BSJ Game Report: Bruins 2, Sabres 1 - 4th line, Rask help take care of business taken at TD Garden (Bruins)

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BSJ Game Report: Bruins 2, Sabres 1 - 4th line, Rask help take care of business

By Conor Ryan

Jan 5, 2019 • 11:08 pm

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Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 2-1 win over the Sabres in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Bruins taking care of business: The Bruins had seen this play out before — hosting a slumping team without their top player, and dropping the ball. After getting knocked around by the cellar-dwelling Devils without Taylor Hall back on Dec. 27, the B’s did not let the past repeat itself against the Sabres in their final meeting with their Atlantic Division foe on Saturday. Playing without Jack Eichel, the Sabres found themselves hemmed in by the B’s for most of the first 30 minutes of play, with Boston holding a 23-11 edge in scoring chances going into the second intermission.

With regular-season series already wrapping up against division opponents such as the Sabres, Maple Leafs and Canadiens, the Bruins need to capitalize now and give themselves some breathing room in the standings before moving on to a schedule featuring plenty of Metropolitan and Western Conference foes. Saturday was a great step in the right direction for the Bruins, who have now won four games in a row.

Fourth line dominates: Bruce Cassidy was frank following Saturday’s win, noting that the fourth line of Chris Wagner, Noel Acciari and Sean Kuraly was the best line out there for the B’s against Buffalo. He certainly has a point. During the 11:25 of 5v5 TOI that Boston’s fourth line was out there, the Bruins held a 5-1 edge in high-danger scoring chances, with the Sabres unable to do much against the that trio’s forecheck. Going forward, Cassidy mentioned how that trio could be Boston’s starting unit for home games due to their ability to set the tone early. Given the fact they nearly scored 20 seconds into the game, seems like a good idea going forward.

FOUR UP

Chris Wagner: After getting a goal disallowed in the first 20 seconds of regulation due to goaltender interference, Wagner would not be denied later in the opening period. After a rough turnover by Sabres rookie Rasmus Dahlin, Acciari poked the puck ahead to Wagner, who wristed one past Linus Ullmark from right outside the crease for his fifth goal of the season. After putting together a strong couple of weeks together, the Kuraly-Acciari-Wagner line looked pretty good reunited out there on Saturday.

David Backes: The latest candidate for the vacant spot on David Krejci’s wing, Backes certainly had his legs on Saturday — in what was his first game back from a three-game suspension. With Backes out on the ice, Boston held a 6-3 edge in scoring chances — including a 2-on-1 bid that ended with the veteran forward going bar down on Ullmark.




Tuukka Rask:
A goal from
Rasmus Ristolainen
at 17:22 in the third prevented Rask from clinching his first shutout of the season, but Boston’s netminder was still sharp — stopping 31 of the 32 shots that came his way. Since relinquishing five goals against Carolina on Dec. 23, Rask is sporting a .949 save percentage in his next three appearances.


Kid Line:
They didn’t combine for a goal, but a line that had some success in December in
Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson
,
Ryan Donato
and
Danton Heinen
had some signs of improvement upon getting reunited on Saturday. During 11:37 5v5 TOI with both Heinen and JFK skating, Boston posted a 57.89 Corsi For Percentage, while Donato fired four shots on goal. That group still has much to work on, but it at least looks like they’re all trending in the right direction following Saturday’s victory.


ONE DOWN


B’s lose yet another challenge: 
Boston appeared to light the lamp just 20 seconds into the game after Kuraly
 
drove to the net against Ullmark, eventually colliding with the netminder after he had skated to the right post. The puck skittered back out to the slot and right to Wagner, who buried the easy opportunity to make it 1-0, but the goal was immediately called back due to goaltender interference. 
Following a challenge from the Bruins’ bench, the original call stood, with the league ruling that Kuraly’s actions prevented Ullmark from returning to the Sabres’ net.


What do you think?




PLAY OF THE GAME






PARTING THOUGHT


He’s 6-foot-4, but Ristolaine
shouldn’t be picking a fight with
Zdeno Chara
any time soon.




LOOKING AHEAD


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