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Boston Bruins: Anaheim Ducks end B’s 18-game point streak

By Sam Minton

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 10: Anton Khudobin
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 10: Anton Khudobin /
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 In their first game back from the All-Star break the  Boston Bruins were looking to extend their points streak to 19 games. Without Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy, it would prove to be a challenge.

The Boston Bruins have seemed to cool off after the All-Star break. They came into Tuesday’s game looking to extend their epic points streak to 19 games but were unsuccessful as they were defeated 3-1 by the Anaheim Ducks.

Khudobin struggles

It was a rough night for Anton Khudobin between the pipes. He stopped 24 shots and just never looked comfortable. The first goal of the game was a ticky-tack goal. “Dobby” needed to just keep the pad down. Also if Khudobin was able to secure the puck after Cam Fowler’s shot from the point none of this would have happened.

Also, it didn’t help that Zdeno Chara ran into him but still the Bruins need Khudobin to make those saves. Then Adam Henrique sniped a shot by Khudobin and with that, the Bruins were down 2-0.

The two goals were apart of an abysmal first period for the Bruins. They were outshot 15-5 and didn’t even tally a shot five minutes into the game. The Bruins are gonna need to perform better than this when they need to give Tuukka Rask a rest. With Khudobin’s success earlier this season, they know its possible.

Bruins banged up

The Bruins entered the game already without Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, and Noel Acciari. That list got larger after Tuesday’s game. Anders Bjork who was called up after Marchand’s suspension ended up leaving the game after taking a cross check to the shoulder. Head coach Bruce Cassidy spoke about Bjork’s injury after the game.

"“Bjork, definitely upper body, and he’ll miss some time. I don’t know how much.”"

Then late in the game David Backes got lit up like a Christmas tree by Ducks forward Nick Ritchie. Backes was down on the ice for awhile but eventually skated off the ice with the aide of team doctors. Originally when I saw the hit it looked like Ritchie went high on Backes. Bruins players seemed agitated but no one stuck up for Backes and dropped the gloves, but a few minutes later captain Chara was going to bat for his teammate.

Chara delivered a hard open ice hit in the neutral zone. Anaheim Captain Ryan Getzlaf took exception and Chara ended up landing a few punches. This was the most animated I’ve seen Chara in a while. He was yelling at Getzlaf going into the penalty box as well as when he was still in it. After the game Chara spoke about the dust-up.

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"“I think it was just probably his initiation of maybe the hit I made a few seconds prior to that play, step up in the neutral zone…maybe something he didn’t like about that. Obviously I responded and that’s kind of what happened…nobody wants to see your teammate being carried off the ice. Again, that’s something that officials have to, or the league has to, take another look at it.”"

Hopefully, Backes isn’t out for too long as the Bruins need everyone on board with Marchand, and McAvoy out.

Conclusion to an epic run

The streak the Bruins were on were some of the best hockey they have played in years. An 18 game points streak is nothing to scoff at. It was their first regulation loss since Dec. 14th.  They will now go back to the drawing board and look to hopefully make a long run in the playoffs.

This was the 8th straight game that the Boston Bruins allowed the first goal of the game. They were able to come from behind before but they couldn’t on Tuesday. It was a troubling trend that was bound to end sooner or later.

Next: Boston Bruins: Ryan Spooner proving the doubters wrong

The Bruins recalled Peter Cehlarik to deal with the recent injuries and look to start another streak on Thursday night when they play the St.Louis Blues.

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