SCF Game 5 - at Boston
Chara’s presence in the lineup was inspirational, but I’m not sure it was the best thing for his team. They went with 11 forwards. Really sucked for Backes, but I think it also messed up the rhythm on the bench with line changes. Frankly, he wasn’t effective. He looked off balance often.
Binnington made several solid saves the first half of the first period. Boston had a few good looks.
Barbashev hit (Carlo?) up high. No call but he would be suspended next game. If I were a Bruins fan I’d have been upset it wasn’t penalized. They did get a PP off a delay of game.
Maroon with a nifty pass from behind the net to Bozak. Could have easily been a goal. A little later, Marchand looked like he had a breakaway and the crowd got loud, until Parayko simply erased the chance.
I think Boston looked like the better team the 1st period. Blues got a PP after Marchand pitchforked Binnington after the whistle. At least they didn’t give up a shortie here. I have to say, it felt lucky to get out of the period without trailing. Binnington was sharp and he needed to be.
2nd period the Blues looked like the only team that came out of the dressing room ready to play. Tarasenko with a breakaway that was stopped. Shortly later was on of the prettiest goals of the postseason. Sanford going behind the net retrieves the puck and flips it between his legs on the near side post to OReilly - forehand backhand, up and in as fast as you can say it. I’m reminded again of the critics who wanted Fabbri in instead. Third game in a row with an assist.
Schenn was very physical in this game. He tested Chara’s chin a couple times. Lots of hits involving Acciari, Krug, Carlo, Blais, Schenn and yes, Sanford. This was a heavyweight fight.
This wasn’t the Blues’ best defensive game. There were some breakdowns. Boston had decent looks from high percentage areas. But Binnington kept having the answer. I give credit to the Bruins for applying the pressure and repeatedly creating these chances.
Midpoint of the game, Bruins PP after Perron interfere with Pastrnak. At this point shots were 24-12. Things tightened up a bit as the period went along.
Sanford and OReilly showed some real chemistry in this game. But I have this sneaking suspicion that me and my dog would have looked like we had a little chemistry with OReilly with the way he was playing.
10 seconds left, Krejci blocked a Pietro shot where he outwaited Rask, got around him and put it on net.
3rd Period. Kampfer hit the crossbar from the point. A little later Steen shouldered Krejci who had bypassed the puck, interference penalty. Boston’s PP is creative and scary to watch.
Boston got 2 on 1 twice after. First time mcAvoy shot wide. Second time Krejci thought he’d gotten past a sliding Parayko, but he didn’t account for the long stick sweeping back to poke the puck away. I hadn’t detected this before, but later in the 3rd you could definitely detect some frustration with the Boston forwards with regard to Binnington having their measure.
Parayko had another shot off the inside of the post. Missed it by THAT much.
Bozak trip on Acciari. I always think it was Schenn but it was Bozak. Looking at this again, I think it was going to be both guys penalized: a trip and an embellishment. I don’t know why Acciari throws his leg like that. Either way, it looked like everyone else on the ice but Perron and Rask was playing at 1/2 speed. Krug blocks one shot but deflects it straight back to Perron who got it through Rask’s pads. 2-0 lead and a frustrated and mystified crowd. I remember Brian Burke said he’d talked to the ref and he said it want a trip. I’d love to have heard an explanation of what the ref saw. All I can say is that if rolls were reversed I’d have felt screwed.
A penalty for a high stick on Krug. Boston scores (DeBrusk) before the whistle.
Perron had a total breakaway, missed the net. It was like a 5 minute PK at this point. Marchand low-bridged Tarasenko. Because os course he did. 2 minutes left Binnington’s stick gets slashed out of his hand. Stressful moments. A puck got behind Binnington but Gunnarsson was there to sweep it away.
And mercifully time expired. The Blues were 1 game away and heading home.
Perron jumped the wall off the bench with 1 second left to play so he could grab the puck. Lol, I hadn’t noticed that before.
Chara’s presence in the lineup was inspirational, but I’m not sure it was the best thing for his team. They went with 11 forwards. Really sucked for Backes, but I think it also messed up the rhythm on the bench with line changes. Frankly, he wasn’t effective. He looked off balance often.
Binnington made several solid saves the first half of the first period. Boston had a few good looks.
Barbashev hit (Carlo?) up high. No call but he would be suspended next game. If I were a Bruins fan I’d have been upset it wasn’t penalized. They did get a PP off a delay of game.
Maroon with a nifty pass from behind the net to Bozak. Could have easily been a goal. A little later, Marchand looked like he had a breakaway and the crowd got loud, until Parayko simply erased the chance.
I think Boston looked like the better team the 1st period. Blues got a PP after Marchand pitchforked Binnington after the whistle. At least they didn’t give up a shortie here. I have to say, it felt lucky to get out of the period without trailing. Binnington was sharp and he needed to be.
2nd period the Blues looked like the only team that came out of the dressing room ready to play. Tarasenko with a breakaway that was stopped. Shortly later was on of the prettiest goals of the postseason. Sanford going behind the net retrieves the puck and flips it between his legs on the near side post to OReilly - forehand backhand, up and in as fast as you can say it. I’m reminded again of the critics who wanted Fabbri in instead. Third game in a row with an assist.
Schenn was very physical in this game. He tested Chara’s chin a couple times. Lots of hits involving Acciari, Krug, Carlo, Blais, Schenn and yes, Sanford. This was a heavyweight fight.
This wasn’t the Blues’ best defensive game. There were some breakdowns. Boston had decent looks from high percentage areas. But Binnington kept having the answer. I give credit to the Bruins for applying the pressure and repeatedly creating these chances.
Midpoint of the game, Bruins PP after Perron interfere with Pastrnak. At this point shots were 24-12. Things tightened up a bit as the period went along.
Sanford and OReilly showed some real chemistry in this game. But I have this sneaking suspicion that me and my dog would have looked like we had a little chemistry with OReilly with the way he was playing.
10 seconds left, Krejci blocked a Pietro shot where he outwaited Rask, got around him and put it on net.
3rd Period. Kampfer hit the crossbar from the point. A little later Steen shouldered Krejci who had bypassed the puck, interference penalty. Boston’s PP is creative and scary to watch.
Boston got 2 on 1 twice after. First time mcAvoy shot wide. Second time Krejci thought he’d gotten past a sliding Parayko, but he didn’t account for the long stick sweeping back to poke the puck away. I hadn’t detected this before, but later in the 3rd you could definitely detect some frustration with the Boston forwards with regard to Binnington having their measure.
Parayko had another shot off the inside of the post. Missed it by THAT much.
Bozak trip on Acciari. I always think it was Schenn but it was Bozak. Looking at this again, I think it was going to be both guys penalized: a trip and an embellishment. I don’t know why Acciari throws his leg like that. Either way, it looked like everyone else on the ice but Perron and Rask was playing at 1/2 speed. Krug blocks one shot but deflects it straight back to Perron who got it through Rask’s pads. 2-0 lead and a frustrated and mystified crowd. I remember Brian Burke said he’d talked to the ref and he said it want a trip. I’d love to have heard an explanation of what the ref saw. All I can say is that if rolls were reversed I’d have felt screwed.
A penalty for a high stick on Krug. Boston scores (DeBrusk) before the whistle.
Perron had a total breakaway, missed the net. It was like a 5 minute PK at this point. Marchand low-bridged Tarasenko. Because os course he did. 2 minutes left Binnington’s stick gets slashed out of his hand. Stressful moments. A puck got behind Binnington but Gunnarsson was there to sweep it away.
And mercifully time expired. The Blues were 1 game away and heading home.
Perron jumped the wall off the bench with 1 second left to play so he could grab the puck. Lol, I hadn’t noticed that before.
