Bruins win game 3 in double OT 2-1
Thursday, June 06, 2013
As much as the Boston Bruins and their fans may have enjoyed the relative ease with which games 1 & 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals were won, what happened Wednesday night at the TD Garden was pretty much what we expected to see in this series.
In a barn-burner of a game, the Bruins beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 in double overtime to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
For a team desperate for a win in the series, things didn't get off to such a great start for the visiting Penguins. Just 1:42 into the game, David Krejci (9th of playoffs) beat Tomas Vokoun to give Boston a 1-0 lead which made many wonder if it was going to be another easy night for Boston.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIt was anything but that.
Fueled by an advantage in power plays (4-3), Pittsburgh also did something they failed to do in the first two games of the series which is dominate the dot. While Boston had won nearly 60% of the faceoffs in games 1 & 2, the Penguins won a whopping 66% of the faceoffs during regulation in game 3. In fact, it was Sydney Crosby's win in the right circle that led to Pittsburgh's second period goal scored by Chris Kunitz (5th of playoffs) which tied the game 1-1.
Tied at one entering the third period, Boston looked to have the edge in the third period as they had two power plays to none for the Penguins. However, Pittsburgh played the better period outshooting Boston 14-4.
Fortunately for Boston, Tuukka Rask was up to the task and the teams headed to overtime tied 1-1.
In overtime, Nathan Horton was denied short-side on a partial breakaway by Vokoun just 2:30 in with the two team's skating 4-on-4.
Just 5 minutes later, Horton hit the post on a wrister that could have ended the game.
Then, at 8:27 of the third, a rare overtime penalty was called as Boston's Chris Kelly went to the penalty box for tripping. The B's killed the penalty.
At 11:26 of the first overtime, Pittsburgh's Brooks Orpik went to the box for high-sticking giving Boston a power play. The Pens killed it.
Then, with 1:37 left in OT, a winded Evgeni Malkin went to the box for delay of game when he inadvertantly flipped the puck into the stands looking to clear the zone for a line change. The Penguins killed off the portion of the penalty to end the first overtime and the game headed to a second sudden death session.
Just 3 minutes into the second OT, Boston was whistled for their second too many men on the ice penalty. Again, the B's penalty kill was up to the task.
As the clock struck midnight in Boston, the tired teams skated on with shorter shifts on both sides.
Finally, with time winding down in the second OT, a great play on the boards by former Penguin Jaromir Lagr allowed him to grab the puck off the stick of Malkin. Jagr found Marchand skating down the left wing who hit Bergeron cutting down the slot for the game-winner at 15:19 sending a weary Garden crowd home happy.
NOTES:
-Pittsburgh enjoyed an edge in shots on goal through the first 3 periods (39-25) based on their dominance in the faceoff circle and the fact that they enjoyed 2 more minutes with a man advantage due to an edge in power play opportunities. Neither team cashed in on the power play going a combined 0-7 in the first three periods. For the game, the teams went a combined 0-11 on the man advantage.
-To the surprise of some, Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma tabbed Tomas Vokoun his game 3 starter. Vokoun was pulled from game 2 of the series of Pittsburgh after giving up 3 goals in the first period in favor of Marc-Andre Fleury. However, Fleury also gave up 3 goals in game two. Vokoun's play in game 3 seemed to validate Bylsma's decision.
-Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Officer Richard Donohue served as honorary banner captain before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. Donohue's wife wheeled him out to the ice before the game. He was shown on the scoreboard and given a big cheer as he waved a Boston Strong flag. Donohue's femoral artery was severed when he was shot during a gunfight with the Tsarnaev brothers. He is still being treated at a rehab center and was released from the hospital to attend the game. He will return to the hospital but he hopes to be released soon.
-The indelible image from the game Wednesday night came in the second period when Boston's Gregory Campbell blocked a slap shot by Evgeni Malkin while Pittsburgh was on a power play. Clearly injured and barely able to get back up on his skates, Campbell limped around the ice to do whatever he could to continue to help his teammates kill the penalty despite being in tremendous pain. Because Boston had trouble clearing the zone, he had to stay on the ice for quite a long time. When the Bruins did finally clear the ice, Campbell slowly limped/skated to the Boston bench to a standing ovation and eventually chants of "Campbell, Campbell" rained down from the crowd at the TD Garden.
-Rask stopped 53 of 54 shots he faced while Vokoun played well stopping 38 of 40 shots.
-Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals will be played Friday night at the TD Garden at 8pm.
