It's been a few hours and I'm still not sure if Brandon Tanev's first of three goals, scored on a net-front whack-away, ever actually crossed the goal line and beat Anton Khudobin in the first period of a 5-4 shootout loss for the Bruins. Khudobin, for what it's worth, still isn't sure and remains adamant that the puck was scooped into his glove before it crossed the line. I am still not sure that the officiating crew as a whole tonight were actually paid NHL referees or just four dudes that showed up and went ahead with an elaborate and infuriating prank to test Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy's patience as a human being.
And I'm definitely not sure how Brad Marchand, the NHL's overtime king, failed on an overtime-ending breakaway (fatigue is the best/only guess) and again in the shootout.
But I do know that no matter how you slice what could very well be a sneak preview of this summer's Stanley Cup Final, this was one hell of a successful road trip for the Black and Gold, with six of a possible eight points seized by the B's (and points in all four games).
One that was fittingly solidified by yet another ridiculous third-period comeback.
Down by two goals in the closing moments of the second period and looking thoroughly outmatched, an inexplicably dumb Josh Morrissey boarding penalty against Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk allowed the Bruins to open the third period with a five-minute power play.
Given possession from the jump, with some solid movement from the second unit, an unsuccessful offside challenge from Jets coach Paul Maurice following Danton Heinen's laser of a power-play goal then gave the Bruins a five-on-three, and from there David Pastrnak provided the equalizing dagger that knotted things up at 3-3.
When Tanev came right back and scored one of the worst goals you'll see Khudobin give up all season just 53 seconds later, though, it should have been enough to deflate the B's.
But we have to know how this team rolls by now, so Torey Krug's game-tying power-play goal came right on cue. As if you were watching this game on a tape delay.
The Bruins then hunkered down on the back of some late-game stops from Khudobin, and then survived an additional overtime barrage before Patrik Laine's top of the fourth shootout tally could not be matched by Heinen against the Jets' Connor Hellebuyck.
A shootout loss is tough to stomach, especially with the aforementioned chance to win behind what would have been more Marchand heroics, yes. But to salvage a point against a team like the Jets, especially with a two-goal deficit through 40 minutes, is something else. Factor in rolling five d-men and playing Khudobin -- a defense that noticeably struggled to create breakouts and a goalie that looked downright awful for the first two and a half periods of play, mind you -- and it's even better.
This was where the push for first place could have -- and probably should have -- fallen apart for the Bruins. Given all of their injuries and the desperation of the teams they were playing on this trip, a simple four points in four games would have been a success. But like they have all season, the Bruins undoubtedly surpassed those expectations.
To secure points in all four games, the Bruins saw their power play go a stellar 4-for-12 (33 percent success rate), while their penalty kill went a perfect 9-for-9 (100 percent success rate). That latter point, especially for a trip spent without Patrice Bergeorn for half the trip and without Zdeno Chara for the entire trip, is perhaps your biggest takeaway. That ability to see the rest of your roster step up should make Cassidy feel good about his roster and what he can or cannot get away with come round one, no matter their seeding.
But with that 2-0-2 record on the trip, the Bruins successfully kept pace in the race for the No. 1 seed in the East, extended their edge over the charging Maple Leafs for home-ice in the first round at the very least, and return back to Boston just a single point out of first.
And with first place on the line this Thursday night against the Lightning at TD Garden.
Could it get any better? Well, check in around 10 p.m. this Thursday.
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