BOSTON -- The Bruins killed off two crucial penalties -- one at the end of regulation, and another at the end of overtime -- on Monday afternoon, which led to a 2-1 shootout win over the Winnipeg Jets at the TD Garden.
In the shootout, Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron scored for the Bruins, and Tuukka Rask saved the last two shots he faced after allowing former Bruin Blake Wheeler to score on the Jets' first attempt.
The Jets took an early 1-0 lead two minutes into the game, when Chris Thorburn knocked home a rebound from the lower-right circle. Rask made the initial save on a Paul Postma shot from the right point that was re-directed by Jim Slater. But Thorburn wasted no time firing the rebound on net, beating Rask low glove side.
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Brad Marchand tied the game at 1-1, with 5:48 left in the first period, on a play started when Seguin created a turnover at Winnipeg's blue line. Seguin skated the puck quickly down the right side, and sent a perfect pass out front to Marchand, who was going hard to the net.
It remained tied until the shootout, when the Bruins sealed up their second win to open the season.
GOLD STAR: Tuukka Rask wasnt challenged all that much inSaturday nights win over the Rangers, but he deserved full credit afterstopping 26 shots in Bostons 2-1 shootout win over the Jets on Mondayafternoon. Rask helped the Bruins kill off two penalties inthe waning minutes of the third period and overtime, and his glove save on aKyle Wellwood breakaway ended up being a game-changing play for the Black andGold. The Bruins goaltender was probably the No. 1 player that needed to getout to a good start for the Bs and hes done exactly that while picking upwins in both games. Also credit the Bruins coaching staff for deciding to comeright back with Rask in the Monday matinee against Winnipeg to get their goaltender on a roll atthe start of the season. That was the right call. BLACK EYE: Olli Jokinen is known for more disappearing actsthan David Copperfieldfor all you fans of 1980s magician pseudo-celebrities and was at it again with Winnipegon Monday afternoon. The center managed one shot on net and two giveaways in20:25 of ice time and lost 10 of 15 face-offs while putting together anotheruninspired performance thats caused him to bounce from NHL city to city overthe last few years. Unfortunately the Jets will learn what the Flames andFlorida Panthers already knew before them: Olli simply doesnt have a lot ofheart and will become invisible when things get physical like they did at TDGarden.
HONORABLE MENTION: Tyler Seguin had four shots on net second only to Patrice Bergerons five shots among the Bruins playersand setup the teams only goal when he intercepted a pass inside the blue line andcharged from the right wing. Seguinfed Marchand at the front of the net and the Bs Honey Badger redirected thepuck past Ondrej Pavelec. The 20-year-old was knocked around a bit during thegame as a Winnipegtarget and absorbed a hard shot from Mark Stuart up near the head area in thethird period that knocked his helmet off. But Seguin kept on playing and dazzled Pavelecwith a glove-side wrist shot in the shootout that helped earn the Bruins twopoints.
TURNING POINT: It looked dire for the Bruins when JohnnyBoychuk took a high-sticking penalty at the end of the third period and ZdenoChara was charged with a phantom holding penalty on Blake Wheeler in overtime.But the Bruins killed off both penaltiesalways a particularly toughchallenge when Chara is in the boxand pushed things to the shootout wheretheyve become a legitimate force singe Seguinjoined the team two years ago. Claude Julien said after the game that thepenalty kill was the difference between winning and losing on Mondayafternoon, and he was absolutely correct.
BY THE NUMBERS: 10That's the number of registered hits for MilanLucic, who was a physical bulldozer throughout the 60 plus minutes of intensehockey. The games intensity visibly rose at the end of the second period whenLucic crunched Winnipegcaptain Andrew Ladd near the penalty boxes in the neutral zone. Lucic now has ateam-high 17 hits through the first two games of the season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: I dont think nobody enjoys them. I meanitsall right. Emotion-wise, you win, its greatgreatest thing everand then youlose, you feel like you lost the Stanley Cup Finals. Its a roller coaster withthe emotions, but its great for the fans. I like to watch them on TV, too.TuukkaRask with an appreciation for NHL shootouts, especially when hes on thewinning end.