Plus/Minus: Griffith, Campbell & Power Play Help Bruins Sink Sharks
BOSTON (CBS) - The Bruins got a big win at home Tuesday night against old friend Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks by the final score of 5-3.
The Bruins have now won three out of their last four games, including two straight, to improve their record to 4-4-0. The B's are finally starting to find their scoring groove, and the biggest difference has been their penchant for attacking the net.
After the game, Dave Goucher and Bob Beers of the Bruins Radio Network provided their analysis of what was the Bruins' best game overall on the young season.
"They've made a concerted effort to go to the net much harder, be it with the puck or creating traffic," Goucher said of the Bruins' improved play. "They were able to do that tonight. The power play was also a factor tonight. Brad Marchand had a power play goal, Torey Krug had one as well. Tonight they got contributions from everyone. Seth Griffith breaks through with a goal, Gregory Campbell on the fourth line scored what turned out to be the game winner. They're getting to the inside as Claude Julien would say. They're going harder to the net and it's been 13 goals over their last three games. It's really paid dividends."
21-year-old Seth Griffith is making the case to stay as the team's first line right winger alongside David Krejci and Milan Lucic, and the rookie sure delivered against San Jose. Griffith scored his first NHL goal at the 4:50 mark of the third period to start a comeback that resulted in the 5-3 win.
"I think we saw his game translating to the NHL tonight. It's a confidence level with [Griffith]. He knows he's good down in Providence, and you get called up in the NHL for a reason. When you call up a scorer you don't put him on the fourth line, you put him on a line where he can score," Beers said of Griffith. "The first line is a good spot for him right now because of the void they have up there. I don't know if he's a long term solution -- I doubt it at this point. I think this year you'll still be searching for that guy. But if he can build on this game and some of what he's been able to build up, the chemistry on that line, then he can help."
Listen below for Dave and Bob's full analysis!
After speaking with Dave and Bob, 98.5 The Sports Hub's Adam Jones broke it all down, giving his three highlights and lowlights from the win in a segment he calls Plus/Minus.
Plus
Power Play
The Bruins were successful just three times in 22 tries on the power play coming into the Sharks game, but thanks to the efforts of Brad Marchand and Torey Krug they were able to get a couple of goals on the man advantage.
"The Bruins finished the game 2-for-3 on the power play. Brad Marchand got his first of the season -- a snipe from the right circle through a screen by Torey Krug. Then Krug would get one of his own, his second on the season, on a set up by Milan Lucic and David Krejci," said Jones.
Seth Griffith
The youngster netted his first NHL goal, and it couldn't have come at a better time.
Gregory Campbell
Campbell returned to the lineup late last week and he made his presence felt against San Jose.
"Danny Paille dumped the puck into the offensive zone, retrieved it and then set up Campbell for the go-ahead goal."
Milan Lucic
"One more. You can't forget about Milan Lucic either," said Jones. "He easily had his best game of the season. Three assists tonight for Lucic."
Minus
Patrice Bergeron
He's someone you almost always have penciled in on the positive side, but it was not the best effort from Bergeron.
"A very down night for Bergeron. A faceoff loss helped set up the first Logan Couture goal. Just 9-of-22 on the draw."
Couture & Joe Thornton Score Just 37 Seconds Apart
That's not good.
Bruins Second Line
"Bergeron, Reilly Smith and Brad Marchand were a combined -6. Bergeron, Smith and Marchand all -2's across the board. Only two shots off that line, both of them from Marchand, which means goose eggs for Bergeron and Smith. Normally a productive line, the Bruins didn't get a ton out of them tonight."
Listen below!
Hear every game of the 2014-15 Boston Bruins season on 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship station of the Boston Bruins. Pregame coverage with Dave Goucher and Bob Beers begins 30 minutes prior to every game!
MORE BRUINS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON
