Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrates with defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) and left wing Brad Marchand (63) after scoring the game winning goal in the second overtime.(Photo Bob DeChiara USA TODAY Sports)
BOSTON As it turned it out the angst over goaltending in the city of Pittsburgh was directed toward the wrong puck stopper.
The debate was about which Pittsburgh goalie should start Game 3 but the Penguins' real problem was their inability to solve Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask.
The Finnish goalie made 53 saves to outduel Tomas Vokoun and lead the Bruins to dramatic 2 1 double overtime win that puts the No. 1 seeded Penguins on the verge of elimination in the Eastern Conference finals.
He's really giving us the saves we need the energy and the momentum that we need in order to do the job in front of him said Bruins center Patrice Bergeron.
Bergeron scored the game winner at 15 19 of the fifth period to end the longest Bruins' game since the 1990 Stanley Cup Final.
BOX SCORE Bruins 2 Penguins 1 (2OT)
At five periods everyone is tired Rask said. But it's more of a mental challenge.
The Bruins up 3 0 in the best of seven series can complete the sweep with a win Friday in Game 4 (8 p.m. ET NBC Sports Network).
The Penguins came into the series as the league's hottest scoring playoff team averaging 4.27 goals per game but the Bruins have limited them to two goals in nearly 11 full periods.
The Bruins killed all six Pittsburgh power plays in Wednesday's game dropping the Penguins to 0 for 12 in the series.
It was hard fought all over the ice and we threw a lot at them said Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma. We threw a lot at them in regulation we threw 50 plus shots and we played exactly how we wanted to play just couldn't find the second goal.
Rask has stopped 108 of 110 Penguins shots for a .981 save percentage.
SCHEDULE Dates results and TV
He has been our most consistent player all year long and he just proved that again said Bruins forward Chris Kelly.
Rask stopped 10 shots by Evgeni Malkin eight by defenseman Kris Letang and seven by James Neal. Chris Kunitz got the only shot past him tying the game 1 1 at 8 51 of the second period. David Krejci had given Boston a 1 0 lead 1 42 into the game.
The game winning play started with 41 year old Jaromir Jagr winning a puck battle against Malkin.
He's a pretty strong individual Rask said.
Bergeron said Jagr's play was indeed the fire starter
He's pretty much a legend Bergeron said. He's a guy who is going to be in the Hall of Fame at some point and he's doing the little thing right there just to fight for the puck.
Jagr got the puck to Brad Marchand who got the puck to Bergeron. Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik was draped over Bergeron who still got the shot away.
The shot beat Vokoun who was solid with 38 saves after being pulled in Game 2.
That's the playoffs said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. That's how it works sometimes. I thought we deserved better but they found a way to get the big one in overtime.
PHOTOS EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Last SlideNext Slide
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar