Bruins top Panthers, 4-1

            The Boston Bruins found themselves in a dogfight Thursday night with the Florida Panthers. It was one of those games that Boston will find themselves thanking their lucky stars as they exit the rink. The final may have been 4-1 in favor of the Bruins, but this tilt was a lot closer than the score indicated. Boston was able to score two goals in the opening period and it was all they would need. Florida responded by dominating play through the third period. The Panthers simply outworked and out willed the Bruins. Fortunately for Claude Julien and his men, being the superior team paid dividends.

            The Bruins started out like world-beaters, picking up first period tallies from Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron. Chara blasted a rocket by Panthers net minder Scott Clemmenson at 3:55 of the first. The goal made it back-to-back games in which the Bruins captain has scored and it was his sixth of the year. Then at 14:56 Patrice Bergeron was able to deposit his seventh of the season, giving the Bruins a 2-0 lead on a strong net drive.

            Florida would cut the deficit in half, as forward Shawn Matthias buried a short hander just 3:10 into the second. The Panthers responded in a big way. They abruptly took the game over and seemingly made every Boston move a thing of great difficulty. Florida ramped up its pressure in all three zones, amplified its physicality, and did all they could in pushing Boston to the brink.

            The Bruins appeared as if they were going through the motions for much of the second period and this lull continued into the third. They played brutally sloppy hockey, turning the puck over frequently, essentially handing Florida several scoring chances. Tuukka Rask was the difference in this game, bailing out the Bruins time after time. Rask saved 29 of 30 shots on his way to win number 14. His fourteenth win ties him with Carey Price for most in the NHL.

            A full sixty-minute effort should have been the Bruins main priority tonight. It was a thirty-minute effort at best. Their passive play, careless puck handling, and lack of focus nearly did them in. In the end, it was Florida’s inability to convert that gave Boston this game. The game was there for the taking and the Panthers simply couldn’t get it done. In the closing minutes of the third, Shawn Thornton found the net, banging home a lose puck for his third of the season. Patrice Bergeron later added an empty net score that put this one on ice. Two points is two points, Boston won’t argue that.

            Despite looking erratic for much of the night, the Bruins improved to 18-4-3. Boston continues on as one of the best in the NHL, making it ten wins in thirteen tries. Aaron Johnson filled in for the Adam McQuiad who was a scratched earlier in the day. Even though Boston failed to string three periods of fundamental hockey together, many things worked well. Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and Tyler Seguin showed no signs of slowing down. Tuukka Rask looked rested, energized, and focused.

            With the win, Claude Julien passed Milt Schmidt, moving him to second on the all time Bruins wins list. Boston will rest, regroup, and prepare for a showdown with Washington Saturday afternoon at TD Garden.