Boston Bruins players and fans had to be waiting for some type of retribution on Wednesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins after their last meeting on November 24. Well they got it. The Penguins won the November meeting 3-2 in OT, giving Marc-Andre Fleury his 300th win, after not one, but two Bruins goals were disallowed. These “no goals,” one off the stick of Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron, left many Bruins fans upset, especially for a game that went into overtime. Well, there must be a certain amount of solace in Boston right now as the Bruins won Wednesday’s game by a score of 3-2 after their overtime game winning goal, also off the stick of none other than Patrice Bergeron, went to video review and was allowed. Retribution is a dish best served cold and the Bruins and Bergeron did just that on Wednesday night.
November 24, 2014
This was a close, hard fought game and to be honest, one that both clubs needed to win. Going into this Monday night match-up the Penguins had just been swept in a weekend series by the New York Islanders, which put them in a tie with the Islanders for the lead in the Metropolitan Division. The Bruins had a decent November, but just came off a 2-0 loss to their rival Montreal and needed to gain some points to boost their standing in the Atlantic Division. The scoring started early in this one and the first goal was one of the more spectacular goals of the first half of 2014. Just three and half minutes into the 1st period Sidney Crosby drove home this amazing backhand giving the Penguins a 1-0 lead.
After another half dozen minutes of tough hockey the Bruins appeared to tie the game at 1-1 via a tip in by Patrice Bergeron. However, after a lengthy review the goal was disallowed as Bergeron’s stick appeared to be above the crossbar when contact was made with the puck. The Bruins did tie the game at one early in the 2nd period and just 28 seconds later took a 2-1 lead on Joe Morrow’s first, and only, goal of the year. The Penguins responded midway through the 2nd period and tied the game at two with a goal from Evgeni Malkin. Just minutes later “no goal” number two happened for the Bruins after the refs determined that Bruins forward Carl Soderberg intentionally hit the puck into the goal with his hand. The game remained tied throughout the 2nd and 3rd period and went into overtime, where the Penguins won with the game winning goal coming off the stick of Evgeni Malkin just 32 seconds into the overtime period.
Bruins fans, and players, were a little distraught after losing a game in which they had two goals disallowed and then lost in overtime. Here is one example:
And here is another one
https://twitter.com/shafferjason1/status/537073751188578307
It seems clear that some Bruins fans were upset with the result of that game and were eager for the rematch with the Penguins.
January 7, 2015
They had to wait another forty-five days until they met the Penguins again and during that wait the Bruins fell out of a playoff position. Entering Wednesday’s game the Bruins were just outside the Eastern Conference playoff tree as they got ready to drop the puck on the last game of the first half of their season. The game started eerily similar to the one played in November in Boston, with another spectacular Penguins goal coming just three and half minutes into the 1st period. However, this time the goal came off an amazing pass from Evgeni Malkin and was driven home by forward Beau Bennett to put the Penguins up 1-0.
The Bruins responded late in the 1st period and tied the game at one, which is where the score remained heading into the first intermission. The Penguins opened the 2nd period with a flurry of shots and appeared to take a 2-1 lead but a potential go ahead goal by Craig Adams was disallowed due to Penguins forward Zach Sill interfering with Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, with some assistance from Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid. The Bruins then took the lead 2-1 late in the 2nd period with a goal by Patrice Bergeron and the game entered the 3rd period 2-1 Boston. However, just like the game in November, Wednesday’s game was tied by Evgeni Malkin, but this time it was just 14 seconds into the 3rd period and that is how regulation ended, tied 2-2.
As the game entered overtime the outcome became even more significant for the Bruins as the Toronto Maple Leafs lost earlier in the evening 6-2 to the Washington Capitals and a win in overtime would put the Bruins into the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference. They got that win, and retribution for the November loss, midway through the overtime period when a blast from Milan Lucic was redirected home by Patrice Bergeron. It seemed unclear at first whether or not the puck was deflected in by Penguins defenseman Simon Despres or if the puck did come off Bergeron’s stick whether or not his stick was above the crossbar. After another lengthy review the call was made. Good goal, Bruins win.
This time it was Penguins fans who were upset about the calls as one can see in these tweets.
What I don't understand is we can't not see an elfin' Kardashian, but when it comes to one clear view of a high stick nada. #BOSvsPIT
— Tracy (@pittrollie) January 8, 2015
https://twitter.com/Samuel_Geer/status/553036913247264769
Well, it took forty-five days but retribution came for Patrice Bergeron and the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night. The Penguins and Bruins meet one more time this regular season, on Saturday March 14th. Any bets this game ends 3-2 in overtime after one or more goals go to video review?