Bruins Beat Chicago 2-1 in Original Six Matchup

By Reid in Bruins, Featured ⋅ November 13, 2008 at 3:36am ⋅ Post a comment

The Boston Bruins have not been very successful in the shootout since its inception three years ago. Fortunately for Boston, Chicago has been worse.

Tim Thomas stoned Chicago forward Dave Bolland in the third round of the controversial game-decider, and B’s winger PJ Axelsson immediately followed with a fancy deke to beat goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin and send Boston home with a 2-1 victory. It was the Bruins’ fourth victory in as many games, and snapped the Blackhawks’ four-game winning streak. Boston remains one point ahead of Montreal atop the Northeast division, with a 9-3-3 record and 21 points (Montreal is 9-2-2 with 20 points).

On a night in which two Blackhawks had their number retired, Tim Thomas stole the show, stopping 31-32 shots in the victory.

The game remained scoreless through the first period, as neither club was able to create much momentum amid a number of questionable penalty calls. In all, 16 minor penalties were issued, most of the tick-tack variety. The man-advantage allowed both teams to get on the board, however.

Boston opened the scoring late in the 2nd period, as Marco Sturm tipped a Zdeno Chara shot past Khabibulin 19:06 into the frame. It was Sturm’s 4th tally of the year.

Boston would hold the lead until midway through the 3rd, when Bruins forward Chuck Kobasew was whistled off for hooking. On the ensuing power play, Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews tipped a Patrick Kane shot past Thomas to knot the score at 1-1.

It appeared as though Boston would take the lead just minutes later, as Sturm put a rebound past Khabibulin. The goal was immediately waved off however, as referee Dan O’Rourke ruled Bruins forward Blake Wheeler impeded the Blackhawk goalie’s way.

The score would remain tied through overtime, with both netminders making several spectacular saves. In the overtime period, Bruins center Marc Savard was stoned by Khabibulin on a one-timer, and just minutes later, Chicago forward Patrick Sharp was awarded a penalty shot after Sharp’s partial breakaway was broken up by a diving Aaron Ward. Thomas stoned Sharp with a left pad save, and neither team was able to score in the remaining minutes, setting up Axelsson’s shootout heroics.

Boston returns home to Boston tomorrow to take on the rival Montreal Canadiens. The puck drops at 7:00 pm, with NESN coverage beginning at 6:30.

Inside the Game

Boston out-shot Chicago 39-32, including a lop-sided 19-5 figure in the 3rd and overtime frames.
Chicago recorded 18 shots on goal in the first period, and just 14 thereafter.
Chicago forward Patrick Kane extended his point streak to 5 games.
Bruins defenseman Dennis Wideman recorded an eye-popping 29:22 of ice time, and also led Boston in shots on goal, with 4.

Studs of the Game

Tim Thomas (BOS) and Nikolai Khabibulin (CHI) – What a game from these two netminders, who combined to stop 69-71 shots, for a .972 save percentage. Both goalies were required to make some acrobatic saves, with the save of the game coming from Khabibulin in overtime, robbing Marc Savard’s one-timer with the glove.

Duds of the Game

The officials – I’m not normally one to harp on the officiating, but 16 minor penalties were called in this one, and I can count on one hand how many were actually legitimate. Neither team was allowed to get into the flow of the game, and two calls in particular stand out; a Michael Ryder interference penalty with 2 minutes remaining in the 3rd period of a 1-1 game, and Chicago defenseman Cam Barker’s hooking penalty in the overtime stanza. Neither instance was blatant, and in that situation, just let them play.

Tags: Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, PJ Axlesson, Tim Thomas