Bruins get it done in an unusual game

I got out of the Northeastern women's hockey game at about 9:15 last night, fully expecting the Sabres to have already put the finishing touches on our very collapsible Bruins team. I had been checking to score in between periods and was receiving text updates from a friend, so I knew pretty much what was going on. He had relayed a message that said "tied now, most f***ed up shit just happened." That meant nothing to me. A 3-1 lead for the B's in Buffalo is nearly worthless.

I was thinking that I could have written the script for this game before it even started. "Boston comes out hard, showing desperation, and gets on top of Buffalo before the Sabres storm back, scoring three goals in just a matter of minutes before distancing themselves in a 5-3 victory." But it wasn't that easy.

Turns out when I got to Uno's just around the corner, the third period was just beginning because a Buffalo goal with 53 seconds left in the second period which was not initially signaled was then awarded as both teams were preparing for the third inside the locker room. Nearly ten minutes later, then B's emerged from the dressing room, forced to re-play out the final 53 seconds of the second period with the score tied at three.

It was a situation I feel like I've nearly seen and thought about in depth during those instances but had never actually witnessed until last night. The near save by Thomas on the play was a spectacle in itself. On what should have been an easy gift, a bang bang play, a sharp pass from Jochen Hecht across the crease to a wide open Briere for the slam dunk, Thomas somehow got his stick on the puck, deflecting it out of the next just as it completely crossed the goal line.

After allowing two goals in 47 seconds for the imminent temporary collapse against Buffalo, the B's bounced back with a decent third period. Both teams had their chances, although Buffalo probably had the better of them. After a scoreless overtime, both keepers looked solid in the shootout. Finally Tenkrat's snap shot found its way into the net on yet another reviewed play. Nonetheless, the B's walked out of Buffalo with crucial, and very strange, 4-3 win. Next on the menu is a very able Philly team and then red hot Toronto. Three points or more out of the next two mixed in with a few more Rangers/Islaners/Canadiens losses and we will be back in business.

Note: Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau have been nearly vacant from the Flames' scoresheet, despite a trio of high scoring games since the two arrived. And Ference is already looked pretty good.

And in college hockey, Northeastern blew a 3-0 third period lead in Providence, in "it's called Bruins" fashion. But last night, our team didn't quit.