HOME FIRES BURN FOR SPOONER AS B’S TURN ANGER ON SENATORS
Spooner, Rask star
OTTAWA — When they could not snap their long losing streak to the Washington Capitals on Thursday, the Bruins were frustrated and a bit angry at themselves for letting a big fish off the hook.
They took it out on the poor Ottawa Senators last night.
Ottawa native Ryan Spooner celebrated his homecoming with a pair of goals and Tuukka Rask was good early when he had to be as the B’s trampled over the Senators, 5-0, at the Canadian Tire Centre. After the power play cost them the game in Washington, the Bruins went 3-for-4 on the man advantage to close out 2017 with a 153-2 record in the last month and a half. The B’s have earned at least a point in their last eight games.
Coach Bruce Cassidy tinkered with the powerplay units before the game. David Krejci, out injured the previous six games, returned and was on the second power-play unit, while Cassidy moved Danton Heinen up to the top unit and had Spooner with the second group. The result was power-play goals for Spooner, Krejci and Patrice Bergeron.
“I thought in Washington we actually moved it well and deserved a better fate, but just didn’t finish and tonight some of those went in,” Cassidy said. “The big thing with the group we put together was efficient shot selection. We got to the net. There were second chances and we recovered them. Two we got rebound goals from guys on the elbow who were crashing the net a little more . . . that was the point of emphasis.”
Rask, meanwhile, is 100-1 in his last 11 decisions, with his last regulation loss coming Nov. 26 against the Edmonton Oilers. Last night’s performance was his second shutout in that stretch and of the season. He stopped 25 shots to record his 40th career shutout, matching his uniform number.
The B’s were a tad sloppy in the early going and Rask saw some point-blank chances.
“Tuukka is on his game and focused,” Cassidy said. “He made the saves he had to. Early on they had some jump. We had a stretch there where I don’t think we were as good as we needed to be, but we got through it quickly, he made the saves and off we went.”
Krejci, a key player if the Bruins want to keep running with this ball they’ve grabbed, enjoyed a strong return, recording the goal and an assist. He’s missed 17 games this year with injury.
“I thought he was very good,” Cassidy said. “Lots of pace, good composure, dancing through the neutral zone, making plays. It was nice to have him back and healthy. Let’s hope it stays that way. He’s had his fair share of tough luck this year and hopefully he can stay healthy because he makes us a better team.”
Spooner staked the B’s to a 1-0 lead when, on the power play, David Backes (two assists) tipped a Krejci shot and the rebound popped out to him on the right side. He deposited it into the back of the net for his second goal of the season.
Though the Senators pushed a little at the end of the first period, the Bruins doubled their lead at 3:29 of the second. Torey Krug (two assists) had his initial shot blocked but the puck came back to him, and he dished it to Tim Schaller in the middle of the blue line. Krug got the return pass along the halfwall and then made a nice dish to Noel Acciari in the slot. With Sean Kuraly providing a screen, Acciari beat Ottawa goalie Mike Condon (29 saves) with a backhander for his second goal in as many games.
Spooner then put the hammer down with a great individual play. First he blocked Ben Harpur’s shot out near the blue line and
pushed the puck past the defenseman to give himself a chance for a breakaway. After creating some space between himself and the 6-foot-6 Harpur, Spooner went with his favorite move — backhand, five-hole — and slipped the puck between Condon’s pads for the 3-0 bulge.
“I just tried to get in the shooting lane and I think my stick broke actually when he slashed me on that,” Spooner said.
Krejci scored from the side of the net on the power play later in the second and Bergeron finished the scoring with a tip of a Krug shot early in the third to make it a rout.
Just how good these Bruins can be in the new year remains to be seen — but at this stage, it’s becoming more obvious that they did indeed make themselves a good team in the expiring one.