Bruins Take Series To Philly 2-0. How'd They Do It?

After an ecstatic Marc Savard getting the OT GWG, the Boston Bruins reset to play game 2 against the Philadelphia Flyers hoping to take the series to the Wachovia Center with a 2-0 lead.  The Flyers would like to do nothing better than to split this series and take home ice advantage.

In the end, Boston came up with the golden ring for Game 2 and here is how they did it and in no particular order:

PK: After Boston allowed the Flyers to go 2 of 4 on the power play in Game 1, the Bruins did not surrender a short handed tally this time.  Both Flyers' goals were 5 on 5.

Screen Boucher:  2 of the 3 goals scored by the Bruins were off screens that Boucher had no chance on.  Boston needs to continue to crowd the front of the net to get the point shots in on Boucher and they need to get the rebounds.  Rebounds won Game 1 and the Screens Got Boston Game 2.

Rask:  Tuukka Rask is still showing no signs in allowing goals scored on him to rattle his play and his recovery is phenomenal for a 23-year old.

Looch:  Milan Lucic is getting back into his physical play creating turn overs and plays that created the game winner that he started, then finished.

Physical Play:  Let's face it.  This is the Bruins/Flyers series.  Would you expect any less?  the 3rd period is where the game really picked up and the hits were just coming on both sides.   The hits were fairly even with Philly's 27 and Boston's 26.  It going to get worse.

What they need to Improve on:

Discipline:  They really need to stay out of the box as Philadelphia has proven to be a dangerous team with the man advantage (currently 4th in the playoffs with a respectable 26.3%).  That and they cannot fall into Carcillo's antics.  he baits them every chance he gets and fortunately for the Bruins, the Flyers could not cash in on the shameless display.

Puck Control:  Like Game 1, the Bruins allowed a few turnovers in their own end that nearly cost them.  Thanks to a quick reacting D and a patient Rask, damage was not sever.

Watch Richards and Breire:  These two have been dangerous and it showed as they both scored in the 2 games so far this series.

PP:  The Bruins have also struck out in the man advantage and the Flyers contained their opponents to limited chances.  What worked for Boston in Game 1 did not pan out in Game 2.

Boston needs to ramp up their play but they need to avoid players such as Carcillo who has embellished without abandon and the officials need to either put this guy on notice.  His antics have frustrated his opponents and this is his primary role and I get that.  His shameless diving and phantom high sticking is an embarrassment to the sport of hockey and is making the officiating corp a laughing stock in their calls.

Games 3 and 4 will be critical for both teams with an obvious importance to Philadelphia.  If the physical play keeps escalating this series will depend on 2 things:

 

1. Who will have the size and speed to finish this?

 

2. Who wants this more?