Unfortunately for Rask, he isn’t entering into a favorable matchup Saturday against the Coyotes, as Arizona has been surprisingly proficient offensively thus far this season, averaging 3.25 goals scored per game in their first four tilts of the 2015-16 campaign.
“I think we’re moving the puck really well and we’re taking what’s open”, said Bergeron. “We’re not trying to force plays right now”, Bergeron said.
If it’s all the same to the Bruins here, they’ve got the wrong Miller paired with Rask.
Boston Bruins’ Tyler Randell, right, celebrates his goal against…
1st Star - Shane Doan (ARI) with 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points as well as his 900th National Hockey League career point.
After emerging victorious for the first time this season, the Boston Bruins vie for their seventh consecutive win over the Arizona Coyotes when the teams meet at Gila River Arena on Saturday. Ryan Spooner made a nice play to grab the loose puck by the net and keep possession, while Torey Krug picked up his sixth assist of the season - five of which have come on the power play. Bergeron then added his third of the season with 1:06 left to seal the win. “They seem to know where they want to go”. This time around they’re just hurting.
Marchand’s short-handed breakaway goal at 4:44 of the third period extended Boston’s lead to 3-1 before the Coyotes rallied to tie it. The play stood as called on the ice, however, and the Coyotes had a one-goal lead through the first period.
Bruins coach Claude Julien challenged the play, looking for a possible goaltender interference call.
Boston outshot Arizona 10-1 at one point in the first period, but Smith was sharp in goal early, turning away several quality Bruins chances. The Coyotes cleared it, but only to the blue-line, where it was shot back in by David Krejci and into the net while Smith appeared out of position holding his stick upside down. After yet another stellar Rask save with the Coyotes shorthanded, the Bruins took the lead on a power-play goal from Krejci on a slapshot from the left circle at 15:19. “When you don’t make two or three passes together it’s hard to get any flow in your game, hard to get any speed”.
Things got a bit nasty during the second period, with Miller engaging in the Bruins’ first fight of the season with Arizona center Joe Vitale. Vitale, Tippett said, was taken to a hospital for X-rays after the game. “Couple of mistakes on puck management”.
The Bruins finally solved Smith at 8:42 of the second after Smith has stopped two shots by Bergeron and a wrister from Colin Miller.
After getting through 20 minutes with the game locked in a scoreless tie, Columbus only managed three shots on goal in the second period. “We’ve got get him a little more focused on the hard parts of the game”, Tippett said.
Boston again dominated shots on goal in the second period, with a 19-3 advantage in the frame and a 33-10 advantage overall.
Boston Bruins fans are happy that forward Brad Marchand is healthy and able to play against the Arizona Coyotes tonight.
Eyebrows were raised when Claude Julien decided to make Brett Connolly a healthy scratch in order to keep Tyler Randell in the lineup, but he was proven right Saturday night.
