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Boston Bruins: The B’s didn’t lose game 4 (but they are down 3-1)

By Sam Minton

BOSTON, MA - MAY 4: J.T. Miller #10 of the Tampa Bay Lightning defends Kevan Miller #86 of the Boston Bruins during the second period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 4: J.T. Miller #10 of the Tampa Bay Lightning defends Kevan Miller #86 of the Boston Bruins during the second period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Bruins now have quite the challenge. They “lost” game 4 and now need to win 3 straight games.

The Boston Bruins played some great hockey on Friday night. Game 4 was a great showing of what playoff hockey is all about. Well except for one thing.

Bear with me folks, but I need to get this off my chest. The NHL has an officiating problem.  The refs have been horrible for the entire series. This isn’t just a Bruins problem. There have been some questionable calls on the Lightning as well, but the Bruins are getting the brunt of the punishment.

The game-tying goal was the result of a missed call. Charlie McAvoy got held and tripped By Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov used his stick and free hand which caused McAvoy to fall to the ice. Then he passed the puck to Steven Stamkos on a silver platter and boom the game was tied. Let’s not get started on the Noel Acciari stick lift that sent him to the box.

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It would be one thing if the refs made one damning call, but we are reaching double digits. Now as my keyboard is sparking up due to the ferocity of my typing let’s look at the players on the ice.

Wheres the depth?

The Boston Bruins got production from every line in the regular season. Now the Bruins depth seems to have been evaporated out of thin air like Thanos just snapped his fingers.

Once again the Bruins got production solely from their first line. Now don’t take this as me bashing everyone else. Ryan Donato had a great game. I love these lines that Bruce Cassidy created except for one player (we will get to that later).

The Bruins special teams were phenomenal on Friday night. The Bruins scored two goals on the powerplay and one on the penalty kill. David Pastrnak whacked a puck out of midair to make it a 2-1 game late in the first period. Then the next two goals would be scored by Patrice Bergeron.

Both of the goals came to fruition due to amazing passes. Torey Krug ran a great give and go play while on the man advantage and Brad Marchand fed Bergeron with the perfect pass to give the Bruins the lead.

At least the Bruins were finally able to get some pucks in the net.

Let’s talk about Tuukka

Well Tuukka, I’ve been supporting you this whole series. You have been great in net, but you gave up a rough goal to start the game. You have to secure that rebound. Now Rask recovered nicely and made some big saves later in the game, but especially with the way the game ended you wish he could have made the save.

Speaking of the end of the game, boy was that an awful play by Brian Gionta. A simple stick lift and maybe the game goes an entirely different direction, but ole man Gionta decides to just sit there and watch Dan Girardi score the game-winning goal. That is one mistake that Bruce Cassidy made. Riley Nash should have been out there on Friday night.

Hopefully Cassidy will keep similar lines. I like how Donato played and think he earned a spot in the lineup on Friday night.

Another obstacle arises

The Bruins also now have to deal with an injury. Torey Krug went into the boards and it wasn’t pretty. His ankle went in a direction ankles normally aren’t supposed to go. He didn’t return to the game after suffering the injury in the third period and I don’t think we will be seeing him for game 5. It looks like Nick Holden will be playing in the do or die game on Sunday.

It is now win or go home for the Bruins and this is the only thing I want to remind skeptical Bruins fans.

Next: Let's talk about the Zebras

P.S. I am not here for everyone complaining about Brad Marchand licking people. It isn’t a big deal. People are making it seem like it’s the worst thing to happen in Hockey. Let’s relax. I for one love how Marchand goes all out trying to get under people’s skin.

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