3/16 Bruins 2 – Blue Jackets 1 (OT)
As this week of games got underway for the Boston Bruins, they had their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in full effect. Donning the green jerseys for warmups and a pregame speech by the one and only Conor McGregor, the Bruins were ready to fight for the win. The scoring was opened fairly early in this game as the Bruins would get a power play opportunity just five minutes in. Patrice Bergeron, on the power play, scored with a backhanded shot for his 800th career point. The lead would only last until about three minutes to play in the first period as the Jackets would get the score evened up. The game would stay tied for the remainder of regulation and well into overtime as both goalies played great on the night. Jaroslav Halak continues to provide the Bruins with solid minutes and a chance to win night in and night out. The tie would eventually be broken with 90 seconds to go in overtime as Brad Marchand would score on a one-timer off the feed from Bergeron. Marchy proceeded to break out the McGregor strut as a celebration while the Irishman was in the building.
3/19 Bruins 5 – Islanders 0
As the Bruins headed to the Island to face the second place team in the Metropolitan Division, it was more like a home game for the Bruins rather than for New York. With a majority of the crowd behind them, the Bruins absolutely stuck it to the Islanders from start to finish. While Tuukka Rask would get the shutout in this game, he only faced 13 shots. Even with Torey Krug and Kevan Miller out of the lineup, the Bruins had maybe their best defensive game this season.
The goal scoring came early and fairly often in this game as Sean Kuraly would score his first of two on the night just 72 seconds into the game. Noel Acciari would score the second goal of the game for the B’s as this one came early in the second period as he picked the puck up on a horrible turnover by the Islanders right in front of their own net. Late in the second period, Kuraly would get his second goal as he one-timed a shot off the pass from Danton Heinen faking the wraparound shot. Patrice Bergeron would find the back of the net in the third period for his third goal in the last four games as he has been having one of the best seasons of his career offensively. Jake DeBrusk would score the fifth goal for the Bruins as he was in the box serving a penalty and busted out up ice where the puck trickled out to him. He stayed ahead of the pack on the breakaway and scored for his 23rd of the season.
3/21 Bruins 5 – Devils 1
In the final game of the week for the Bruins, they head down to New Jersey to take on the Devils who have all but been eliminated from playoff contention. The Bruins look to build up more points over the Toronto Maple Leafs to secure the 2nd place spot in the Atlantic Division and home ice against Toronto in the playoffs.
In the first period it was the Bruins who would get on the board first as the Patrice Bergeron line would connect for the goal as Brad Marchand stole the puck from the Devils right in front of the net and tipped the puck to David Pastrnak who passed over to Bergy to put it in the near empty net.
In the second period the roles reversed as it was Pastrnak who would score to make it a 2-0 game after Bergeron won a faceoff to Marchand who found Pasta open right in front of the net.
As the third period would get underway some good and bad happened all in the same sequence. Sean Kuraly who is having possibly the best stretch of games in his career, blocked a shot that appeared to hit him in the arm or hand, which caused him to head straight down the tunnel to the locker room. On the other hand the blocked shot lead to a 2-on-1 breakaway for the Bruins in which Danton Heinen would score to extend the lead back to two goals.
With just over a minute remaining in the game, Bergeron would score his second goal of the game on an empty net to secure the win for the Bruins and taking 6 out of 6points on the week. But, it was not over yet as the Bruins continued to play in the final minute even with the game securely won. David Backes would score with 22 seconds for his first goal in 23 games.
The Week Ahead
In the next week of Bruins hockey, they will head down south for two games in Florida as they take on the Florida Panthers on Saturday at 7pm. They will then head over to Tampa to face the President Trophy winning Lightning on Monday at 730pm. The week will wrap up on Wednesday night at 730pm as the Bruins will be back in Boston to take on the New York Rangers for the final time this season.
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