Late Tip Gives Rags 2-1 Win Over Scuffling Bruins
Just a month ago, it seemed like the Bruins were constantly coming up with new ways to pull a win outta there arses. They accumulated points in 11 out of 15 December games to put themselves back in the thick of the Wales playoff race. But starting with the New Year’s Day disaster vs. the Habs, 2016 has been a pretty shitty year for the Bs thus far.
Last night on Manhattan, the misery continued when a bad-angle tip by Jesper Fast with 1:42 left in the game proved to be the difference as the Bruins dropped a 2-1 decision to the Rangers. The team now has just one win in five January games and has garnered three out of a possible 10 points.
What makes last night’s loss a particular kick in the balls was that the Bs were in a great spot going into the third—up 1-0 with Tuukka Rask—but couldn’t hang on and the fact that they were 102 seconds from snagging an oh-so-precious point but pissed it away. The Bruins have been very lucky that they haven’t fallen below the playoff Mendoza Line yet. They’ve been blowing points left and right lately but still manage to sit in the 7th seed right now with 47 points after 41 games played.
But Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, and Ottawa are all nipping at their heels and aren’t going away. And if the Bs don’t get back to 60 minute efforts soon, it’ll be them who is doing the nipping. They visit the surging Flyers in Philly tomorrow night in a game they really should win if they play Bruins hockey. That’s a big ‘if’ lately.
A few more buds for your bowl…
*Jimmy Hayes notched his 10th goal for the Bs last night to put him on pace for exactly 20 which would be a career high.
*I’m sure they’re out there but it’s tough to blame Rask on the winner. Keith Yandle’s shot, which he appeared knuckleball, was heading about five or six feet wide of the net until Fast’s sweet re-direction. Not sure what you want the goalie to do there. Of course…
*If Kevan Miller didn’t allow Fast to roam between him and Rask, then we’re probably discussing how entertaining the overtime was instead of another shit loss. Miller also had a major hand in the first NYR goal in another tough night for the defenseman. It’s been a struggle for Miller this season but he appears to still have the full confidence of Claude.
*There was just one penalty called all game, a first period high-sticking penalty on Ryan Megna.
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