P.K. Subban stole the show and the game Thursday night, scoring twice and eventually the game winner in overtime.
With game one of the quarter finals taking place at the TD Garden in Boston. The Bruins were poised to take home ice advantage with Vezina finalist Tuukka Rask between the pipes.
“I don’t know. We played overall good 5-on-5, pretty much dominated. Had a lot of chances, couldn’t score,” Rask said. “But I was garbage today. I’ve got to be better.”
Things got underway with another fan-charging Rene Rancourt National Anthem, and the Bruins would dominate early.
That would all change half way through the period, after a questionable tripping penalty called on Bruin Matt Bartkowski. It would take until the end of the power play, and beautfiul puck movement before P.K. Subban found a lane and fired his shot past Rask.
Subban’s goal would be the only one of the period, as the Bruins couldn’t figure out Carey Price, out shooting the canadians 13-10.
The second period was more physical, and the only scoring came from the Canadians. Rene Borque stole the puck at center ice and started an odd man rush. Instead of passing for a one-timer, Borque just sniped through Rask’s legs for the 2-0 advantage.
Again the Bruins would lead the period in shots, 9-7, but still couldn’t figure out Price.
The third period was all Bruins, you had a feeling all game they would get one past Price. That’s exactly what Reilly Smith did, putting his wrist shot through traffic, and found a hole past Price. The momentum swung in the Bruins favor, as they would tie the game up just minutes later.
Torey Krug found a beautiful pass from Milan Lucic, and fired a slap shot that beat price on his far side, sending the TD Garden into a frenzy as the Bruins tied the game.
The tie was short lived, Francis Bouillon sniped his shot top shelf, after finally finding a shot from Brian Gionta and Rene Borque.
The game looked to be over until Johnny Boychuck fired a slap shot from the point to tie the game.
No one else would score and the overtime trend this postseason continues into the second round.
The Bruins had multiple opportunities in the first overtime, and out shot the Habs 14-6.The turning point of the game came when Matt Bartkowski took a holding penalty, setting the Habs up on the power play.
With the man advantage it took P.K. Subban just three seconds to blast a slap shot from the point through traffic.
“I think that I always play my best when I’m playing a lot. I don’t think there was any shortage of ice time today,” Subban said. “When you’re in those situations and when you know that other guys are tired and you can still find a way to kind of beat that guy, win that battle. I always feel as the games goes on, the more I play, the more I’m into it, the more focused I am, the sharper I am.”
Carey Price showed he’s here for the long haul. Now 5-0, Price made 48 saves in the double ot win.
“I feel good. That’s what we train for all year,” Price said. “We haven’t been sitting on the couch all season for nothing or practicing all year for nothing. It’s just gut check time and that’s really what it comes down to.”
Game 2 is set for Saturday 12:30EST NBC/CBC
A must win for the Bruins to take at least one game with the home ice advantage.
photo credit: getty images gif: sohockeyeh
