Red Wings Win Their Second Game In a Row vs. Bruins, Which For Them is a Huge Accomplishment

The Bruins (14-8-4) and Red Wings (12-11-3) have been in the same division (Atlantic) now for a little while, they even met in the playoffs a few years back but who could call it anything close to a rivalry other than the fact that they both happen to be Original Six clubs? That is partly because Boston has owned that ass while Detroit's absurd postseason streak finally ended and since then, they've faded into NHL mediocrity. Tonight's 4-2 win by the Wings at TD Garden gave at least a breath of life and a sniff of hope that this unnatural pairing of Boston vs. Detroit could turn into something which is better than nothing, am I right folks?

The Wings had beaten the B's 3-2 in overtime on Thanksgiving Eve and this represented their first regulation win vs. the Black and Gold since Valentine's Day 2016 (a 6-5 win in Detroit). Boston had been 15-1-2 in its last 18 games vs. Detroit including points in 11 straight contests (9-0-2). The Bruins outshot the Red Wings 40-27 but that hardly mattered since Detroit beat them up both physically and on the scoreboard (where it really counts, tough guy). 1-0 was the only lead that Boston would have all night as the Red Wings scored twice in the second period and then closed with the final two goals in the latter half of the third period to earn the all-important two points.

Tuukka Rask (23 saves) suffered his first loss in regulation since his brief hiatus but he couldn't be faulted for two of the three goals that he allowed which came via perfect deflections out in front of him. Maine alum Jimmy Howard (38 saves) was immense, other than a bizarre backhand flip by David Backes that went off his shoulder and into the net with 3.8 seconds left in the first period. Other than empty-netters, I doubt that Backes has scored many flukier goals in his long NHL career. His second goal of the season was assisted by John Moore and rookie Colby Cave (his 1st NHL point).

Keep in mind that Detroit had a goal waved off in the second period so it could have been an even worse frame for the B's if that stood (Rask was bumped trying to get in position). Tyler Bertuzzi tied it at 5:45 when Mike Green's shot from the point took an old double deflection off Michael Rasmussen then him for his ninth goal of the season. For the second time in three days, David Krejci took a big (clean) hit at center ice. At least this time he didn't require another emergency trip to the dentist for repairs. Joakim Nordstrom is far from a fighter but he stood up for his new teammate by dropping the gloves with Red Wings defensemen Dennis Cholowski-who had destroyed Krejci. That was nearly the undercard for a massive line brawl that would have included Rask vs. Howard but the no fun refs tied them up and wouldn't let them go. I think I speak for all blood-thirsty fans when I say boooooooooo. The only above average player on the Red Wings these days-Dylan Larkin-made it 2-1 at 17:36 by putting in a rebound on the doorstep. Justin Abdelkader and Gustav Nyquist (another former Black Bear) had the assists on his 10th goal of the season.

It wasn't a banner night for Boston's #2 ranked power play in the NHL (1-for-6) but they knotted it at two thanks to rookie Ryan Donato's tally at 5:31 of the third. His shot deflected off a Red Wing stick but regardless, it was still one of his patented snipes. Donato's second goal of the season was assisted by David Pastrnak and Torey Krug (5-game assist streak). After the shootout game-winner on Thursday and that, it's tough to see him going back down to Providence anytime soon. It looked like it would be another one-goal game that might possibly require overtime but Detroit had other plans as veteran Frans Nielsen tipped in Danny DeKeyser's shot from the point at 11:53 for the go-ahead tally. Nyquist had the secondary assist on Nielsen's first goal of the season. Nyquist completed his three-point night with an empty-netter at 19:33, DeKeyser had the lone assist on his fourth goal of the season.

No practice for the B's on Sunday-the Lord's day-as they'll get back on the ice at Warrior Arena on Monday before travelling to Sunrise, FL to take on the Panthers (10-10-5) on Tuesday (7, NESN). That kicks off a very busy week as the Bruins will be in Tampa (19-7-1) on Thursday (7, NESN) before coming back here briefly to host the Leafs (19-8-0) on Saturday night (7, NESN) before going to Ottawa (12-12-3) the following early evening (5, NESN). It helps when that tough stretch is bookended by doormats like the Panthers and Senators who they should usually beat. Right now, the Lightning and Maple Leafs are the top two teams in the Eastern Conference so both of those contests should be extremely difficult. B's defenseman Brandon Carlo returned this evening after missing the past nine games with an upper-body injury so hopefully between now and game time on Tuesday, nobody on the Bruins slips on a banana peel or falls out of a bunk bed.


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The Red Wings are the Latest Sacrificial Lamb to Visit TD Garden This Season as the Bruins Roll 8-2

It's understandable if you are more locked in on the Red Sox and or Patriots right now but take my word for it: you are going to want to tune in to watch the Bruins (4-1-0) this season when you get a chance. You can already tell that it's going to be a fun year as their top line remains the best group of forwards in the NHL and the rest of their lineup is still filled with intriguing young players and dependable veterans. Detroit (0-3-2) came to TD Garden this afternoon searching for its first win of 2018-19 but they found nothing but a serious beating as the B's destroyed them 8-2 (and it didn't even feel that close).

David Pastrnak scored his second career hat trick (also Boston's second in three games after Patrice Bergeron had one vs. Ottawa on Monday), Bergy had three assists and Brad Marchand added two assists while Jake DeBrusk scored his first two goals of the season. Did I mention that Charlie McAvoy, Anders Bjork and Sean Kuraly also notched their first tallies of the campaign? Yeah, it was that kind of dominant performance for the home team as everything went the Black and Gold's way. They improved to an absurd 15-1-1 in their last 17 games vs. Detroit including a current 10-game point streak (9-0-1).

It was a slow burn for the poor Red Wings (remember when they used to be good?) as Boston scored once in the first period, three in the second and they closed it out with four in the third. Detroit's backup goaltender Jonathan Bernier (31 saves) had the honor of allowing all eight of those goals since they apparently didn't want to have to use starter Jimmy Howard who played in their last tilt (a 5-3 loss vs. Toronto on Thursday). Tuukka Rask (32 saves) didn't get a shutout which is about the only real minor gripe that even the biggest Bruins hater could point out. Stats are for losers but there were a few notable ones for the B's: Pastrnak scored his 100th career NHL goal and Krejci's two assists gave him 400 in his NHL career.

Pasta opened the scoring with a snipe at 19:09 of the first period. His fifth goal of the season was assisted by Brandon Carlo and Chris Wagner. McAvoy doubled Boston's lead early in the second period (4:44) as he snapped in a quick shot after Bergeron's faceoff win went right back to him. DeBrusk's first goal wasn't a beauty but they all count the same as his backhander squeezed through Bernier's leg pads after a brief breakaway. David Krejci had the lone assist at 11:27. DeBrusk was moved to the right wing on Krejci's line today as Ryan Donato slotted back into the lineup as the left wing with those guys, meaning that Danton Heinen was a healthy scratch. Pastrnak put it out of reach for the hapless Wings with a one-timer at 16:20, from Bergeron and Marchand because of course.

Detroit had a two-man advantage from late in the second period into the third and they were able to mercifully avert the shutout with a power-play goal by rookie defenseman Filip Hronek 21 seconds into the final frame. His first NHL goal was assisted by Tyler Bertuzzi and Maine alum Gustav Nyquist. Boston didn't blink as they scored less than two minutes later (2:05) and it was Pastrnak completing his very predictable (but still quite enjoyable) hat trick. Another lethal one-timer was served up by Bergeron and Marchand (all 3 of them have a 4-game point streak). Other than Toronto's Auston Matthews, who in the league is hotter than those three stars?

Extended garbage time was filled with stat-stuffing as Dylan Larkin scored a shorthanded goal (the 1st that Boston has allowed this season) at 8:23. His third goal of the season was assisted by Frans Nielsen and Nick Jensen. Sadly 5-2 was as close as the Red Wings would get though as Bjork potted an unassisted goal at 10:12, followed by a redirect from DeBrusk at 15:15 (assisted by Carlo and Krejci) and finally, Kuraly beat Bernier from an impossible angle with 1.2 seconds left in regulation. Haha how embarrassing. Kevan Miller and Bjork had the assists on Kuraly's goal that gave the Bruins a snowman (8 goals).

After cleaning up at home on nothing but cupcakes (Senators, Oilers and Red Wings), the Bruins won't be back here until Oct. 25 when they host Philadelphia. In between now and then (also the name of a solid O.A.R. album), they'll visit Canada to play some more average to below average teams as part of a four-game road trip. They are in Calgary (2-2-0) on Wednesday (9:30, NESN) followed the next night (9, NESN) by a visit to Edmonton (1-2-0). Next up, they'll be in Vancouver (2-2-0) on Saturday night (10, NESN) and then they close things out in Ottawa (2-2-1) next Tuesday (7:30, NESN). Winning or at least earning points in three out of four of those matchups should be expected. A clean sweep is within reason too since which of those clubs remotely scares you at all? None, that's what I thought.

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