GOLD STAR: Chris Kelly once again proved by hes the kind of winning player that will always have a place on a championship team. The third line center battled through 60 minutes of scoreless hockey and even had himself a strong bull rush to the net in the third period that was knocked away with a Braden Holtby poke-check. But Kelly wasnt denied in overtime and smoked a shot high to the Washington goalies glove side for the overtime game-winner. The Bruins improved to 19-0-0 this season when Kelly scores a goal and ita a fact that underscores just how important secondary scoring and forward depth are to Bostons success.
BLACK EYE: One shot on net and a minus-1 in 16:26 of ice time for Alex Semin, who showed exactly what happens when he pulls one of his enigmatic Russian star disappearing acts. While Alex Ovechkin brought the lumber with a game-high seven hits and Nicklas Backstrom created offense during the game, Semin was invisible throughout as it turned into a pounding, grinding mans type of hockey that the creative, finesse forward seems to have little interest in. It might be a long series for Semin if he doesnt toughen up his act a little bit.
TURNING POINT: It was the spectacular Tim Thomas save in the third period as he moved quickly from left-to-right on a cross-ice pass from Backstrom to Ovechkin, and kicked out the toe of his skate to make the games best save. The stop preserved a scoreless tie that brought on overtime, and then Thomas added to it by stuffing Marcus Johansson in overtime to set up the game-winning rush up the ice. Boston doing what it does best on the game-winner: turning good defense into offense.
HONORABLE MENTION: Tim Thomas had faced a ridiculously low seven shots entering the third period of a scoreless hockey game, and hadnt truly been challenged by anything hed seen. But Thomas was ready when the time arrived for him to suddenly be sharp in the third period, and he kicked out a toe on an Alex Ovechkin one-timer that appeared destined for the back of the net. It was a save that brought up images of last years vintage Thomas performance during the playoffs, and it put Thomas in a tie with Cecil Tiny Thompson for second place on the Bs all-time playoff shutout list with six career shutouts.
BY THE NUMBERS: 31-14the Bs record in best-of-seven playoff series when theyve taken the first game of the series.
QUOTE TO NOTE: Its something, kind of like last year with the jacket, Andrew Ference made something that symbolizes a team -- a chain. You try not to be that weak link, and its one of those things that you pass out after a game. Its one of those things thats all in good fun. It just started for the playoffs. Chris Kelly talking about the Junkyard Dog-style oversized chain with a broidered B padlock on it that he was wearing around his neck postgame. The Bruins will pass out to the player of the game after each postseason victory.