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Boston Bruins Grind for an Unfortunate Loss in Overtime

By Heather Hilley

Apr 17, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center Noel Acciari (55) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center Noel Acciari (55) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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In the first period of Game 3 Round 1, Boston Bruins hosting Ottawa Senators, I uttered a lot of “what are ya doing?” under my breath.

If you were watching I don’t have to explain the standing around, the turnovers, and the sheer amount of time on ice for Zdeno Chara. However, early in the second, the Boston Bruins regrouped to score back to back goals bringing the score to 3-2 Ottawa.

When David Backes left the game with a slash to the wrist from the Sens’ Dion Phanuef, I figured for sure he was hurt. He’s not a player who fakes it. I was surprised at the lack of penalty minutes toward Phanuef because it was the same call Brad Marchand took the last two games of the regular season. Marchand was suspended two games, got thrown out of the game, and got five minutes in the penalty box. Phanuef got only two minutes.

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Answering on the power play, David Pastrnak top shelved a goal to tie the game with the camera shaking as the Garden lit up and Backes came back in the game to boot. There was still a fire within the Bruins. Game 3 by Boston was largely successful due to the youth on the team; Charlie McAvoy, Tommy Cross, David Pastrnak and Noel Acciari. Respectively, they had a 1st Career Playoff Goal, Assist in Playoff Debut, 1st Career Playoff Goal and Goal in Playoff Debut as was displayed on my screen by CNBC.

The third period was still solid for the Bruins with back and forth action, winning faceoffs, shots on net and the Bruins’ typical dump, chip and chase mentality. On the other hand, lack of forechecking and keeping someone at the top of the slot led to some missed shots.

I have to wonder something, though. Why did it take three face pops from Ottawa’s Methot to finally get a penalty? Boston’s Tim Schaller, a recipient of Methot’s last cheap shot, finds himself in the box too. I’ll answer my own question, because the referees almost always alter the game with bad calls or in some cases, no calls.

Towards the end of the third period, it was apparent that the Ottawa defense was tired from chasing the B’s around their own zone.

After all the work done by Boston, I was thinking they just couldn’t lose. Experience, unfortunately, told me I would be waiting for a penalty against Boston to ruin it all and the refs did just that in overtime.

Boston forward Riley Nash took an elbow to the face against the boards and wound up in the box. Subsequently that horrendous call and a bad change by Boston led to  Bobby Ryan’s goal to take the overtime win for Ottawa.

After all the overlooked penalties during the course of the game, they called that one?

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Game 3 was stolen from the Bruins by the officials. It’s a shame. It’s a shame but nothing Boston fans aren’t used to.

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