Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson, right, looks away as the Boston Bruins celebrate their goal during first period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Tuesday, March. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)
Quick game summary
In the first period, Carl Gunnarsson scored making it 1-0 Leafs. Later in the period, Jordan Caron scored his 5th goal of the season to tie the game 1-1.
In the second period, with less than a minute into the period, John-Michael Liles scored a power-play goal making it 2-1 Leafs. A little over a minute later the Bruins would come back scoring two quick goals. First, Tyler Seguin scored his 23rd goal of the season to tie the game 2-2. Then Chris Kelly scored his 16th goal of the season after a nice Jordan Caron drive to the net, making it 3-2 Bruins. Off the next faceoff, Shawn Thornton dropped the gloves with Jay Rosehill and they had a major scrap. It was a close fight, maybe Rosehill had an edge in it.
Shawn Thornton vs Jay Rosehill
Later in the period, David Krejci hit Joffrey Lupul against the boards and it looked like Lupul hurt his shoulder. Lupul would leave the ice and not come back in the game. Later, Colby Armstrong, known for some cheap hits and runs he takes and usually doesn't back it up, took a run at Dennis Seidenberg while Seidenberg was in a vulnerable position and Seidenberg didn't like it. It wasn't a dirty hit but a hit that most players don't like. Adam McQuaid came flying in with gloves off, but Seidenberg and Armstrong would drop the gloves and have a go. Armstrong should have thought it through more as Seidenberg pounded Armstrong and bloodied him. Armstrong didn't return to the game after the fight as he was said to have a nose injury.
Dennis Seidenberg vs Colby Armstrong
On a 5-on-3 power-play, Phil Kessel scored to tie the game 3-3. Later, Jordan Caron scored his 6th goal of the season making it 4-3 Bruins. A few minutes later, Tyler Seguin scored his 24th goal of the season making it 5-3 Bruins. Brad Marchand and Tim Connolly had a wrestling match at the end of the period as Connolly flipped Marchand over and down to the ice.
In the third period, Bruins killer Mikhail Grabovski, who just signed a contract extension at a high price, scored to make it 5-4. The Leafs pulled Jonas Gustavsson but couldn't tie the game up.
Game notes
The Bruins led the game in shots 33-29 and hits 38-37. The Leafs led the game in faceoff wins 28-23 and blocked shots 18-16.
The Bruins went 0-for-2 on the power-play while the Leafs went 1-for-4.
Tim Thomas made 25 saves on 29 shots. Thomas is now 28-15-0 with a 2.32 GAA and a .925 save percentage so far this season.
With Tuukka Rask out for 4-6 weeks, more likely 6 weeks, as he suffered a lower abdominal strain and groin strain against the New York Islanders, the Bruins are working out something with goalie Marty Turco but he has to clear waivers in order for the Bruins to pick him up. And there are teams out there lower than the Bruins who need goaltending help so it's not a definite that Turco will be joining the Bruins.
Benoit Pouliot only had 4:50 of ice time as he got hurt and came out of the game. Lane MacDermid played and had a good game, recording 6 hits and 1 shot in 8:41 of ice time. Dennis Seidenberg also had 6 hits in the game to lead the Bruins with MacDermid.
Tyler Seguin, Jordan Caron and Johnny Boychuk all had 4 shots to lead the Bruins.
Johnny Boychuk led the Bruins with 5 blocked shots.
Onto the next one
The Bruins are now 39-23-3 with 81 points. The next game for the Bruins is on Thursday hosting the Buffalo Sabres in Boston. The Sabres got softer at the deadline (is that possible?) by trading away Lucic's punching bag Paul Gaustad and rookie Zack Kassian. I hope the Bruins throw the body like they did tonight (38 hits) against the soft Sabres. I'm also hoping Claude Julien keeps playing Lane MacDermid as the kid is throwing the body and playing well for a fourth-liner.
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