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Bruins, 7-4 (final)

Email|Link|Comments (12) Posted by Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff November 19, 2008 10:46 PM

There was no mistaking that the Bruins played a dud of a first period when Buffalo poured four pucks past a helpless Manny Fernandez. But when Marc Savard put a shot past Ryan Miller at 13:08 of the first, he made it a 4-3 score -- or, in Claude Julien's mind, a 1-0 game to start the second.

And that was why the Bruins managed to wipe out what was once a two-goal Buffalo lead and turn a stinker into a 7-4 victory.

"We got ourselves in trouble early," Julien said. "We gave them some unbelievable chances. I felt sorry for Manny. We left him hanging at the beginning. The quality shots those guys were allowed to take were very uncharacteristic of our hockey club. We found a way to get back in the game. They had their own issues at their end. We were able, by the end of the first period, to be down by just a goal. That was important to our team. In reality, that made it a 1-0 hockey game."

The Bruins scored five unanswered goals, with the final one chasing Miller at 1:16 of the third period. At the other end, Fernandez blanked the Sabres for the final 40 minutes.

* In the second period, Toni Lydman caught Dennis Wideman with a clean shoulder-to-head check. Wideman was staggered at first, but recovered and went back to the dressing room for testing. Wideman was not diagnosed with a concussion and returned to the game. "Little bit of the rubber legs going there for a bit," Wideman said.

* With his four-point night, Marc Savard now has 600 career NHL points.

* For the second time as an NHLer, David Krejci had a three-point game (goal, two assists). Krejci made a sick move on his first assist, waiting for Miller to commit before dishing the puck to a streaking Chuck Kobasew. Krejci scored a fluky goal when his long-bomb wrister ticked off the leg of Teppo Numminen and past Miller in the first. Krejci capped his night in the second period by buying himself time and space in the second period with some nifty stickhandling, then gave the puck to Matt Hunwick for a one-timer. Hunwick's shot went wide, but Kobasew banked home the rebound.

* Patrice Bergeron (two assists) recorded his 200th career NHL point with his first helper. Bergeron continued his strong work on the draw, winning 68 percent of his faceoffs.

* Marco Sturm (upper-body injury) is day-to-day. The Bruins didn't miss the streaky left wing tonight, as Kobasew (two goals) slotted into Sturm's spots on the third line and first power-play unit.

* The Bruins will practice tomorrow at Ristuccia Arena at 11:30 a.m.

STICK SALUTE: Kobasew. In his first game on the third line and No. 1 PP unit since coming back from injury, Kobasew potted two goals, showing no fear of entering the danger areas and creating mayhem with his wheels and grit.

SIN BIN: Miller. Looked uncomfortable all night and couldn't make the big save when his team needed one.

tags Chuck Kobasew, David Krejci, Dennis Wideman, Manny Fernandez, Marc Savard, Patrice Bergeron

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12 comments so far...

It really kind of bothers me that even after an ugly game like this one that the Bruins were able to come back from and win in convincing fashion, while at home, that the main sports page for boson.com has Red Sox headlines all over the place. You have to scroll down the page to find the first link about the Bruins win... Instead it's a million links about an off season trade and other speculative ones. Very disappointing.

Posted by AL November 20, 08 03:19 AM

I know bruins fans expect alot of their goalies but when the fans started the mock cheers for Fernandez in the first, That was just plain insulting, I can understand if they were soft goals but he had no chance on any of them, they we all good shots. If any one deserved the razing it was the other players on the ice for letting buffalo get into those scoring areas

Posted by moogfan 35 November 20, 08 09:07 AM

HOLY S***! THE SOX TRADED COCO?
Agreed Al, he was their 4th outfielder. The B's are back and the only people who notice are the people who still cared about the team when they stunk and mike and harry were running them into the ground. Clearly obvious now why nobody notices.
Great Job by the B's and their coaching staff last night to make adjustments after the first period to shut down buffalo's attack. How many times has a team scored 4 1st period goals and then gotten shut out over the next 2 and lost the game?

Posted by Hondo November 20, 08 09:41 AM

Anytime a goalie gives up 4 goals in a period he is going to hear it. I don't care where he is playing..home or away. If you go to a game and drop $100 for a ticket and the first 4 shots go in you are not going to be too happy. This is professional sports. All you soccer mom types need to stay in the kitchen if you have a problem with this.

Posted by nash November 20, 08 10:04 AM

When is PJ going to be put on the fourth line where he belongs? He was useless last night...

Posted by Roy November 20, 08 10:59 AM

Glad I don't have to pay $100 for a ticket

I love the Sox and all that good stuff but how about a little more recognition for the bruins who look like a serious contender in the east. Oh well though, it'll will be March by the time the Bruins start making headlines.

You can tell they are definitely missing Ference out there and Wideman going off like that was scary for abit.

Posted by Mike November 20, 08 11:12 AM

The Bruins continue to play under the radar but as long as they keep working hard and play entertaining hockey the fans wil start to come back. The B's attendance always picks up around Christmas and continues throughout the rest of the new year. One year of good hockey is not going to wipe out the last 15 years or more of mediocrity. The GM seems to have a "plan" and the Bruins have a good mix of youth, veterans, scrappers, skilled and average joe muckers and very good goaltending and coaching. This team will continue to grow and hopefully win a round or two in the playoffs. I like their style of play.

Posted by Brent November 20, 08 11:36 AM

They are playing well right now but what I really need to see is another thumping of the Canadiens Saturday night!!! The city is in panic mode already. Hilarious.

Posted by BitterBruin November 20, 08 11:42 AM

anyone see the reaction from manny last night after game. savard seemed to be talking to him and then he left the ice without really getting porps from the team.

hope nothing wrong. this team is doing good now.

Posted by Elias S November 20, 08 12:39 PM

We'll see how the B's do in MTL after playing the Panthers the night before. I remember a few years ago (when Joe Thornton was still in Boston) when the B's looked great up until Christmas and then it all fell apart. Let's hope that doesn't happen again. It's nice to see them 2nd in the East, so there's hope of another serious playoff run. I'm sick of people ragging on PJ. He is highly skilled although you wouldn't know it by looking at his numbers. I like every single player on this team. The hell with personal stats, all that matters is they play well as a team and that's what is required to go beyond the season and deep into the playoffs.

Posted by Todd November 20, 08 12:43 PM

I love seeing the overrated Habs in panic mode, its true too, just read all the comments on TSN. I hope this keeps up haha

Posted by Mike November 20, 08 01:13 PM

Roy, what are you talking about? PJ was, yet again, good last night. He manned the point on the powerplay and the only "mistake" he made was a broken stick on a slapper. He does a great job staying high in the zone and forechecking, played 2 minutes on the penalty kill, given he was in a bad spot on the Vanek PPG, and had one awesome diving play on a backcheck that stopped a Buffalo breakaway. There's a lot more to hockey than scoring goals, buddy.

Posted by Corey November 20, 08 03:12 PM