Plus/Minus: Rask Shines Against Blues With First Shutout Of Season
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Bruins cooled off the red-hot St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night, shutting them out 2-0 at the TD Garden.
The Blues had won 10 of their last 11 games, but ran into a very stable Tuukka Rask in net. Following the win, Dave Goucher and Bob Beers of The Bruins Radio Network joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's The Adam Jones Show to discuss the victory, applauding Boston's defensive effort against a very good offensive team.
"No question, this is one of the best teams in the league and one of the hottest teams in the league," Goucher said of the Blues. "I thought the Bruins defensively and their approach to team defense was a huge point in this game; their ability to keep most of the shots from the outside and keep St. Louis from getting into a sustained attack. They really limited the quality chances from this Blues team who has been scoring a lot of goals and beating a lot of teams lately."
"Tuukka's game was good and under control," said Beers. "You look back and ask if he had to make any spectacular saves, and the answer is no, but that's because he didn't allow rebounds."
The Bruins got David Krejci back on their top line, and though he was quiet on the stat sheet, his presence on the ice does make a big difference.
"He was strong on the face-off circle, but there weren't a lot of plays that stood out where you said 'vintage Krejci,'" said Beers. "You certainly like to see him back there though, because it puts [Chris] Kelly back with [Carl] Soderberg and [Loui] Erickson, and that line responded with a goal in the second period. It's that trickle-down effect when everyone is back in their positions."
Listen to the full postgame chat with Goucher and Beers:
After his chat with Dave and Bob, Adam talked about the Bruins who stood out and a few who didn't in a segment he calls "Plus/Minus."
Plus
Tuukka Rask: Stopped all 33 shots that came his way for his first shutout of the season and 24th of his career.
Torey Krug: His goal from the left circle through a screen from Soderberg gave Boston a 2-0 lead in the second period.
Matt Bartkowski: He had a big break up against Vladimir Tarasenko in the second period, and finished the game a plus-two with an assist.
Minus
The Officials: It looked like another legitimate goal by Boston was waived off by the officials. Matt Fraser appeared to score on a nice feed from Soderberg late in the second period, but it was waived it off because of "incidental contact" with netminder Brian Elliot.
Third Period: Boston was outshot 15-3 by St. Louis in the game's final frame.
Adam McQuaid: The defenseman left with an injury after blocking a shot in the second period and did not return.
Listen to the full Plus/Minus segment:
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