Boston Bruins Trump Carolina 'Canes, 4-1

With nine days off, the Boston Bruins looked as if they didn’t miss a beat, by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 tonight at the TD Banknorth Garden.

The Bruins lit the lamp first tonight—a tip-in by David Krejci from an Aaron Ward snap-shot at 1:34 into the first period.

Marc Savard netted his third and fourth goals in the playoffs tonight, including the game winner, as the B’s cruised past the ‘Canes. Savard now has seven points in five post season game thus far.

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

I’m not sure if there’s a better cliché that best describes, Michael Ryder. No. 73 spent the majority of his playoff time with the 2007-08 Montreal Canadiens up in the press boxes, looking down.

Ryder had another two-point game tonight, tallying an unassisted goal and an assist.

In his first year with the Bruins, not only does Ryder lead all Bruins players in scoring this post season (five games)—but he also leads all NHL players with five goals—and his nine points only trails Anaheim Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf with 10, in eight games.

Goalie Tim Thomas….what’s left to say about No. 30? Another victory, another phenomenal performance, and another reason why this guy is hands-down, Vezina Trophy winner.

Thomas stopped 26 of 27 shots that he faced tonight—improving his post season numbers to 5-0 (first) with a 1.40 GAA (second) and .949 SV% (fourth).

In his last 15 games, including the playoffs, Thomas has posted a 13-1-1 record, one shutout, and 455 saves on 485 shots on goal.

The Hurricanes simply looked over-matched tonight. Boston is now 5-0-0 against Carolina this season, outscoring the ‘Canes 22-7.

The physical play of the Bruins tonight was just too much for Eric Staal and the Hurricanes to withstand--out-hitting Carolina 32-23. Staal, who had seven points in seven games entering game one, was held point-less, while registering just two shots on goal.

Discipline has also kept the Black and Gold in control of every game in this post season. With just one minor penalty tonight, Boston has been short-handed just nine times in the past five games—while being on the power play 22 times.

Game two is back in Boston on Sunday night. If the Bruins keep this momentum going, expect this series to end as quickly as it did in round one.