Bruins 4, Blues 2
(Boston leads Stanley Cup final 1-0)
BOSTON — It was the first parade of the spring in Beantown.
The expectation is it leads to another.
A night that started as we thought it would, with the St. Louis Blues taking advantage of the Boston Bruins rustiness that led to uncharacteristic defensive sloppiness in jumping to a 2-0 on Monday night.
The first game of the Stanley Cup final could have been theirs, so long as they did nothing stupid. Like taking penalties against the best power play in the playoffs.
That’s when the parade started. A parade of Blues to the box.
Five in a row put momentum on Boston’s side, and ultimately win No. 1 in the B’s back pockets.
Through the first 19 playoff outings, they had been lauded for their discipline. They had been called for 54 minor penalties, or less than three a game.
Through 40 minutes of Game 1, the Blues took four penalties.
With the only two box visits in the second, they threw momentum back to the B’s, who outshot them 18-3 in the middle 20. Included in that was a power-play goal by Charlie McAvoy that erased the St. Louis lead.
For good measure, they took another in the third, depriving themselves of two minutes on the attack after Sean Kuraly put the Bruins in front.
“We know what we did,” Blues winger David Perron said after the 4-2 loss. “We went to the box a little too much. We lost our composure. We were not getting to our game enough, below the goal line and things like that.
“I think we’re going to be a lot better next game.”
They could start by not giving the B’s momentum by giving them power plays.
STARTS AND STOPS
A penalty could have been called in the first second of the Stanley Cup final — either on Blues centre Oskar Sundqvist for high sticking or Kuraly for embellishing during an incident off the opening draw. From where we sat it was impossible to tell who was guilty of what … Come to think of it, they don’t call embellishing penalties anymore, do they? … What does it say about expectations of the series when both coaches have their fourth lines on the ice to start the game? … The Bruins “Perfection Line” (Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Backes) and top defence pairing (McAvoy-Zdeno Chara) were on the ice for both of the Blues’ first two goals … Secondary scoring has been aces for the Bruins throughout the playoffs. On Monday, their offence was provided by two defencemen who notched their second of the playoffs, and their fourth line centre — before their star left winger added an empty-netter that kicked off the “We Want The Cup” chants.
NOTES & QUOTES
The Blues were without defenceman Vince Dunn, who should be close to returning from injuries suffered when he took a puck to the face in Game 3 of the Western Conference final. Dunn has taken part in the team’s past two practices. “His teeth are coming in,” said Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo, chuckling at his own words. “He’s getting better every day.” … In the house was New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who was shown on the big screen waving a B’s towel and wearing a wide smile … Kuraly had a goal and an assist and was the first star of the game.
BETWEEN PERIODS
How to increase your popularity with the Bruins fans base, by Torey Krug. Wrestle David Perron in front of your own net for 10 steamboats, even while the play goes all the way to the Blues end, losing your helmet in the process. Get up from that and race all the way down the ice to deliver a huge hit on Robert Thomas. The place went crazy. “I thought I had a chance at an offensive opportunity,” Krug said. “Perron was getting off the ice for a change, so I thought if I could beat him up the ice, maybe be a second wave of attack. The puck came to a perfect spot and I was able to make a good hit. That’s part of the game.” … Said Boston’s David Pastrnak: “He just got a hair cut a couple of days ago, so he was looking pretty good.” … The Bruins’ Connor Clifton had zero goals through his first 28 NHL games. He now has two in his last four, including one in his Stanley Cup final debut … Joel Edmundson looked like he thought David Backes was faking it when the Blues defenceman was called for high-sticking. Backes looked look he was surprised Edmundson felt that way … Pastrnak gave the puck away in a reverse attempt behind the B’s net, leading to the second St. Louis goal. “Obviously, my bad,” he said. “The guys picked me up. That’s the greatest thing about hockey.”
JUST FOR KICKS
You could say Brandon Carlo’s day started off on the wrong foot. While kicking the soccer ball with his teammates in the hallway outside the Bruins dressing room Monday morning, one got away from the big defenceman. “Whoever gets the ball stuck up high has to get it,” Carlo said after grabbing a ladder in the media room. “Tough job to do, but it’s kind of funny when it happens. Guys just stand around until the ball comes down. I don’t think I’ve had to run all the way over and get the ladder before. I’ve gotten lucky where someone’s done it before me, and the ladder was sitting right there. Today was one of my first times doing the walk of shame.”
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly made it though their annual, pre-Cup final media session without being asked any Ottawa questions.
“Amazingly so,” Daly confirmed.
Until this lob ball, anyway: Anything new with Senators ownership situation, Bill?
“Being close to the situation, you know it’s business as usual,” Daly said. They’ve got a new head coach … they’re looking forward to next season.”
OK, so where now is the level of concern with the relationship between ownership and fan base?
“You should ask Eugene (Melnyk) about it as opposed to us … but again, we’re very supportive of the ownership in Ottawa,” Daly said. “Over the course of his ownership great things have happened in that city and for that franchise, and I have nothing bad to say about him.”
Good thing we asked.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
