picked up an additional two points in the Northeast race.

Game 73 v. Montréal (3/24/11):

Is this “the biggest game of the year”? The way that the media hyped it you’d think it was a Game 7. The B’s have a three-point advantage over Canadiens with two games in hand. The last time these teams met in Montréal, Canadiens won easily but Max Pacioretty suffered head and neck injuries when Chara inadvertently checked him into a stanchion near the bench area that provoked a near-riot among the habanistas. If the playoffs were to start tomorrow, the B’s would face Canadiens in the opening round. The only way the B’s can beat Montréal is by out-muscling and out-hitting them. Canadiens are a highly skilled team that matches up quite well with the B’s—when they are able to use their speed and skill advantage. Canadiens are 3-1-1 so far against the B’s and are 9-23 (~40%) on the power play. The last time Canadiens came to the Garden, the B’s beat the livin’ snot out of them and skated them off the ice with an 8-6 win.

Tim Thomas started in goal against Carey Price. The B’s came out flying as Johnny Boychuk scored at 1:01 on a blast from right point on a rebound of a long shot by Chara. Marchand came back and fired a wrist shot that Price caught between his knees. Kostitsyn then had two chances that Thomas deflected away. After turning over the puck, Seidenberg was sent off for tripping at 4:18 as Subban fired a shot from the top of the left circle that Thomas snared. After Peverley nearly scored on a shorthanded bid, Hamrlik was caught holding at 6:05. The ensuing power play (sigh) was predictably ineffective, as the B’s were only able to muster a couple of long-distance shots. Gregory Campbell made it 2-0 at 13:43 when he redirected Chara’s shot from the point after Marchand dug the puck out of the corner. B’s went back on the power play at 14:10 as Plekanec went off for a double minor high-sticking when he clocked Horton, who went off to the dressing room for repairs. After the B’s bombarded Price with a flurry of shots, Horton then banged in a pass from Lucic at 17:28 to make it 3-0. That was impressive first period by the B’s.

The B’s maintained the edge in play in the opening minutes of the second but after a defensive breakdown, Tim Thomas made two quick stops off of Gionta and Moen. Midway through the period, Gomez had a chance that Thomas knocked away as Canadiens stepped up their game and were buzzing about Thomas. After the B’s called a timeout, Campbell had a backhanded attempt that Price kicked away. Gomez was called for high sticking against Chara at 10:40 and the B’s did everything but score, putting tremendous pressure on Price. Recchi and Mara were each sent off for roughing at 12:43 and Mara received a double-minor for rough play in front of Price. Seidenberg then broke up Gionta’s attempt from directly out in front. The B’s went back on the power play at 17:43 as Gomez went off for holding. In the final seconds of the period, Campbell and Mara had a go, but all they did was dance around in circles.

Chris Kelly went off for tripping at 1:35, giving Habs their second power play of the game. Subban had a good look but his attempt went across the crease. After the B’s killed off the penalty, Horton roofed one over Price’s shoulder at 4:13 on a perfect pass from Krejci to make it 4-0. 26 seconds later, McQuaid’s slap shot from the point was deflected in by a Canadiens’ defenseman and it was 5-0. At that point, Price was lifted in favor of former Bruin Alex Auld. After the two quick goals, Canadiens checked out for the evening. While four Habs were standing around in front of Auld, Kaberle scored his first goal as Bruin at 11:27 as he banged in a rebound of Recchi’s shot to make it 6-0. Thornton and Marchand were then both called for penalties in rapid succession, setting up a 5-on-3 for about a minute and a half. Thomas slid across the crease to make a great stop off of Gionta’s shot. Gregory Campbell then scored on a shorthanded breakaway at 13:35 as he split both defensemen and beat Auld top shelf. Horton went off at 16:55 for hooking but the Habs’ power play couldn’t get out of its own way. Tim Thomas picked up his eighth shutout of the year and the B’s came away with their most dominating victory of the year. 7-0!!!

Game 74 v. NY Rangers (3/26/11):

Prior to the game the B’s (finally) honored their long-time radio voice, Bob Wilson in a pre-game ceremony. (It was long overdue). Bob called B’s games for decades and was previously honored in the media wing of the Hockey Hall of Fame. For most Bruins’ fans, listening to Bob call a game was a real treat and as competent as his replacements are or may have been, sorry, they’re no Bob Wilson. He was one of a kind, just like Johnny Most with the Celts and Ned Martin and the Sox. We were spoiled rotten having such unique talents serving as the radio voices of the teams we so passionately follow.

The Bruins have a troubling habit of following up a great performance with a real stinker. This inconsistency in play needs to change if the B’s hope to have a fighting chance in the playoffs. Rangers are very much like the B’s in that they fight for every inch of the ice. Tuukka Rask started in goal against Henrik Lundqvist. Sean Avery and Campbell had an early go just as Marchand broke in alone with the puck. Talk about bad timing… Rangers scored at 6:39 as Michael Sauer fired a shot from the point that was tipped in by Derek Stepan on a play that was clearly off sides but the referee blew. Seguin went off for interference at 8:46 but the PK unit did a good job off shutting down the Rangers’ power play. As with any game that every encounter is a battle for possession, although the Rangers got a “fortunate” goal, there was no clear winner in that period.

Recchi was sent off for hooking at 1:07 of the second but the B’s killed off the penalty. Midway through the period, Marion Gaborik was sent off for boarding against Marchand. After the power play fizzled, Rangers continued to deny the B’s an any chances in the offensive zone beyond the perimeter. After Girardi sent Lucic flying with a heavy check, Lucic tripped Dubinsky and was penalized for slashing at 16:29. Bergeron crashed the net on a shorthanded bid and was checked into Lundqvist by Staal. Lundqvist was shaken up on the play and needed a look-see by the trainer.

Peverley had a nice chance through a screen early in the third that Lundqvist snared. Krejci followed up with a tricky shot that Lundqvist knocked away, it was his best save of the game. Lucic was then called for slashing at 5:35 when he knocked the stick out of Boyle’s hands. After the B’s killed off the power play, they were able to press the play in the Rangers’ zone. Marchand had a chance at the near post but his shot missed the net. With about six minutes to go, the B’s stormed the Rangers’ end, peppering Lundqvist with a flurry of shots. The B’s put forth an immense effort to get the equalizer, but the Rangers’ defense clogged the net in front of Lundqvist. Rask was pulled with 1:30 left but other than Chara’s blast from the point, the B’s couldn’t get the job done on this day. Give the Rangers credit as they beat the Bruins at their own game.

Game 75 at Philadelphia (3/27/11):

As expected, the B’s failed to deliver back-to-back passionate performances, falling 1-0 to Rangers on Saturday afternoon. To their credit, the players offered no feeble excuses for the lack of execution against a hungrier team. They didn’t have much time to wallow in their collective misery as they traveled to Philly to face the Eastern Conference-leading Flyers.

Chris Pronger (“Drago”) was out of the lineup for Philly, giving the B’s a slight advantage heading into this one. Kampfer and Ryder were healthy scratches for the B’s and Paille was inserted in the lineup. Tim Thomas started in goal against Brian Boucher. Flyers came out fast and put a couple of shots on Thomas in the early going. Kris Versteeg put Philly ahead at 4:45 on a broken play as McQuaid’s pass from behind the net was picked by Richards at the blue line and Versteeg banged in the rebound into a wide open left corner. The B’s were making good plays coming out of their zone as the Flyers’ forechecking efforts were nowhere near as intense as the Rangers put forth yesterday. Peverley’s snap shot nearly handcuffed Boucher as the B’s started to take the play to Philly’s end. Versteeg went off for holding at 9:57 but the power play (sigh) could do little if anything. Late in the period there was some pushing and shoving following Bergeron’s penalty for hooking as Marchand was in the middle of stirring up trouble. Hartnell fed Richards from the left dot but the puck went over Richards’ stick. Now that was a pretty boring period of hockey…It appeared as though Philly was playing as if they had the Conference lead in the bag and were playing an ultra-conservative style out there.

After Horton nearly scored on a pass from Krejci, Versteeg opened the second period with a breakaway attempt that Thomas snared. Minutes later, Chara’s shot from the high slot hit the crossbar. Thomas then made a brilliant stop of Meszaros’ backhanded attempt. Blair Betts went off for tripping Chris Kelly at 7:36 giving the B’s woeful power play another chance. That was a dirty hit by Betts as he targeted Kelly’s knee. Nathan Horton scored four seconds later as he picked a rebound of Kaberle’s shot from the right point and popped it in the wide open left corner. So there! Seguin then spun around and fired a shot that Boucher scrambled to save. Peverley came right back with another chance that Boucher kicked away. Midway through the period, the B’s were flying and controlling the play in Philly’s end. Versteeg and Richards then broke in on a 2-on-1 but the puck went over Richards’ stick. In the final seconds, Philly had one last chance that Thomas knocked away. The B’s played much better in the second.

The B’s had trouble getting the puck out of their end of the rink at the beginning of the third period and the Flyers put a couple of shots on Thomas. Jeff Carter followed with a shot from the left circle that Thomas scrambled to save. Horton and Recchi then put a couple shots on Boucher and then Thornton had a chance that Boucher kicked away as the intensity picked up significantly. Krejci then broke in on a 2-on-1 but Braydon Coburn was able to deflect Krejci’s shot away. Kimmo Timonen made a great play breaking up Krejci just as Horton was heading toward the net. The B’s went on the power play at 15:33 as Richards went off for whacking Kaberle with a high stick. Marchand then scored at 16:17 as he knocked in a rebound of Seidenberg’s shot from the point to put the B’s ahead, 2-1. On the play, Recchi received an assist, tying him with Paul Coffey for 12th all-time in scoring. Following the goal, Thomas robbed Versteeg on a point-blank blast. Matt Carle then saved a goal when he swept Horton’s shot away from the crease just as it crossed the goal line. Boucher then made haste for the bench with about a minute left and the Flyers crashed the net. The B’s did a great job of playing keep away in the final seconds and came away with the win on a night in which the Flyers didn’t bring their “A” game. Despite the fact that the Flyers had been unbeaten in their previous nine games (5-0-4) the Philly fans still loudly booed their team’s effort.

Game 76 v. Chicago (3/29/11):

After Sunday night’s win in Philly, the B’s returned home for a date with the reigning Stanley Cup champions. The Blackhawks are 41-26-8-90 and in eighth place in the Western Conference, just three points ahead of Calgary. They found themselves in cap hell after winning the Cup and needed to move a lot of bodies after the season but the core remains. The ‘Hawks defeated Detroit 3-2 in overtime last night in a bruising game but this is crunch time when the best teams bring their “A” game regardless of how the schedule breaks down.

Corey Crawford started in goal for Chicago against Tim Thomas. Ryder remained a spectator for this one as there were no lineup changes from Sunday night. Chara had an early shot from the point that Crawford knocked away. Marchand then broke in alone with the puck but Crawford stoned him cold with a spread-eagle save. In the first seven minutes, the B’s peppered Crawford with seven shots. Lucic was sent off for holding at 7:37 but the PK unit did a good job, limiting the Hawks to two shots. The Hawks then turned things up a notch and Patrick Kane had a great chance from in close that Thomas covered at the far post. Late in the period, Frolik broke in on a 2-on-1 but his shot went wide of the net. In that period, the teams played more of a speed game than a physical one but the B’s were up to the task.

The B’s kept up the quick pace in the second period and put a couple of close shots on Crawford in the early going. Thornton suffered a facial cut on a play behind Thomas and went to the dressing room for repairs. (He would require 40 stitches and did not return). There was some pushing and shoving that followed as Chara took offense. Marchand was sent off for slashing at 3:36 as things started to turn a bit chippy out there. Thomas came up with a big save during the power play though the PK unit once more did a good job of limiting the Hawks’ chances. After Kane crashed the net, Marchand and Recchi broke in on a 2-on-1 but Crawford denied Recchi’s bid. Midway through the period, Lucic nearly tipped in Chara’s bomb from the left point. Boychuk came right back and fired a testing shot that Crawford stopped. Chara then scored at 12:02 on a wrist shot from the left point that was deflected in by a Hawks’ defenseman. The B’s maintained the offensive edge in the Hawks’ end as Boychuk grabbed a pass at the right point and fired the puck past Crawford at 14:22. Recchi received an assist on Boychuk’s goal and moved into 12th place all-time in points scored.

The Hawks picked up their intensity coming out for the third period. Nathan Horton made it 3-0 at 5:20 when he took a pass from Paille and tucked the puck past Crawford. The Hawks’ defense left Horton unattended on the play and he burned them. Midway through the period, the Hawks crashed the net and tried to poke in a loose puck but Thomas was able to smother it. Thomas then made a nice sliding stop of Hossa’s attempt. Thomas made a few more key stops coming down the stretch and came up with another shutout.

Game 77 v. Toronto (3/31/11):

The B’s wrapped up March with a home date against the Leafs, who have beaten the B’s two times in a row. Despite the Leafs looking outside in at the playoffs, it is still an Original Six matchup and the B’s can clinch at least the third seed in the East with a victory tonight. James Reimer started in goal against Tim Thomas. Leafs came out strong in the early going, putting considerable offensive pressure in the B’s zone. Komisarek belted Marchand after the whistle, causing some brief pushing and shoving. Grabovski fired a shot on Thomas that just went wide. Leafs scored at 7:06 when Luke Schenn fired a shot from the right point that deflected off of Kaberle and into the net. Up to that point, the B’s were sleepwalking along. Perhaps the goal was a wake up call. Ryder came back with a backhanded attempt that bounced off Reimer’s shoulder and over the net. Kampfer followed with a shot from the point that Reimer covered up. Seguin was called for hooking at 11:47, giving Leafs a chance on the power play. As soon as that power play ended, Leafs went back on again as Kampfer was called for hooking Kadri at 14:03. On that power play, the only shot of substance was Kessel’s shot that bounced off of Thomas’ mask. Kessel (double minor) and Ference then went to the box for a minor scrap in front of Thomas. Grabvoski had a shorthanded attempt as the power play expired and then Kulemin was caught for hooking at 18:05. Kaberle’s one-timer on the power play went wide. The B’s were totally out of sync in that period.

Chara was sent off at 40 seconds for holding MacArthur’s stick. Marchand scored on the shorthand at 2:09 when he broke up a play in the neutral zone and flew down left wing, lifting a backhander over Reimer’s shoulder. 59 seconds later, Krejci put the B’s ahead on a pass from Lucic directly out in front of the net. It was a perfect tic-tac-toe between Horton, Lucic and Krejci. Ryder then hit the post with a blast from the right dot. Campbell was called for high sticking at 6:38 and Lupul scored the equalizer at 7:06 (again) as he took a pass from Kessel (who was loudly booed every time he touched the puck) and the puck deflected off of his skate and into the net. Buth the B’s came right back to go ahead on Andrew Ference’s shot from the left point at 8:31 that deflected off of Schenn’s skate and past Reimer. Rosehill then went off at 9:00 for interference after riding Ryder (like that pun?) a little too hard into the boards. Komisarek tried to pick a fight with Lucic (not a wise idea) in front of Reimer (who withstood a flurry of shots on the power play). Lucic and Rosehill then had a go that was more bobbing and weaving than fighting. Dion Phaneuf then tripped Krejci at 12:59 but the power play couldn’t do all that much. Late in the period, Paille skated in alone with the puck but Reimer stopped him cold. Ference was caught for hooking at 18:38 and things got testy in the final moments as Kessel shoved Marchand but nothing further ensued. A small rumble erupted at the end of the period but cooler heads prevailed…

Zdeno Chara did not come out for the start of the period. The Leafs had the balance of a power play to start things but the PK unit killed that off. Chara reappeared on the ice a couple of minutes in. For Big Z not to be out there something had to be temporarily not right. A few minutes in, Lucic nearly tipped in a perfect pass from Horton. After Bergeron turned over the puck, Leafs then tied the score at 7:53 as Lupul knocked in a loose puck out in front of Thomas as Toronto seized the momentum. The game went on to overtime and Chara had an early chance that Reimer broke up. Grabovski then broke in alone with the puck around Kampfer, and the referee awarded Grabovski a penalty shot. Thomas stoned him cold. Kessel then had a snap shot from between the circles and Thomas knocked it away. Kadri then had a backhanded attempt that Thomas smothered. Grabovski then nearly tipped in a shot by Kulemin. With a minute remaining in OT, Lupul was caught for slashing the stick out of Kaberle’s hands. The B’s put several shots on Reimer in the power play but the kid stood tall so it was on to the shootout. After the first two B’s shooters missed, Kadri scored for Toronto. Reimer then stopped Peverley’s shot and the Leafs came away with the 4-3 win.