Bruins Drop Game 2 in Double Overtime
Blue Jackets score 3:45 into extra session to knot series 1-1
by Eric Russo @NHLBruins / BostonBruins.com
BOSTON - For the longest time, it didn't look like anyone was going to find the back of the net on Saturday night.
Over the first 20-plus minutes of extra time, Tuukka Rask and Sergei Bobrovsky put on a goaltending clinic for the ages, pushing Game 2 between the Bruins and Blue Jackets into Sunday morning.
Both netminders made it look easy, stopping chance after chance, while piling up 10 saves - some of the insane variety - apiece through the first overtime session.
But eventually the end came. And it was not a favorable conclusion for the Black & Gold.
With Patrice Bergeron in the box for tripping, Matt Duchene tapped home an Artemi Panarin rebound for the Blue Jackets' second power-play goal of the night and a 3-2 victory to knot the second-round series at a game apiece.
"You work hard to put yourself in a good position throughout the game, tight game. Obviously it's on me, try to avoid that penalty and that's it. It's a tough loss but we've got to move forward," said Bergeron, whose stick got tangled in the feet of Seth Jones to the side of the Columbus net.
"The stick got caught. Obviously it's one of those plays that you make many times and it's not going to happen, but my stick shouldn't be there at this point of the game."
Video: Bergeron reacts to 2OT loss
It was Bergeron who easily could have been the hero in the first overtime, as the centerman had two point-blank chances - one rebound from the top of the crease and another a one-timer from the slot - turned away by Bobrovsky. The Columbus backstop also came through with a last-second blocker save of a Danton Heinen tip that then deflected to Charlie Coyle, who banked the rebound off the right post.
Four golden chances. Four missed opportunities.
"There's a way for us to generate more, I think we can find the inside a little bit more against them," said Bergeron. "They're doing a good job of playing us to the outside. With that being said, find ways and look at videos and make sure that we generate a little bit more."
Rask also made a spectacular save of his own in the first overtime session, lunging back to his left to glove a Nick Foligno backhand attempt.
Video: CBJ@BOS, Gm2: Rask thwarts Foligno's overtime bid
Boston held leads of 1-0 (on Matt Grzelcyk's first-period power-play tally) and 2-1 (on Coyle's bank shot off of David Pastrnak's skate in the second), but some self-inflicted wounds vanquished both advantages, as Panarin twice tied the game by capitalizing on turnovers from Zdeno Chara and Coyle.
"They're a good team," said Coyle. "That's why they're obviously here playing. I think everything they got we gave it to them. I mean they worked obviously, they worked on the power play and the power play turnovers, and they capitalized. Especially a team like that, you give it to them like that they're going to make you pay, and they did."
Video: BOS Recap: Grzelcyk, Pastrnak score in Game 2 loss
Getting Physical
The Bruins set a physical tone early, with Chara (on Riley Nash), Sean Kuraly (on Seth Jones), and Connor Clifton (on Oliver Bjorkstrand) all delivering thunderous hits within the opening minutes. Columbus responded with a beefed up game of its own, leading to 91 combined hits between the teams.
"They don't back down from it, I guess you could say," said Brandon Carlo, who had two hits on the night. "They have that good pushback factor. It'll be fun to continue to battle throughout the series. It's a good opportunity to play physical throughout the entire however long it takes - seven games, six games, five games, whatever it is. But it's a fun style of hockey."
Video: CBJ@BOS, Gm2: Chara lays heavy hit on Nash in the 1st
Time for a Breather
After back-to-back overtime games, the teams are getting a reprieve thanks to the schedule, as the series hits its only two-day break with Game 3 not until Tuesday night in Columbus. As such, neither team will hit the ice for practice on Sunday.
"Let the body heal a little bit," said Matt Grzelcyk. "I'm sure we'll go over a lot of video. Haven't had too much time in between series. Just have to do your best to recover and hydrate. And get ready to go in three days."