Bruins Fall 5-4 To Jets In Shootout
The Bruins came back twice in the third period to tie the game against the Jets. But ultimately, they came up just short as they fell 5-4 in a shootout to conclude an eventful, emotional night in Winnipeg.
Boston battled back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game 3-3 in the third period, then later answered a Winnipeg goal to make it 4-4. Patrik Laine netted the eventual winner in round four of the shootout for the Jets.
Brandon Tanev scored his first career hat trick for the Jets in the victory. Dynamic Bruins rookie Ryan Donato also scored his third career NHL goal with a beauty in the first period.
The game was also quite physical, with one particular moment appearing to cross the line when the Jets’ Josh Morrisey hit Matt Grzelcyk. And there were also a handful of questionable decisions by the officials.
There’s a lot to unwrap from this one, but here’s a quick recap…
Highlights
To describe Tanev’s first goal as “questionable” would be an understatement. The call on the ice was that the puck completely crossed the goal line, yet no credible video evidence indicated as much.
But Donato scored the equalizer with just 53 seconds left in the first. With an assist from David Krejci, he snatched a takeaway and snaked around ex-Bruins defenseman Joe Morrow to get to the slot, where he roofed a backhand over Connor Hellebuyck.
Tanev quickly put the Jets back on top just 16 seconds into the second period, when he caught Torey Krug way out of position and beat Marchand on a rush to fire one through the five-hole of Anton Khudobin.
There wasn’t much to Morrow’s goal that put the Jets up 3-1 in the second. Just a rocket from the point that beat Khudobin. But it was a slick backhand pass from Mark Scheifele that set it up.
But as the Bruins have shown so many times this season, they’re far from done down two with a full period to go. During the extended power play to start the third frame, Danton Heinen grabbed a fortunate bounce and ripped it past Hellebuyck to cut the Jets’ lead to 3-2.
And just 1:51 later, still on the power play, the Bruins tied it 3-3 when David Pastrnak fired a one-timer from the slot.
But just 53 seconds later, Tanev completed the hat trick when he was somehow able to finish a wrap-around on Khudobin. The goalie certainly wishes he could have this one back:
And once again, the Bruins showed their relentless resilience when Torey Krug tied it up with a bomb from the point to tie it 4-4.
More Takeaways…
— The Jets’ Josh Morrisey should almost certainly get a call from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for his hit on Matt Grzelcyk at the end of the second period. He left both feet and led with his arms up high into the back of Grzelcyk’s head. Grzelcyk left the game and didn’t return with the injury, which Bruce Cassidy termed an upper-body.
The Bruins defenseman had himself in an extremely vulnerable position, but that really doesn’t matter in this situation. It’s a reckless, dangerous hit by Morrissey either way, one that should result in some form of supplemental discipline. Especially if Grzelcyk has to miss more time.
Another look at the hit on Grzelcyk. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/SmIrpllDC8
— Currently Nameless (@Tashville401) March 28, 2018
— The first goal for Winnipeg could certainly be placed in the “phantom” category. No video evidence suggested that the puck completely crossed the goal line, but unfortunately the original call on the ice was a goal. So Bruins fans had to live with the officials making a questionable call.
https://twitter.com/mattdolloff/status/978833848900431872
— Kevan Miller took a two-minute minor for boarding for this hit on Tanev, which looked about as clean as it gets. And in fact, Tanev may have sold this one a little bit:
https://twitter.com/TheRenderNHL/status/978822949967941633
All in all, quite the game with plenty to talk about on Wednesday. Hopefully, this turns out to be a Stanley Cup Final preview. It would be a fun series.
The Bruins earned six out of a possible eight points on their four-game road trip. They return home on Thursday to face the Tampa Bay Lightning, just one point out of first place in the Eastern Conference.
— By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at [email protected].
