Bruins Defeat Atlanta, Clinch Division

By John in Bruins, Featured, Top Story ⋅ April 2, 2011 at 4:22pm ⋅ Post a comment

NESN broadcaster Jack Edwards poses with Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins who won the 7th Player Award prior to the game against the Atlanta Thrashers at the TD Garden on April 2, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Boston only needed one point to clinch the division, but they got two, winning at home 3-2 against the Atlanta Thrashers. Boston got started quickly, tucking the puck in for a goal during a skirmish in front of Atlanta’s net 4:34 in. But Atlanta answered on the power play later in the period, after Tuukka Rask was called for delay of game for playing the puck outside of the trapezoid behind the net. Five seconds into the power play, Rask completely bobbled the shot (think Bill Buckner, but over the head). Boston’s only power play of the game, thanks to an unsportsmanlike conduct call for post-whistle physicality (at 16:54), didn’t help.

1:37 into the 2nd, Atlanta took the lead. Rask chased a play to the side of the net, and failed to get back in time to block the shot. It looked like things would get even worse when Atlanta was given another power play minutes later, but when Atlanta went to make a play out of their own zone, but for some reason, forgot to take the puck with them. That allowed Daniel Paille to quickly put the puck in the net to tie the game.

The final frame was much closer, even though Atlanta took nine more shots than Boston. Rask made some good saves, as did Ondrej Pavelec for Atlanta. The big moment came when Atlanta’s Johnny Oduya was called for hooking on a breakaway, which gave a penalty shot to Michael Ryder. One quick flick of the wrist later, and Boston had the lead once more, and could focus on bleeding the clock dry, and Atlanta’s playoff hopes (now mathematically gone) along with it.

JERRY!! JERRY!! Moment of the Game

Sadly, no fights went down. Just some talking after the aforementioned unsportsmanlike conduct call.

Coach’s Corner

“I think our pace has gone down a tad and we’ve got to bring that up to what we know it can be.” – Coach Claude Julien on Boston’s mission for its final four games.

Scoring Summary

1st Period
4:34	BOS	Mark Recchi (14) Wrist Shot – Assists: Patrice Bergeron (35) & Brad Marchand (20)
11:11	ATL	PPG – Dustin Byfuglien (20) Slap Shot – Assists: Zach Bogosian (12) & Bryan Little (28)
2nd Period
1:37	ATL	Evander Kane (19) Wrist Shot – Assists: Nik Antropov (23)
6:18	BOS	SHG – Daniel Paille (4) Wrist Shot – Assists: none
3rd Period
12:31	BOS	PS – Michael Ryder (18) Wrist Shot – Assists: none

Penalty Summary

1st Period
11:06	BOS	Tuukka Rask served by Michael Ryder: Delaying the game – 2 min
14:19	BOS	Michael Ryder: Tripping – 2 min
16:54	ATL	Alexander Burmistrov: Unsportsmanlike conduct – 2 min
2nd Period
5:47	BOS	Shane Hnidy: Delaying Game-Puck over glass – 2 min
3rd Period
12:31	ATL	Johnny Oduya: PS – Hooking on breakaway – 0 min

Goalie Stats

	Goalie	Save Total	TOI
ATL	Ondrej Pavelec (L)	20/23	58:29
BOS	Tuukka Rask (W)	28/30	60:00

Shots on Goal

	1st	2nd	3rd	Total
ATL	4	11	15	30
BOS	6	11	6	23

Game Notes

Boston is now 12-0-1 on the season when Recchi scores.
When tied after two periods, Atlanta is 8-8-5 while Boston is 11-6-4.
Ryder’s game winning goal was his sixth on the season.
Boston has scored 11 shorthanded goals on the season.
The Bruins are 15-4-1 against the Southeast Division.
Boston’s last successful penalty shot was January 9, 2007 against the Senators by Marco Sturm.

Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Brad Marchand, Bruins, Claude Julien, Daniel Paille, Jack Edwards, Mark Recchi, Michael Ryder, Patrice Bergeron, Shane Hnidy, Tuukka Rask