It's comforting to know that when the Boston Bruins are on their game, they can still transform themselves into one of the NHL's top teams.
It had been far too long since they looked like this but I'm sure B's fans were content that maybe tonight will get them back on the right track. Boston (36-20-2) beat St. Louis (36-17-7) 4-2 at Scottrade Center in a game that (don't laugh) could honestly be a 2012 Stanley Cup Final preview.
Why not? The Blues are playing great hockey and between their top-notch but unheralded goaltender (Brian Elliott), deep roster of forwards and gritty, tough defensive style, they resemble last year's Bruins who put it all together in the playoffs.
It was the first regulation loss at home for the Blues since December 3. The Bruins also avoided their first three-game losing streak since October.
After the first period, it seemed like the game might end up with a crazy final score like 7-6. Boston finally scored the first goal (something they haven't done at all lately) as Brad Marchand (20th of the season) stripped the puck from a Blues defenseman and roofed a wrist shot past Elliot (15 saves) at 2:29.
Adam McQuaid and B.J. Crombeen, two heavyweights, dropped the gloves nine seconds later in a quality fight.
The Bruins quickly doubled their lead as Milan Lucic (21st of the season) tipped Joe Corvo's shot from the point at 6:19. Chris Kelly had the other assist on a shot that really fooled Elliott even though it lost most of its steam.
St. Louis didn't back down as Chris Stewart (12th of the season) and Ryan Reaves (2nd of the season) scored on similar turnaround shots within five minutes of each other.
Kelly (15th of the season, tying a career-high) capped off the wild frame by one-timing a perfect feed from Lucic with 40 seconds remaining. Johnny Boychuk had the other helper.
Even though there were no goals (St. Louis hit the post twice and Boychuk also rung the post) in the second or nearly half of the third, this was one of the most exciting contests of the season. It felt like a playoff atmosphere.
Marchand (21st of the season, tying last season's total) iced it at 9:14 after Tyler Seguin sent him in alone on a breakaway. Marchand went to his backhander and calmly put it by Elliot. Patrice Bergeron also had an assist on the sweet goal.
Tim Thomas (30 saves; 25-12-0) was much busier than Elliott but it didn't seem to affect him as he had one of his best performances in a while.
At 2-2 thus far, Boston ends this lengthy road trip with a back-to-back in Buffalo on Friday and in Ottawa on Saturday. The last time the Bruins faced the Sabres, Feb. 8 in Buffalo, the home team rolled to a 6-0 whitewashing. Since Buffalo isn't good and Boston has way too much pride for that to happen again, I say the Bruins come out on top this time.
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