bruins 4 - leafs 3 (SO)

The Bruins went into the All-Star break as they should have - with a determined win under their belt, and with a renewed confidence in the quality of their team.

However, that doesn't mean their win (last night) over the Maple Leafs was a given. The Bruins were down 3-1 heading into the third period, and quite frankly looked like they had their hands full with the (reportedly woeful) Toronto squad.

The Maple Leafs were obviously playing to the maximum of their ability, and the Bruins seemed to be surprised that they were not easily winning. However, this is the crux of the issue with this season's Black, White and Gold: they have been an extremely effective team when playing gritty hockey, but of late have been losing games by merely thinking about how they've previously won so many. Which is to say, rather than playing the game, they seem to be thinking about how they're going to win it. This seldom leads to positive results in the NHL.

Between the second and third periods last night, TSN interviewed Coach Julien, who said (and I'm paraphrasing) that the team needs to remember who they are, and that they need to grind out the victories in every game.

The Bruins subsequently played a better third period, finishing checks, fighting for loose pucks, and (inevitably) getting a couple of goals to tie the game. The scoreless overtime brought a shootout and Michael Ryder was the difference on a cross-body snap shot to the high corner on Toskala.

The thing that sticks with me after last night's game is the determined look on the faces of the Bruins. Tim Thomas, often a bit of a joker in nets, was uncharacteristically stoic between whistles. He stared into the middle distance and did not smile. Zdeno Chara, who again had a monster of a game, was the image of impassioned intensity when he scored the tying goal with about 4 minutes left in the third.

To me, that suggests that while the Bruins got off to a relatively slow start, they eventually recognized the need to play at their maximum potential and that brought about the win. Given the rollercoaster they've been on lately, this is a a positive step toward the post-season where nothing matters except gutsy, despite-the-odds wins.

And now they've earned a few days rest.

The full Bruins squad next play on January 27th, when they welcome the Capitals