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Bruins open season with win over Rangers 01.19.13 at 9:42 pm ET
By DJ Bean

The Bruins started things off right Saturday, opening the 48-game season with a 3-1 win over the Rangers at TD Garden.

Milan Lucic got the Bruins on the board in the first period thanks to a nice play that was started by Andrew Ference. The veteran blueliner hit David Krejci with a pass at the Rangers’ blue line, and Krejci fired a snapshot that yielded a kick save from Henrik Lundqvist that bounced right to Lucic. The 24-year-old buried the rebound to give the B’s a 1-0 lead.

Daniel Paille made it 2-0 in the second period, sending a pass to Gregory Campbell in the neutral zone and hustling to the net to deflect Campbell’s shot past Lundqvist. That goal woke the Rangers up, however, as New York picked up its play and cashed in on a Brad Richards wristshot from outside the right circle that went through a crowd and beat Tuukka Rask top shelf stick-side.

As usual, the Bruins sent the fourth line out following the goal, and both Shawn Thornton and Gregory Campbell tried to help the Bruins regain momentum by dropping the gloves with Mike Rupp and Stu Bickel, respectively. The fights occurred three seconds apart from one another.

The B’s managed to add to the lead in the third period thanks to Johnny Boychuk, who was celebrating his 29th birthday Saturday. Boychuk threw a wristshot toward the net that went off a Rangers player and the seemingly the stick of Patrice Bergeron before finding its way past Lundqvist. The goal was credited to Boychuk, though to the naked eye it appeared Bergeron may have gotten a piece of it.

The B’s will return to action Monday when they host Blake Wheeler and the Jets in a matinee at TD Garden. They’ll face the Rangers again Wednesday in New York.

WHAT WENT RIGHT FOR THE BRUINS

- It was good to see Lucic get off to a good start, as the power forward entered the season surrounded by questions of what kind of shape he kept himself in during the lockout. Lucic went without a goal in the first six games last season and hadn’t scored in a season opener in the first four years of his career.

- The B’s came through with a huge five-on-three penalty kill in a one-goal game in the third period. Thirty seconds after Lucic went off for boarding Carl Hagelin, Patrice Bergeron was caught in the Rangers’ zone and Rick Nash sped through the Bruins’ zone and split Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg. Chara hooked Nash, giving the Rangers 1:30 of five-on-three play without the Bruins’ best defenseman on the ice. Seidenberg, Bergeron, Chris Kelly, Johnny Boychuk, Adam McQuaid and Andrew Ference did a masterful job limiting the Rangers, and Ference eventually drew a hooking call on Nash with 20 seconds remaining in the Chara penalty.

- Dougie Hamilton did what the Bruins wanted him to do: Play smart hockey and limit mistakes. The 19-year-old played the first shift of his NHL career on the power play thanks to a Carl Hagelin interference penalty 19 seconds into the game.

Hamilton was paired with Dennis Seidenberg and was credited with two shots on goal and three hits on the night.

- The Rangers took a too-many-men penalty with 58 seconds remaining and Lundqvist pulled, effectively ending any shot at a two-goal comeback in the final minute.

WHAT WENT WRONG FOR THE BRUINS

- Henrik Lundvist turned in an easy candidate for save of the year when he snagged a David Krejci who into a wide open net just before it crossed the line with the B’s on the power play in the third. The goal appeared to be such a sure thing that the spotlight actually came on for a second to celebrate the goal, but the reigning Vezina winner was quick to turn it off. The play was reviewed and upheld.

- Speaking of interference penalties, there were three such calls between the two teams, and there were four in the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia game. Looks like the calls will be a bit tighter, at least early on in the season.

- Ference had a bit of bad luck, as he made the long pass to Krejci that led to Lucic’s goal, but he got off the ice for a change before Lucic put the puck in the net. He was then on the ice for Richards’ goal, so he had a minus-1 rating despite having played a major hand in Boston’s first goal.

- In the what-else-is-new department, the Bruins’ power play struggled and went 0-for-7 on the night. It was particularly sloppy in the first period and got better looks as the game went on, but the good news is that the B’s also kept the Rangers without a goal on their five power plays.

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  • Uncle Buck

    Solid all around job by the Bruins.  I thought Hamilton looked solid and Tuukka made the key saves he has to make. Is there a better face off center than Bergeron ?  This team is solid top to bottom. The Rangers are one of the better teams in the league and the Bruins handled them nicely. I guess all the haters who are boycotting hockey this year are going to miss some great action. I kept thinking through the whole game, the NHL needs to shorten the schedule to 70 games max, and contract/relocate the southern (poor market) teams.  I won’t hold my breath.

  • Sicko

     Yeah, and for some reason beating those New York hose bags makes it all the sweeter………

  • Fab4ever

    Tuukka Time. 2 “U’s”, 2 “K’s”, 2 points.
    The Rangers play the game the right way…that’s a very good team. Lundvist is almighty good! I am just happy to have the NHL back….

  • Legend

    uncle slob and fab the greaser the only thing you two skated was work.

  • Sicko

     Krusty the loser pops up again. What are you at McDonalds weaseling free internet?!?

  • Sicko

     Enjoy your free reign now krusty the douch e because when you come back home you’ll once again be banned from posting. Ahh, I can hardly wait. Oh BTW I think you owe Fab an apology for not believing he could get you booted.

  • Bruinman86

     Yeah, solid game indeed.  Always nice to stick it to the Rangers.

  • Bruinman86

     Legend in your own mind…..

  • Fab4ever

    And this ID will go the way of the dodo bird….maybe not today, tomorrow but it will go away…

  • star

    main chicken farmer.

  • Sicko

    Don’t worry my friend, as soon as his Village People reunion down in Florida is up and he has to come home, he’ll once again be blocked from posting.

  • ILoveHockey

    B’s really looked solid, I was thinking it might be to the B’s advantage to play the Rangers early in the year, for a couple reasons. First off, I don’t think the Rangers have a history of starting off hot and also, with some turnover on the team they are probably not going to play their best hockey yet- but make no mistake that is going to be a team to contend with.

    The only thing that I think might drop a bit for the Rangers is their toughness- Rupp is a tough guy- but beyond him nobody that scares me. I can’t believe that Thornton regularly drops the gloves with these guys that are that much bigger than him and wins (as he did last night) or at least holds his own.

  • Bsox67

    That save on Krejci was one od the sickest saves i’ve ever seen.  Nice to see the B’s finally slip a few past Lundqvuist.

  • ILoveHockey

    yeah it was- man I was really wishing they would have called that one a goal!

  • ILoveHockey

    Glad to see WEEI put the NHL back on their scoreboard bar!!!!!!

  • Chrisindanvers

    Much better than I had expected from the first game without a training camp. You can definitely tell that some players were playing overseas, during the lockout, which I think helped. I totally agree about Rask and Hamilton…they looked solid. And, Borque, looked good, too. Nice to see Lucic score the first goal of the season and get on track. Krecji looked strong in the game, too.

    Great way to start, considering I thought they would get off to a shaky first few games. They looked strong and physical. Should be a good rivalry with the Rangers/

    Totally agree with the point about hockey scores not being on the WEEI scoreboard bar. I had tried to check at one point in time last night and no luck. Glad to see they are back.

  • ILoveHockey

    not sure if it was me but seemed Krecji was a bit more physical last night than I remember- not saying you are going to confuse him with Thornton, but he seemed to have a bit more in him on the forecheck

  • tk

    B’s are back BABY!  The CUP will be ours.  GO B’s!!!!!! 

  • Anonymous

     I feel bad for Chris Bourque on the open net miss. Got a bit too excited, I guess. 

  • Fab4ever

    And there were cheap goals…..that kid is the real deal…..

  • Fab4ever

    Thankfully it wasn’t a game changer….he’ll learn…

  • Uncle Buck

    No question it was a great save, but the glove (and the puck) were clearly over the goal line.  

  • Uncle Buck

    I think I heard Jack Edwards refer to Bourque being a “top six” forward.  Not too sure about that, but he seemed to have his legs last night despite some anxiety.  I think when he settles in he will be a valuable chip.  I still cannot get over what great all around players Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly are.  They fly under the radar most of the time, but they are strong two way players with some talent and lots of grit.  Great Bruins.

  • ILoveHockey

    I will start this by saying I’m no fan of Jack Edwards- just to put the Bias right out there. That being said whether you like him or not I think everyone can agree he is not a very accurate announcer- he often gets calls wrong, players wrong, plays wrong. Half of Bricklet’s time speaking is spent correcting Jack. But you are right he did say that- and you are also right about him not being a top 6 yet.

    As fat as peverley and kelly- I love them being on this team- they put this team over the top as far as depth in rolling all the lines. I know it was only one game- no biggy- but i was surprised at how little I noticed them last night. They will make a difference in the long run

  • Fab4ever

    I respect your opinion on jack but I’m in the camp that he brings a certain excitement to tge game…sure, he’s over the top but annoucning is so different from what we came from, if you’re old enough to remember…guys like Fred Cusick, Johnny Pearson, even Turk Sanderson…one thing I do admire about Jack is his take on what ESPN was and what’s become. He walked away from that circus when they began chasing ratings…maybe I love the team and game so much that I tend to block out what he says or doesn’t say….he comes up with some pearls…..Brick is the consumate color guy…BTW, both were UNH standouts…Brick in hockey and Jack was an outstanding soccer player while they were attending in Durham…Now it feels like winter….

  • iLoveHockey

    I understand you side as well and I am more of an old school fan, as far as announcers go. I can see we’re his excitement can be appreciated, my problem with him is he gets so excited he forgets to get it right. Then brick steps and corrects him.

    Couple things I thought were good by Edwards – the sheriff Shane Hnidy quote and the 2 U’s, 2 K’s, 2 points

  • Uncle Buck

    I’m pretty neutral on Jack.  I like some things about him but it does seem he gets himself caught up in the moment at times.  What I like is he let’s his emotions go such as the time he screamed at Hamrlik to “get up” after the dive up in Montreal… But I can easily understand why some folks find him irritating.  My favorite is Dave Goucher who I think should be in line for Gil Santos’ job.  

  • Sicko

     Yeah, I agree Edwards can be a clown at times and his little in game speeches drive me nuts. The only thing I like is the fact he announces just like one of the fans would. He reminds me a lot of Derek Sanderson but on play by play. I thought Dale Arnold use to do a good job and was sad to see him go.

  • Fab4ever

    He does have his moments…I do believe his enthusiasm is genuine…and I loved his comments about the strike and its effect on the regular Joe who depends on income derived from the Bruins..
    One of our problems in Boston is we had the benefit of enjoying true pioneers in broadcasting…and it’s a tough act to follow…think of the guys…Johnny Most (the ultimate homer but he was hysterical), Curt Gowdy, Ned Martin, Ken Coleman, Fred Cusick and the soon to be departing Gil Santos….that’s a pretty lofty crew if you ask me….

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