Bruins Too-kka Tough For Blackhawks

All season long the Blackhawks have played their best hockey when the lights shined their brightest. This held true for about 14 minutes on Thursday night, but no so much after that. Let’s be honest, who really expected a shorthanded Blackhawks team to beat the hottest hockey team on the planet on their home ice? I didn’t, but I hoped to see a little more.

The Blackhawks got the start they were looking for as their speed was evident early on. They were able to produce a couple of quality chances in their first few shifts but Tuukka Rask was up to the challenge. The Bruins‘ best player. Patrice Bergeron, gave his team the lead 11:50 into the game. Matt Bartkowski ripped a shot from the point that seemed to get through every player on the ice before Bergeron deflected it past Corey Crawford. Duncan Keith could have done a little better job to block Bergeron’s path to the net and/or tie up his stick but the puck looked it was going through a pinball machine before getting on net.

Somehow this game remained 1-0 going into the 3rd period, despite the Bruins owning the 2nd period. Last June we witnessed 17 seconds of glory in Boston, but Thursday night in was 13 seconds of stupidity that did the Blackhawks in. Just over five minutes into the 3rd period, Brandon Bollig coughed up the puck in his own zone that led to a shot from the point by Chris Kelly. Sheldon Brookbank was caught out of position and it left Carl Soderberg wide open for a rebound goal. 13 seconds later, Corey Crawford tried a blind. behind the back pass from behind his net but it was intercepted by Brad Marchand who quickly got it out in front to Patrick Bergeron for an open net goal. Ballgame.

* Before we get to the meat and potatoes of the game, I want to give credit to the Boston Bruins for honoring fallen firefighters Lt. Edward J. Walsh and Michael R. Kennedy.  My grandfather, who was one of my biggest heroes growing up, was a Chicago firefighter and I am going to be honoring his memory shortly by getting a tattoo of his badge.   I have a lot of friends who put the lives of others ahead of their own in police cars and on fire trucks and ambulances all over this great city every night.  The first responders are the true heroes in this world, not the guys on the ice.  Thank you for taking the time to remind us all of this.

* The Bruins won this game after the first intermission when they took away the neutral zone.  The Blackhawks enjoyed some open ice at the start of the game but when that disappeared they never adjusted.  They kept trying to be cute and never went to the net.  Did they not read my last recap?

* I know Brandon Bollig tends to be an easy target, but lately he has deserved it. All the progression he made in the first half of the season has been pissed away since the Olympic break. How many times must we watch him take dumb penalties, be out of position or make awful passes? Late in the 2nd period Bollig got into it with both Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic after the whistle. This is when you drop the gloves, you dope! If you can get one of those guys off the ice for five minutes you freakin’ do it! Early in the 3rd, Marcus Kruger took a shot from just above the right circle and instead of heading for the front of the net for a screen and/or rebound Bollig skated to the corner. The Bruins second goal can be credited to a terrible turnover from Bollig. He looks like a player who is comfortable after fighting for his spot for so long. He has his 3 year contract in his back pocket and no matter what he does, he doesn’t find himself in Q’s doghouse. It is time to send Mr. Bollig a wake up call and remind him nothing is assumed and every roster spot must be earned.

* Kris Versteeg is another one who needs a wake up call. I love the little idiot, but what exactly does he offer this team right now? Peter Regin and Jeremy Morin are not superstars but they won’t make a quarter of the mistakes that Versteeg has been making the last few weeks. But instead of being admonished, he gets to play of the FUCKING TOP LINE! Wake up Q! The type of plays being turned into by Bollig and Versteeg of late will end your season come playoff time.

* The Blackhawks have been shutout three times this season, and twice in the last three outings. One common theme is that they have come against three of the best team defenses in the league; Phoenix, Nashville and Boston. The other common theme is Patrick Kane did not play in any of those games. Get well soon Kaner, we are going to need you.

* If Patrice Bergeron doesn’t a Hart Trophy before it’s all said and done then something just isn’t right.

This is usually the spot for the Player of the Game, but tonight it will be Sam Fels for this fantastic Tweet!

At this point Bollig could fall asleep driving a blue line train and he won’t get benched.

— The Committed Indian (@RealFansProgram) March 28, 2014

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*all data collected from www.nhl.com and www.extraskater.com