Boston Bruins rally to beat Detroit Red Wings, take 3-1 series lead

Apr 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Bruins right wing Jarome Iginla (12) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against the Detroit Red Wings in game four of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. Boston won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Bruins out-dueled the Detroit Red Wings in Game 4 of their playoff series on Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena, winning in sudden death overtime, 3-2.

Boston was able to shake off a poor opening period while rallying to overcome a two goal defecit. Detroit will be facing elimination in Game 5 as the Bruins now hold a commanding three-games-to-one series lead.

Detroit had an immediate surge of energy in their play with the return of captain Henrik Zetterberg and Todd Bertuzzi to the lineup. They pushed the pace of play through the first half of the game and had the Bruins on the ropes.

The Bruins weathered the storm and kept themselves within striking distance.

Niklas Kronwall scored in the first period and Pavel Datsyuk scored Detroit’s second goal in the second to take a 2-0 lead over the Bruins.

As the game progressed, Detroit began to break down defensively and the Bruins asserted themselves physically. The scoring chances began to mount because the Bruins started to dominate the puck. It was another relentless effort and Detroit’s believability was slowly, but surely deflated.

Torey Krug‘s power play goal at 10:14 of the second completely changed the game. He rocketed a blast from the point that beat Jonas Gustavsson, cutting the Red Wings lead in half. Milan Lucic than jammed home a doorstep goal after Carl Soderberg set him up at the start of the third.

Later in the third, Brad Marchand had a golden oppurtunity to win it on a net-front feed from Krug. Marchand directed the biscuit just wide of an open cage.

The intensity was at it’s highest point of the series in this tilt. Both sides traded chances down the stretch, but ultimately overtime was needed to settle the score.

Boston manhandled Detroit in the extra frame. They outshot the Red Wings, 12-3. 13:32 into overtime, Dougie Hamiltion flipped a shot on goal and Jarome Igina, who was parked in front, defelcted in the game-winner.

Justin Abdelkader did have the best scoring chance of the overtime though. He broke in alone on Tuukka Rask, deked a few times, but was stoned.

Rask’s ability to keep a calm demanor certainly proved valuable. He saved 35 shots in the win and has allowed just four goals in four games.

Boston had just a single win all season when trailing by two goals at any point in a game. Their veteran savvy, workman like effort, never say die attitude and great poise resulted in yet another impressive win.

When the Bruins return home on Saturday, they’ll have a chance to eliminate the Red Wings and advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.