Week in Review

Another light week of action as the Bruins played only two games and came away with two victories and secured four points for the week. Though five weeks the Bruins have played only 14 games, fewer than any other NHL team thus far and it is making the Eastern Conference and in particular the Northeast Division standings skewered. At first glance the Bruins appear to be in a three-way tie for second place with Ottawa and Toronto, trailing Montreal by two points. The Bruins however have three games in hand on Montreal, and amazingly four games in hand on both Ottawa and Toronto. So based on percentage, the Bruins still have the best record in the division. Check out the “Fun Fact of the Week” for more on this.

On Sunday night the B’s headed to Winnipeg, a place where they went winless in 2011-12. After a scoreless first period, the teams traded goals and stayed tied until late in the period when Evander Kane scored with 27 seconds remaining to give the Jets a 2-1 lead. With a sure-fire deficit heading into the 3^rd period staring down the Bruins, Johnny Boychuck’s desperation shot from the left point was deflected in by Daniel Paille with just 1.5 seconds left giving the B’s a 2-2 tie. 38 seconds later (play time, after all there was an intermission), Brad Marchand gave the Bruins a 3-2 lead on the Power Play. Tuukka Rask took care of the rest and the Bruins held on for the win.

The Bruins headed to Tampa on Thursday night for a meeting the high powered Lightning who are leading the NHL in goals scored. Boston came out flying as Nathan Horton scored off a rebound just 1:11 in to put the Bruins on the board. Patrice Bergeron struck just 2:39 later and the B’s appeared to be cruising until Steven Stamkos sniped home Tampa’s first goal at 8:13 to cut the lead in half. Tampa would tie in midway through the 2^nd on a goal by Cory Conacher. Tampa’s fun was short lived however, as Marchard scored his 9^th goal of the season and second consecutive game winner with just over six minutes remaining in the 2^nd. Horton heard a two on a pretty deflection on a Dougie Hamilton shot early in the 3^rd top give the B’s a 4-2 lead. Horton almost completed the hat trick but two empty net attempts hit the post and side of the net. Rask turned aside all nine Tampa shots in the 3^rd to complete the 4-2 win. Hamilton finished with two assists but interestingly only logged 10 minutes if ice time.

Player of the Week: Brad Marchand 

Marchand has been the Bruins top goal scorer in 2013 and you can’t really ask for much more than two game winning goals in two games. Add an assist and a +2 rating and Brad is a solid choice for this weeks honors. Honorable mention goes to Nathan Horton for his two goal game against Tampa.

Opponent of the Week: Steven Stamkos

This guy who is just plain fun to watch, even against your own team. The first class sniper had a goal and an assist on Thursday night in the Lightning’s 4-2 loss to the Bruins

Fun Fact of the Week #1:

The much maligned Bruins power play was perfect for the week, going 1-for-1. The B’s cashed in their only chance Sunday at Winnipeg and did not get a man advantage Thursday at Tampa

Fun Fact of the Week #2: Northeast division standings according to winning percentage

Northeast Division

Boston       .786

Montreal    .706

Ottawa       .612

Toronto      .612

Buffalo       .362 

The Week Ahead:

Sun Feb 24            at  Florida                     3:00

Tue Feb 26            at  NY Islanders           7:30

Thu Feb 28                Ottawa                     7:00

Sat  Mar 1                  Tampa Bay              1:00

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