Been Here Before: Bruins Already Focused On Game 2
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Bruins have been here before.
After fighting back from a 2-0 and 3-2 deficit Thursday night, all of Boston's missed opportunities caught up to them as they dropped Game 1 to the Montreal Canadiens, 4-3 in double-overtime. For the second straight series they find themselves in an early 1-0 hole.
But for the battle-tested Bruins, they aren't about to get discouraged after just one game.
"You don't get frustrated after one game," Bruins coach Claude Julien said after the loss. "I didn't mind the way our team played tonight. We had lots of chances, and sure, we fell behind 2-0 but we showed some resiliency and came back. I thought we carried the play for the most part, and obviously in that first OT period, the only thing is we have to find a way to bury those great opportunities we had. That's probably where there are some regrets there in not burying those chances."
"I thought we dominated the game. I thought even when they got onto the lead, you know we had chance after chance," said forward Jarome Iginla. "They were just a little tougher going in – some nights that happens. Tip your hats, goalies were very good. But at the same time we had chances and on other nights they go in. It sucks not winning that one, but we played well and like I say I thought we controlled that game and you know, we play that way we'll get some good results."
Torey Krug On Game 1 Loss:
The Bruins had their chances against Montreal netminder Carey Price, who ended up stopping 48 of the 51 shots Boston sent his way, not to mention the other 30 shots his defensemen blocked and the 17 the Bruins errantly sent his way throughout the course of the evening.
Dougie Hamilton rung the post during a second period power play. Milan Lucic whiffed on a wide open feed from David Krejci in the third period. Brad Marchand blocked what could have been a game-winner by Torey Krug in overtime.
The chances were there for Boston, they just didn't bury them. That has to change in Game 2, and the Bruins know it.
"We had enough chances, we just have to find a way to find the back of the net and do a better job at screening, getting loose pucks on rebounds," said Patrice Bergeron, who assisted on Krug's game-tying goal in the second period. "It's playoffs, so obviously not getting too high or too low is key. Now it's about Game 2 -- about being better next game."
"Obviously we're all disappointed about the loss, but we definitely want to take a lot of positives out of that game," said forward Daniel Paille, who made his postseason debut Thursday night. "We know we need to work on a few things, special teams being one of them. Overall, we felt—I guess I wouldn't say happy—but we put in a good effort and it was just a few scoring chances we just couldn't finish it. But those were the breaks tonight and unfortunately we couldn't come out on top."
Boston dropped the first game of their first round series against the Detroit Red Wings, but won the next four straight to clinch the series in five games. Back in 2011, the last time they faced the Habs in the playoffs, the Bruins dropped the first two games in Boston before evening things up with two straight wins in Montreal. They ended up winning that series in seven games, in overtime, en route to their Stanley Cup title.
So they're not worried about being down in the series after just one game.
"We've been in this situation before," said Bergeron. "We have to be better next game."
"There's so much leadership and character in this room that it rolls over onto the younger guys," said forward Riley Smith, who got Boston's scoring started with his second goal of the playoffs in the second period. "And you know, we're always battling back and there's always a chance with the talent we have in this dressing room."
After some quick film study on Friday, the Bruins will be ready for Game 2 on Saturday afternoon.
"There's no panic here. It's game number one here," Julien echoed.
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