Finnish goalkeeper Tuukka Rask he has had his first defeat since returning to the NHL. And not quite any kind. While at the season’s premiere, the 34-year-old Stanley Cup winner in 2011 caught up with the Boston Bruins to win over the Philadelphia Flyers and only cashed twice, he had a completely different story on Tuesday night.
Instead of the distressing Flyers, they arrived at the TD Garden Carolina Hurricanes, who are chasing the forehead throughout the NHL. And in the end, they did not miss the Czech striker Martin Nečas, who became part of the covid protocol and will be out of the game for a few days.
The guests took the victory 7: 1. For the Bruins, a cruel sobering up after a series of five wins. In the first period, 12 shots from Hurricanes hockey sticks went to Raska, and five of them ended up behind him. With the strength of the Raleigh team, it was practically painted.
The wrestling night had an extraordinary start for the Bruins, as they weaned the No. 22 jersey worn by Willie O’Ree. It was on Tuesday that 64 years have passed since the Hall of Fame became the first dark-skinned player to join the NHL. He was wearing a Boston jersey in a duel against the Montreal Canadiens in the Montreal Forum. For both seasons (1957-58, 1960-61), O’Ree worked in the Bruins jersey.
But then there was a tough fight for points. And the Hurricanes performed right from the opening minutes. Already at 6:03, they led Teuv Teräväinen and the only two-goal duel shooter, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, 2-0.
What about the fact that then their series of defended weaknesses ended. In the 12th minute Patrice Bergeron with the assistance of David Pastrňák, he reduced it, but that ended the home team and they did not add any more goals. Carolina has not collected in a numerical disadvantage since December 7 and a duel with the Winnipeg Jets. Her players defended 35 opponents in a row.
However, they did not let themselves derail. After only 13 seconds, they had a two-goal lead back when Kotkaniemi re-entered. And when they prevailed in the 17th minute within 56 seconds Seth Jarvis a Derek Stepan, the score increased to a threatening 5: 1. No wonder, instead of Rask, he went to the goal area from the second part Linus Ullmark.
“I should help the boys a little more,” Rask said. “If my teammates don’t have legs, you have to step out of line as a goalkeeper and perform a few interventions at the moment. And I think I should have had two or three interventions in the first period to keep the score tight. It was just one of those evenings when you can’t do anything. “
“But you will learn one thing over the years – you are never as bad or as good as you think. You will learn to keep it at a similar level and just trust the whole process,” added Rask, who signed a one-year contract after July 11. January.
Then it was just over. After a goalless second period, the Hurricanes added two more pieces in the third act, as they established themselves among the power play shooters. Jacob Slavin and Andrei Svechnikov.
Six winners scored at least two points. The defenders of Slavin and Tony DeAngelowho managed to catch three. Slavin had a balance of 1 + 2, DeAngelo 0 + 3. For Slavin, it was even the sixth NHL game with at least three points. Only three players in the history of the Hurricanes / Hartford Whalers have experienced more than three players: Dave Babych (12), Mark Howe (12) and Zarley Zalapski (7).
“When the team plays so well, it’s easy to jump back in,” said Slavin, who returned to the squad after having to miss two matches due to the covid protocol. “It was easy because the boys fought hard for success. We only focused on getting off to a good start.”
“We entered the match right from the start with well-set heads,” Stepan praised. “This was one of the good games in which we did a lot of the things we wanted from the beginning. That’s what you need on a consistent basis. Nothing will change when you go to the next one.”
The Hurricanes (balance 26-8-2) are in sight of the leadership in the Eastern Conference, and they have several good matches against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, who are ahead of them. As well as other challenges of the season.
The Bruins (22-12-2), on the other hand, hit the ground hard. “Such a performance would be a problem against anyone,” said the defeated coach Bruce Cassidy. “We are working on our game and we have been playing well lately, definitely better than at the start of the season. But not today. There was nothing in our game. The opponent was much better than we were in every way.”
