How about that one folks? The sky was falling this past week for Bruins fans overly concerned about the team’s round robin play that saw them piss away the 1 seed and fall all the way to the 4 slot.

After having their game postponed last night due to a 5OT game between Columbus and Tampa, the Bruins Canes were forced to move their game to the very normal 11am start time Wednesday with a double overtime game of their own.

Anyone who thought the Bruins were in trouble after a poor effort in the round robin games had every right to be concerned. Outside of maybe a period in the Tampa game, the team looked completely out of sorts. Scoring chances were few and far between and the Bruins never held a lead in those three games. Players insisted they were treating this as a preseason and that, due to no fans in the stands, home ice didn’t hold any real value to risk injury for.

Well, it appears they were right to take that route. Not only did they avoid the 12th seed Montreal Canadiens and all the ghosts that come with them, but they draw a Carolina Hurricanes team that they easily swept in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals.

The Good Stuff:

The top line got their swagger back with a late first period goal to even the score at one thanks to a perfectly executed faceoff play by the Perfection Line.

Charlie Coyle, who has been one of the best forwards for the Bruins this season and was far and away the best player in the round robin, banged one home in the second to go up 2-1. Carolina can cry all the way to their dorm rooms about Mrazek covering the puck, but you need to have your glove on the puck for more than 0.3 seconds to get a whistle.

Where’s he from again?

David Krejci is a playoff assassin. When that guy gets rolling in the postseason it’s a scary scene for opposing defensemen. Guy is an absolute problem in the postseason.

The Bad:

Jake Debrusk, woof. DeBrusk had two great looks right on the doorstep, hitting the post in one and missing all 4 by 6 feet of the net in the second. Tough go for a guy looking to get paid as a top 6 winger this offseason.

The Powerplay looked downright awful today. This game should have been a blowout if the Bruins could have been at least competent on the man advantage. If this team wants to make a deep run they need to get that group back on track. A shorty 21 seconds after taking a 2-1 lead certainly doesn’t help the cause. Pasta simply can’t try to make that pass.

Tuukka had an okay day and was solid in overtime, but the game tying goal in the third needs to be stopped. I’m a Tuukka guy and I’ll die on his hill defending him any day of the week, but as an elite goalie in the playoffs this puck can’t squeak in, screen or not.

The Overtime Goal:

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the donkey they road in on, what a beautiful goal that was. Just an incredibly smooth entry through the neutral zone from Marchand and Pasta to set up the game winner from Bergy. This line is so back. 1-0 series lead in the books. See you tomorrow night.

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