Goucher: 3-On-3 Overtime Is 'Like A Pickup Game On The Pond'
BOSTON (CBS) - The hometown hockey team grabbed their second win of the season over the Tampa Bay Lightning, picking up a couple of points in the process in front of the TD Garden faithful.
The Bruins have been dreadful in the shootout this season. They entered the evening having lost seven straight shootouts, but the B's were able to buck that trend Thursday night in a 3-2 win, improving to 7-0-1 in their last 10 games.
Coach Claude Julien's feelings on the shootout are well known. He hates them. Lots of people do.
To avoid shootouts you probably need to change the format of overtime from 4-on-4 to 3-on-3, which fans were lucky enough to get a taste of as a result of a Chris Kelly hold and an Alex Killorn embellishment 51 seconds into the extra frame.
It was awesome.
Following the game, 98.5 The Sports Hub's Adam Jones recapped the win with Dave Goucher and Bob Beers of the Bruins Radio Network.
"I like the 3-on-3. I would like to see it adopted by the NHL as they move forward here. In the American Hockey League this year, 75 percent of the games were decided in the overtime before it ever got to the shootout. To me, I think you want to see games decided in more of a team effort," Goucher told Jones.
"I liked what we saw of it briefly tonight. There's a lot of room out there. It's almost like a pick-up game on the pond. The Bruins were due for a shootout win and they were finally able to get one tonight."
Boston has been on a hot streak as of late, and they've been able to separate a little bit from Florida in the standings. But with 15 games remaining, a playoff berth is still far from certain.
The upcoming schedule for the Bruins is not an easy one. They have back-to-back games every Saturday and Sunday for the rest of the month of March. So now the question becomes is how much do you -- or can you -- ride goalie Tuukka Rask in net while still trying to chase points?
Rask has played in 56 games so far this season, tied for third in the NHL.
"My guess is that Rask will probably see back-to-back this weekend, and I imagine [Niklas] Svedberg will probably see that game Tuesday night against Buffalo. You play Saturday and Sunday, and that would give Rask a break until Thursday," said Bob Beers. "That'll give Rask a few days off."
Boston's improved play gives them options in net, and will afford them the luxury of picking and choosing their spots to rest Rask ahead of the playoffs.
"The Bruins have been able to give themselves a bit of a cushion here in this whole race. It's something that if you went back three weeks they really didn't have this," Dave Goucher added.
Listen below for the full game summary and analysis with Adam Jones, Dave Goucher and Bob Beers: