Bruins Down Jets in Shootout: Win First Two Games of the Season

The Boston Bruins hosted the Winnipeg Jets at the Garden on MLK day for a 1 p.m. matinee.

After taking the New York Rangers in their season opener at home, the B's waited for the Jets to fly into the Garden in hopes to make it two in a row.

Boston's Dennis Seidenberg had to sit this one out with a lower body injury and is currently listed as day-to-day.  Aaron Johnson was called up from the Providence Bruins to handle the Blue Line in his stead.

1st Period

With just 1:58 into the game, Chris Thorburn scored to give the Jets an early 1-0 lead.  Bruins' net minder, Tuukka Rask stopped a shot, but he popped a juicy rebound that Thorburn found right on his stick and capitalized on to open the scoring.

Brad Marchand scored with 5:48 left of the opening frame.  Tyler Seguin slipped a pass to Marchand who had a step on Dustin Byfuglien and beat Jets' goalie Ondrej Pavelec to knot the game at one apiece. 

Overall, the Bruins carried the vast majority of the play, but they could not cash in on their chances.

2nd Period

David Krejci went to the Sin Bin for high sticking, but the Bruins killed it off with no damage.

Shortly after, the B's were short handed again with Andrew Ference called for tripping.  Boston killed it off, but not without a close one by Olli Jokinen.

Shawn Thornton tried to get a shot that rebounded off the Jets' right post (third one) but he whiffed on it.

Seguin missed on an open net and could not cash in...a reoccurring theme thus far.

Boston went on the power play with former Bruin Mark Stuart being called for interference with just 1:40 to go in the frame.

The period ended with no addition to the scoreboard, and the Bruins started the final frame with 20 seconds left on the power play.

3rd Period

Patrice Bergeron rang the Bruins' fourth post of the game and the crowd was nearly out of its seat only to realize it didn't go in.  Not sure how much the Jets' net minder paid homage to the Hockey Gods, but it was keeping the Jets in the game.

Jets' Evander Kane was called for interference, and the Bruins went on the man advantage. Rich Peverley rang a fifth post on the Winnipeg net to keep it tied and the Jets, by some miracle, did not fall behind.

With just 1:11 left of regulation, Johnny Boychuk went to the box for high-sticking, but the game needed OT.  The good news for the Jets is that they would be four on three for about 48 seconds.

Both teams earned a point, and it was time to see who got two for the game.

Extra Fun

Bergeron nearly went in free on the shorthand, but Pavelac stopped it.

After the Bruins killed off the rest of the PK, it was all Bruins for play, but nothing to end the game in sudden death.  With 1:28 left, Bruins' Captain Zdeno Chara was called for a questionable holding call.  The Replay showed that Wheeler was already going down at the time Chara had significant contact with him.

Nothing came out of it, and a shoot-out ensued.

Extra EXTRA Fun (otherwise known as the Shoot-out)

Round 1

Bos - Seguin = YUP!

Win - Wheeler = yup

Round 2

Bos - Bergeron = YUP!!

Win - Jokinen = NOPE!

Round 3

Bos - Chris Bourque = Nope

Win - Little=NOPE!!

Ironically, the Bruins' bad luck with the post ringers is how Bryan Little ended it to lock the W for Boston.

B's take two of two thus far in the very young season with a final score of 2-1.

Next up will be the New York Rangers in their second meeting at the MSG on Wednesday, Jan 23rd.

This is Cory Ducey Saying "Hit Hard, But Keep It Clean"