The Boston Bruins were visiting the CONSOL Energy Center to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins are mixed having gone 2-3-0 in the last five games the last game a win against the Phoenix Coyotes.
The Bruins are currently on a mini-skid having gone 3-1-1 with the last two games being a regulation loss against the Washington Capitals and the shootout loss against the St Louis Blues.
First Period
The Pens wasted no time opening up the scoring. With just 1:05 into the game, Arron Asham got his first goal as a Penguin. With the shot on Tim Thomas, Asham was right at the doorstep and popped it left side. Pens 1-0.
The Bruins came back with Mark Recchi getting his first goal of the season on the power play. Tyler Seguin pick pocketed Alex Goligoski and passed to Recchi who unloaded on Penguins net minder Brent Johnson. The puck rebounded directly back and Recchi who buried it high glove side. All tied up at one.
Brad Marchand put the Bruins ahead with a wrister. Marchand created the turnover himself just outside the Penguins blue line and skated in on Johnson's right side. Marchand then whipped a shot high glove side in the net. Bruins 2-1.
Pittsburgh knotted up the game with Brook Orpik ripping a shot from the slot. Thomas looked like his stick got stuck in the net and he had to abandon it to try and go from left to right, but it was too late. Two all.
The Penguins really put the screws to the Bruins having grossly outplayed the Bruins, but the SOGs doesn't seem like it as it was 18-14 for the Pens.
Second Period
This frame was all Penguins. The Penguins gave the Bruins a taste of their own defensive medicine with the quick plays that prevented the Bruins from scoring and creating some chances of their own. The Bruins spent little time in the Penguins end.
Chris Kunitz put the Pens up with a quick shot right in front of Thomas after Kris Latang ripped one at the net from the point. Pens 3-2.
Sidney Crosby extended the lead for the Penguins on the power play when he skated up to the net and was intending to pass to Evgeni Malkin. The puck instead went off Mark Stuart's stick and in the 5-hole of Thomas. Pens 4-2.
The second period was completely Penguin dominated and should have been the tell of the tale having out shot the Bruins 16-6.
Final Frame
Who saw this coming? The Bruins looked like they were done and the Pens looked like they were on cruise control.
Nathan Horton got the Bruins going early in the third period. Dennis Seidenberg backhanded a puck from the left boards to Horton who was just right side behind the net. All alone, he skated front right of Johnson and wristed it high to score his seventh goal of the season. Pens 4-3.
Just 15 seconds later, Zdeno Chara tied it up with a shot from the low slot. Chara passed to Jason Caron where the puck went off his skate and right back at Chara. Chara snapped it past Johnson. Four all.
Shawn Thornton put the B's ahead with a two on one odd-man rush. Thornton was on Johnson's left and Thornton wristed a shot over the goalie's left shoulder to make it count. Bruins up 5-4.
Blake Wheeler extended the lead by receiving a backhanded pass from Recchi from behind the net and a crowded Wheeler backhanded it past Johnson. Bruins 6-4.
The final nail in the game was when Milan Lucic got a centered pass from Patrice Bergeron and shot it in the empty net. I think that made up for the unceremonious dumping into the Penguins' bench he got by Asham in the second period.
Final Notes
The final score of 7-4 was not in the cards after 40 minutes of play. But just like Texas Hold'em, the game isn't over until the final card is laid. The Bruins refused to give up and they proved that you have to play a full 60 minutes to win games. Even so, this kind of a comeback is a rarity and certainly boggled the minds of both Penguins and Bruins fans alike.
Not only did they come back from a two goal deficit, but they did it without the help of the man advantage. Fifteen of 18 skaters received at least a point in this game.
Tim Thomas earns is eighth win and going in the books as 8-0-0 this season.
My Three Stars of the Night
Mark Recchi earned one goal and two assists making him the top star of the night.
Sidney Crosby with a goal and two assists: second star.
Tim Thomas made 42 saves and kept his team in it: third star.
The Bruins face their long-time rivals, the Montreal Canadiens at the Garden. Should be interesting to see how the Bruins play back-to-back after playing one heck of a third period.
Ray allen kendrick Perkins Rajon Rondo Glen Davis Nate Robinson
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