Rask Shutout Powers Bruins to Lead In Series

For the first time since the 1951 finals, the first two games in the Stanley Cup finals had to go to overtime. Then the scene shifted to Boston for game three, and so did momentum in the series. Unlike the first two games of the series, game three didn't need extra time to decide the game, as Boston came away with a 2-0 victory. The Blackhawks were dealt a surprising blow before the start of the game when star forward Marian Hossa was scratched, but they now have just one goal in the past two games against Rask and the Bruins.

After Chicago had dominated most of game one and the start of game two, it has been all Bruins since then. The first period saw no goals scored but both teams had quality scoring chances. Boston outshot the Hawks 11-10 in the opening period, and both teams came out flying. Corey Crawford and Tukka Rask both had to play good in that opening period and that's exactly what they did. So we got through the opening 20 minutes without a goal. Then once the 2nd period got rolling, Boston seemed to take control of the game. Boston outshot Chicago in the 2nd by a 15-8 total and found the back of the net once. At the 2:13 mark Boston got on the board thanks to Dan Paille's 4th of the playoffs. Boston put the game away at the 14:05 mark when this happened:


For Bergeron it was his 7th of the playoffs, and 2nd powerplay goal in this series, as he scored in game one on the man advantage. With the assist Jaromir Jagr picked up on the goal, it moved him into sole possession of 5th place all time in playoff scoring with 78 goals 119 assists for 197 points. The only guys with more points in the playoffs than Jagr are Glen Anderson (214 points), Jari Kurri (233 Points), Mark Messier (295 points) and Wayne Gretzky (382 points). Jagr is the active leader in career playoff points.

So to the 3rd period we go, and the Hawks started to turn the intensity up. The Hawks outshot Boston in that 3rd period 10-9 but neither team was able to score again. However the final twelve seconds provided fireworks as five penalties where handed out, three for roughing and two fighting majors. But everybody was able to calm down and Boston walked away with a 2-0 win and a 2-1 lead in the series.

Tukka Rask got the shutout making 28 saves, while Corey Crawford took the loss, stopping 33 of 35 Boston shots.

Game four is set for Wednesday night at the TD Garden in Boston with the puck scheduled to drop at 8PM!