Bruins-Red Wings Game 4 Plus/Minus: B's Top Line Comes Alive
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Bruins are just one win away from advancing to the second-round following Thursday night's dramatic 3-2 overtime Game 4 win over the Red Wings in Detroit.
The Red Wings came out flying and had a 2-0 lead in the second period, but netmider Tuukka Rask kept his Bruins in the game with some jaw-dropping saves and Boston flipped the switch after Torey Krug cut the deficit midway through the second. Carl Soderberg, who was everywhere on Thursday night, set up the equalizer for Milan Lucic early in the third period, and Boston's top line broke out of their slump with Jarome Iginla netting the game-winner with six minutes left in overtime, sending the Bruins back to Boston just one win away from advancing.
The 98.5 The Sports Hub's Bruins radio team of Dave Goucher and Bob Beers joined The Adam Jones Show following the game, and said getting that first line going will be key for Boston in Saturday's Game 5.
"That line had to be heard from; they had been a dominant line for the Bruins all year long and really didn't have much going through the first three games of the series and the first two periods in Game 4," said Goucher. "The third period, and especially the overtime, it was a different story. That overtime goal was the kind of shift we're used to seeing from them when they're on their game."
While Boston's top line picked things up, it was a rough night for forward Brad Marchand. "The Little Ball Of Hate" missed two open net opportunities on Thursday night, and at one point was dropped from the second line alongside Patrice Bergeron and Riley Smith.
"I'm not 100 percent sure why he was taken off that one shift," said Beers. "It could have been because he was just out there on a four-on-four, or it could have been because he went after Zetterberg after a whistle and Claude Julien wanted to reel him in. He didn't take a penalty, but it could have been a situation where it was 'take shift off here and get yourself back.' There could have been a number of reasons, and ironically the Bruins scored right after.
"He had two open nets, and he has to bury them," said Beers. "His game is off right now. When he's on his game he's real good at getting into the offensive zone, pulling up and finding people coming late, and using his speed to drive wide. He was on the ice a lot (in Game 4) and he got knocked down a few times maybe trying to do too much. He tried to beat some guys one-on-one, beat some guys in some different situations, and it wasn't happening for him.
"They'll have a chat with him, calm him down, and he can rest a little easier knowing his team came through around him. But there have been a lot of articles written around here about him being a pest and not crossing the line. That's fine but now the play has to come along with it," said Beers. "He definitely has another level he can get to."
Goucher & Beers break down Game 4 with Adam Jones:
Bruins-Wings Gm 4 Recap w/ Dave Goucher and Bob Beers
Plus/Minus From Game 4:
Plus
Jarome Iginla: Scored game-winning goal in OT, and finished the game with three shots and five hits in just over 20 minutes of ice time.
Tuukka Rask: Finished the night with 37 saves. Rask kept Boston in the game as the Red Wings came out on fire in the first period, stopping 14 of 15 shots.
Dougie Hamilton: He had a beautiful secondary assist on the Bruins' game-tying goal, and his wrister in overtime led to Iginla's game-winner.
Minus
Brad Marchand: He missed a pair of wide open nets.
First Period: The Red Wings came out on a mission, and scored their first power play goal of the series just four seconds into the man-advantage in the first period.
Bruins-Red Wings Game 4 Plus/Minus:
Bruins-Red Wings Game 4 Plus/Minus
Tune in to every Bruins playoff game on 98.5 The Sports Hub -- the flagship station of the Boston Bruins. Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes prior to every game!
MORE SPORTS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON
