4/6 Bruins 3 – Lightning 6
In the final game of the season, the Boston Bruins fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3. While the result may not be what the Bruins were looking for heading into the playoffs, they will not dwell on this. Let’s get on with how the game went. The Bruins jumped out to the lead in this one when Charlie McAvoy and David Krejci combined for the goal which was originally credited to McAvoy but changed to Krejci as he got the last tip on the puck. With about 20 seconds to go in the first period, the Bruins opened it up to a 2-0 lead when Danton Heinen scored on a beautiful back-foot snapshot. Once the game got to the second period, it was all Lightning. They went on to score three unanswered goals in the period to take the 3-2 lead heading into the third period where not much changed. The Lightning would open the third period with another goal to go up by two, before the Bruins would get a goal back with about 6 minutes to play in the game. Matt Grzelcyk scored his third goal of the year to get the Bruins back within one. Tampa didn’t allow the Bruins to come any closer as they would score two more to seal the win.
Playoff Preview
As the Bruins enter the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they find themselves in the 2nd spot in the Atlantic Division and will matchup will longtime rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the regular season this year, the Bruins would take 3 of 4 games against the Leafs, outscoring them 16 – 10. The series will kick off on Thursday night at 7pm in Boston. As the series sets up like this:
Game 1: 4/11 Maple Leafs @ Bruins 7pm
Game 2: 4/13 Maple Leafs @ Bruins 8pm
Game 3: 4/15 Bruins @ Maple Leafs 7pm
Game 4: 4/17 Bruins @ Maple Leafs 7pm
Game 5: 4/19 Maple Leafs @ Bruins TBD (if necessary)
Game 6: 4/21 Bruins @ Maple Leafs TBD (if necessary)
Game 7: 4/23 Maple Leafs @ Bruins TBD (if necessary)
The Toronto Maple Leafs were lead this year by the top 3 scorers of:
G, A, P(Goals, Assists, Points)
Mitchell Marner 26-68-94
John Tavares 47-41-88
Auston Matthews 37-36-73
They are led in goal by Frederick Anderson who in 60 games went 36-16 with a 2.77 goals against average and a .917 save percentage.
The Boston Bruins were led by possibly the best line in hockey:
Brad Marchand 36-64-100
David Pastrnak 38-43-81
Patrice Bergeron32-47-79
In goal Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak mostly split time in net, but Rask led the way and will be the starter in the playoffs. This season in 46 games, Rask went 27-13 with a 2.48 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are the most exciting playoffs in hockey and they have finally arrived! Throw out your razors, its playoff beard time, and lets go Bruins!
Videos courtesy of NHL.com