It feels like Game 6 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final happened a few weeks ago so it was somewhat bizarre to see the Bruins turn the page and begin another season tonight at TD Garden. They beat the Lightning 3-1 by playing a Boston type of game: three different guys scored goals, Tuukka Rask (32 saves) looked like one of the best goaltenders in the NHL and flawless penalty killing with the added bonus of two shorthanded goals.
Beating Tampa Bay doesn't mean much since they likely aren't going anywhere which is a shame since Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis would be gods on at least half of the other teams in the league. For the B's it was a good tuneup for Saturday (7, NESN) when they host the Red Wings. That'll be a nice early test to see how they stack up against their new division rivals.
The Lightning owned the first period, outshooting the Bruins 15-6 but they had nothing to show for it since Rask denied everything and Chris Kelly scored in the most unexpected way possible: a shorthanded penalty shot at 11:39. Looking like Chris Kelly circa 2011, he beat Tampa Bay rookie defenseman Matt Barberio and was hooked down before he got to Anders Lindback. Using the patience of a much better skilled player, Kelly calmly stickhandled around Lindback and finished with a backhander.
It was a good night for debuts as Tampa Bay's Valtteri Filppula tied it at 10:32 of the second period on assists from Eric Brewer and former Harvard star Alex Killorn. There was nothing Rask could do, Adam McQuaid and Daniel Paille were beaten up ice, leading to a 2-on-1. Boston showed their usual helping of grit and toughness with fights from Shawn Thornton in the first period and newcomer Jarome Iginla in the second period. Loui Eriksson didn't score but he seemed to mesh well with linemates Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Likewise, Reilly Smith was a positive on the makeshift third line with Jordan Caron and Chris Kelly who were both excellent (for them).
Milan Lucic from the playoffs appeared and scored the game-winner at 19:00 of the second period. He had stolen the puck then rushed up ice with David Krejci who left it for him. His top shelf wrist shot left poor Lindback with no chance to stop it. Patrice Bergeron, back from his countless injuries suffered last postseason, added the insurance marker at 4:02 in the third period. Like Kelly's, his goal was totally obscure: a 3-on-5 shorthanded goal. I have no clue how he got so much space after blocking a shot but his snap shot eluded Lindback just enough to cross the goal line. It was unassisted so Boston somehow had one total assist on three goals.
Boston's power play did not play well (0 for 3) but that was forgotten with their shorthanded brilliance. Rask also made the lead stand up when they weren't doing much for intermediate stretches. Tonight was just the beginning (duh) but there are so many reasons to be excited about what should be another long and thrilling season for the B's.
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