Bruins Improve to 2-0-0 In Tough Challenge From Winnipeg

By John in Bruins, Featured, Top Story ⋅ January 21, 2013 at 4:58pm ⋅ Post a comment

Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Wellwood (13) watches as his shot on goal deflect off the glove of Boston Bruins' Tuukka Rask, of Finland, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Boston, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Winnipeg got off to a quick start, but Boston kept control of things for the rest of the way, and eked out a 2-1 shootout victory over the Jets. Winnipeg got things going with a quick wrist shot past Tuukka Rask just 1:58 in. The teams then began their chess match that went on throughout the rest of the game. Boston struck when they saw their chance, as Brad Marchand put in a backhand past Ondrej Pavelec at the 14:12 mark of the 1st Period.

The 2nd period was largely a lull in the contest, with neither team able to get much going. A few penalties gave the teams some chances to get some extra momentum, but neither side could make good. The 3rd period featured more offense, but still each team stifled the other. Winnipeg in particular was salivating after receiving a power play with 1:11 left in regulation, but Boston’s penalty kill held off the Jets’ power play into overtime and beyond.

Winnipeg got a similar situation with 1:18 left in overtime when Zdeno Chara was called for holding against old friend Blake Wheeler. However, replays clearly showed Wheeler was already falling to the ice, and Chara simply used the outer part of his arm to brace himself, never once grabbing Wheeler. The crowd quickly voiced their displeasure with a chant which can’t ethically be repeated in print, but the Bruins were fortunately able to kill off Winnipeg’s ill-gotten power play and force the shootout.

Boston took a 2-1 lead in the shootout after Rask made a critical save, which gave Boston a chance to seal the victory. Newcomer Chris Bourque couldn’t put away the shot, but Bryan Little of the Jets hit the post on his attempt to allow Boston to capture the well-earned victory.

Scoring Summary

1st Period
1:58	WPG	C. THORBURN (1) WRIST – ASST: P. POSTMA (1) AND J. SLATER (1)
14:12	BOS	B. MARCHAND (1) BACKHAND – ASST: T. SEGUIN (1)
2nd Period
None
3rd Period
None
OT
None

Penalty Summary

1st Period
None
2nd Period
1:27	BOS	DAVID KREJCI : HI-STICKING – 2 MIN
5:44	BOS	ANDREW FERENCE : TRIPPING – 2 MIN
18:20	WPG	MARK STUART : INTERFERENCE – 2 MIN
3rd Period
12:31	WPG	EVANDER KANE : INTERFERENCE – GOALKEEPER – 2 MIN
18:49	BOS	JOHNNY BOYCHUK : HI-STICKING – 2 MIN
OT
3:32	BOS	ZDENO CHARA : HOLDING – 2 MIN