Although the Boston Bruins have reached the playoffs five straight years, they've been eliminated in the second round or earlier four times during that stretch. And they haven't won the Stanley Cup since 2011...
Taylor Hall, Bruins Agree to 4-Year, $24M Contract Extension
Jul 22, 2021
Boston Bruins left wing Taylor Hall (71) warms up before Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The Bruins announced they agreed to a four-year, $24 million contract.
"The Bruins are excited that Taylor wanted to remain a Boston Bruin and we are thrilled to have signed him to a multi-year contract," general manager Don Sweeney said. "He is an impact player that brings speed, scoring, skill and two-way commitment to our lineup. He fit seamlessly into our locker room and will be an integral part of our organization's goal to compete for the Stanley Cup."
This comes after an up-and-down 2020-21 campaign for the No. 1 overall pick of the 2010 NHL draft.
Hall signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres prior to the season, but things didn't go as planned. He scored just two goals in 37 games, the team went through an 18-game winless streak, head coach Ralph Krueger was fired and Jack Eichel missed time because of injury.
While Buffalo eventually finished in last place in the East Division, it traded Hall to the Bruins before the season ended.
The forward renewed his game during the playoff chase in Boston and tallied 14 points on eight goals and six assists in 16 regular-season games. He also had two goals and one assist during the Bruins' first-round victory over the Washington Capitals and had a goal and assist during the second-round loss to the New York Islanders.
The late push was much more reminiscent of the player Hall was earlier in his career.
He played his first six seasons with the Edmonton Oilers and was into his fourth year with the New Jersey Devils when they traded him to the Arizona Coyotes in 2019-20. He is a two-time All-Star and won the 2017-18 Hart Memorial Trophy as the league MVP with the Devils behind 93 points on 39 goals and 54 assists.
While Hall has struggled to replicate that production in the years since, he was rejuvenated with the Bruins and is still in his prime at 29 years old.
He can be one of the league's best playmakers and scorers when he is dialed in, and now he will look to make a Stanley Cup run in Boston.
Bruins' David Pastrnak Announces Death of His Newborn Son Viggo
Jun 28, 2021
Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak (88) skates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak announced Monday that his newborn son, Viggo, died recently.
"We have an Angel watching over us and we call him SON. You will be loved FOREVER," Pastrnak wrote on Instagram. "Please respect our privacy as we are going through these heartbreaking times."
According to his post, Viggo Rohl Pastrnak was born June 17 and died June 23.
Pastrnak and his girlfriend, Rebecca Rohlsson, announced in January that she was pregnant with the couple's first child.
A first-round pick by the Bruins in 2014, Pastrnak made his NHL debut as an 18-year-old. The Czech Republic native has spent his entire seven-year career in Boston.
Bruins' Tuukka Rask to Undergo Surgery on Hip Injury; Out Until 2022
Jun 11, 2021
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins turns a shot away against the New York Islanders during the first period in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nassau Coliseum on June 09, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask
announced Friday he's planning to undergo surgery to repair a torn
labrum in his hip that'll keep him sidelined until January or
February.
Rask, an impending unrestricted free
agent, also said he doesn't expect to leave Boston.
"I'm not going to play for anybody
else but the Bruins," the 34-year-old told reporters. "This is our
home. We have three kids with friends in school. I don't see any
reason to go anywhere else at this point in my career."
🎥 Tuukka Rask reveals that he played through a torn hip labrum this season that will require surgery and talks about wanting to return to the #NHLBruins next season: "I'm not going to play for anybody else but the Bruins. This is our home." pic.twitter.com/EbBsppL1Gf
The Finn split
playing time with Jaroslav Halak and Jeremy Swayman during the
regular season, but he returned to a full-time starting role for the
playoffs. He played well, posting a 2.36 goals-against average and
.919 save percentage in 11 starts.
Boston advanced past the Washington Capitals in five games
during the first round, but it was eliminated from Stanley Cup
contention Wednesday with a six-game series loss to the New
York Islanders.
While Rask hopes to
return next season, the Bruins could be forced to make
some tough decisions in the offseason.
The team must account for 11
unrestricted free agents, including Rask, Halak, David Krejci, Taylor
Hall and Mike Reilly, and eight restricted free agents, led by Ondrej
Kase, Nick Ritchie and Brandon Carlo. Boston also needs to keep in mind Charlie McAvoy will be in line for a lucrative extension after
next season.
So whether bringing back Rask, who
counted $7 million against the salary cap in 2020-21, will fit in the
team's plans is unclear. The 22-year-old Swayman, a Hobey Baker Award finalist last year with Maine, posted a .945 save percentage in 10 games during the regular season and will count a team-friendly $925,000 against the cap through 2022-23.
Rask
could need to take a sizable pay cut to remain in Boston, especially
if the front office is confident Swayman's strong play will continue.
Rask, who ranked 13th in Money Puck's
goals saved above expected during the regular season, remains one of the
NHL's most reliable goalies, but Swayman's emergence (he ranked 10th in those rankings) and the high number of players needing new contracts complicates the veteran's outlook.
The 2014 Vezina Trophy winner has spent
his entire 14-year NHL career with the Bruins.
Why Bruce Cassidy's Rant Against NHL Officiating in the Playoffs Has Merit
Jun 9, 2021
Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy stands behind his bench during an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, April 27, 2021. The Bruins won 3-1.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
If it seems like we can't get through an NHL postseason without a coach blasting the officiating, it's because we can't.Â
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are one of the most exciting postseason events in sports. The speed, the skill, the big hits, the energy and the intensity make for an absolutely electric atmosphere. Many of the game's best players are on display.Â
And they're being overshadowed by the guys in stripes.Â
Following a loss to the New York Islanders in Game 5 of their East Division Championship series Monday night, Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy excoriated the officiating. Tuesday afternoon, the NHL fined him $25,000 for his criticism.Â
"This is my take on it: We're playing a team that has a very well-respected management and coaching staff. They won a Stanley Cup (with the Washington Capitals). But I think they sell a narrative over there that it's more like the New York Saints, not the New York Islanders," Cassidy said following Boston's 5-4 loss at TD Garden. The Islanders took a 3-2 series lead. "They play hard and they play the right way, but I feel we're the same way. And the exact calls that get called on us do not get called on them, and I don't know why."
Cassidy specifically called out some missed high-sticking calls. Chris Wagner was whistled for a high stick, one of four Bruins' penalties. The Islanders took two. But more importantly, they scored on three of four power play opportunities, which was the difference in the game.Â
"You've got continuous high sticks every game, the exact same high sticks," Cassidy said. "Maybe we need to sell them more, flop, but that's not us. You just hope they'd see them."
There is a lot to unpack here.
First of all, the "New York Saints" comment was interesting for a few years. Some thought Cassidy inferred that the Islanders were getting a New York City advantage. That notion doesn't really hold up. The Islanders play in Uniondale, on Long Island, with their failed stint in Brooklyn at the Barclay's Center well behind them. Yes, Long Island is in the New York media market, but the fanbase is considerably smaller, so this isn't a team that's getting big-city favoritism.Â
C’mon Sean! It’s OBVIOUS that the NHL would the big market of Uniondale, Long Island in the Final Four instead of the small backwater that is Boston, Massachusetts. https://t.co/Mcv3RfplhQ
If Cassidy is saying they're being favored for being a disciplined team, then that's another issue, because the Bruins have taken 15 penalties in the series and the Islanders only 11, but this fits the same trend of the regular season. The Islanders wracked up 370 penalty minutes in the regular season, which was the third-least in the league. Boston's 533 regular-season penalty minutes were the fifth-most. Clearly, the Islanders are a disciplined team.Â
However, Cassidy isn't wrong to say the officiating was lopsided.Â
The calls ranged from ticky-tack to downright unfair. You could make the argument that Sean Kuraly's slash while trying to defend Noah Dobson was a little soft. Matt Grzelcyk shoved Leo Komarov with a somewhat routine stick to the back and sat for a crosscheck. It's the type of thing that happens tons of times each game, but somehow Grzelcyk was penalized for it.
But the officiating has been bad in other games this spring, and it feels like it's the third-straight year we've been talking about how the officiating changed the outcome on the ice. Maybe it's the fourth, or even the fifth. It's tough to keep track right now.Â
Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers didn't draw a single penalty in the Edmonton Oilers' four-game series against the Winnipeg Jets. He's the best player in the game, so of course his defenders are going to hacking and whacking at him. He was held to just four points. You don't hold a world-class center like McDavid to only a handful of points without bodying up and taking some defensive liberties.Â
Rachel Doerrie, a former New Jersey Devils staffer and Ontario Hockey League scout, helped The Athletic track some of the officiating. After rewatching every one of McDavid's shifts she found 30 missed calls.Â
Also in the first round, Tampa Bay Lighting coach Jon Cooper was justifiably angry after star winger Nikita Kucherov was the recipient of a dangerous slash to the back of the knee off the puck by Florida Panthers forward Anthony Duclair. It was an egregious non-call, made all the more confusing by the fact that Kucherov himself had received a penalty for being shoved into goalie Sergei Bobrovsky earlier in this series.Â
Another first-round comment this year from St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube: "It's terrible. It's so one-sided, it's not even funny."
Coaches are so fed up they're willing to speak pretty freely about it, and management seems happy to pay the price. Last year, Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour ripped the refs in the bubble series against the Bruins, calling the league a "joke." He was fined $25,000 and the team Tweeted out an image of the check signed by owner Tom Dundon.Â
The Final round. The championship round was in danger of being determined not by the play on the ice, but by the referees. Minor changes to officiating and replay review were made after that series, but clearly it wasn't enough because now the issue has hit a fever pitch.Â
This problem has been discussed ad nauseam: The game has sped up on the officials, and they quite literally cannot get out of the way and can't see everything. They are doing the best they can, but changes need to be made in order to put them in positions to succeed.Â
There is a mandate from the league to manage the game instead of officiating by the book. As a result, it's open season on the stars of the game. No one buys tickets to see Fourth-Line Johnny take out Sidney Crosby with a vicious hit. They go to see Crosby score on the power play.Â
It's a stain on the game that the league would rather not have pointed out. It's why coaches have been continually fined for critical comments. It's embarrassing. And the fines seem to have the opposite of the intended effect by drawing more attention to the problem instead of encouraging coaches to shut up.Â
Cassidy's rant has merit. So did Cooper's, Berube's and Brind'Amour's last season. Nothing can be fixed until the NHL admits to having a problem, but until they do finally recognize it, the game remains a little less safe and a lot more unfair.Â
Bruce Cassidy: Islanders Have 'Done a Great Job' Selling 'New York Saints' Narrative
Jun 8, 2021
Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy in the third period of Game 2 during an NHL hockey second-round playoff series against the New York Islanders, Monday, May 31, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy had some thoughts on the officiating after Monday night's Game 5 loss to the New York Islanders, who won 5-4 and took a 3-2 series lead.
After the Islanders used three power-play goals to boost their chances over Boston, Cassidy told reporters the Islanders "sell a narrative" that allows them to get more whistles than their opponents:
Cassidy on the officiating:
"They sell a narrative over there ... It's more like the New York Saints, not the New York Islanders.
"Maybe we need to sell them more, flop, but that's not us.
"They've done a great job selling that narrative, that they're clean."
The Islanders had four power-play opportunities Monday, compared to two for Boston.
Cassidy shared a similar sentiment after Game 4, when the Bruins fell 4-1.
“I think the whole playoffs we haven’t gotten very many calls to put us on the power play,” Cassidy told reporters Saturday.
But New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz didn't have an explanation for the comments when he was asked about Cassidy's frustration after his team's second consecutive victory:
Barry Trotz responds to Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy's "New York Saints" comment
"We were one of the least penalized teams in the whole league, you'll have to ask him" pic.twitter.com/9pDN1gvfhM
The discourse was particularly reminiscent of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, when St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube questioned the calls going against his team.
The Islanders have incurred 78 penalty minutes throughout the postseason, and they've drawn 42 penalties in 11 games played. That's just one more than the Bruins have had go their way, but Boston has 100 penalty minutes in their 10 postseason games.
Of those, 44 minutes have come in five games against the Islanders for an average of 3.58 penalties taken per 60 minutes.
During the regular season, the Islanders drew an average of 2.86 penalties per 60 minutes, ranking third-lowest in the league. Conversely, the Bruins drew an average of 3.54 penalties per game, ranking 10th.
With the extra usage the Bruins' penalty kill is getting, it's suffering. During the regular season, the team finished off penalties at a rate of 86.0 percent, trailing just the Vegas Golden Knights for the best rate in the league.
In the postseason, they're coming out successful on just 75 percent of calls.
With the series on the line in Wednesday's Game 6, the Bruins will have to be better when they're short-handed in order to save their season.
Kyle Palmieri, Islanders Beat Bruins 4-1 in Game 4 to Even Series
Jun 6, 2021
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JUNE 05: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nassau Coliseum on June 05, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
The New York Islanders and Boston Bruins are tied at two games apiece in the Stanley Cup playoffs following New York's 4-1 win Saturday at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
David Krejci drew first blood for the Bruins with 3:57 gone in the first period. The Bruins' lead didn't last long as Kyle Palmieri tied things up at the 6:38 mark, notching his fifth goal of the postseason.
Compared to Saturday's earlier game (a 6-4 victory for the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Carolina Hurricanes), the back-and-forth affair was a welcome antidote for hockey fans who enjoy a defensive struggle.
Notable Performers
Tuukka Rask, G, Bruins: 30 saves, .938 save percentage
Semyon Varlamov, G, Islanders: 28 saves, .955 save percentage
Mat Barzal, C, Islanders: one goal, one assist, three shots, one takeaway
Islanders Not Ready to Say Goodbye to Nassau Coliseum
From the outset, the Islanders showed the kind of urgency you'd expect from a team that knew it was basically in a must-win situation.
The first period set the tone with two fights that resulted in a pair of five-minute penalties for each team. This was a physical game in which the Islanders fed off the home crowd in Uniondale.
Well if this is the last game at Nassau Coliseum, it's a wild one.
While fans are returning to arenas and stadiums in larger numbers, it has still been tough to replicate the kind of atmosphere fans have come to expect in big games with venues not at capacity.
The energy inside Nassau Coliseum was readily apparent to those watching the action.
The performance of Semyon Varlamov can't go unnoticed, either. He was a steady presence between the pipes, and it was a strong response after he let in Brad Marchand's overtime winner in Game 3.
Pastrnak Left to Rue Early Miss
After the scoreless first period, it looked like the outcome would be decided by which goaltender was a victim of bad luck or a critical mistake late in the game. It was a case of the former for Tuukka Rask.
In general, Rask played well. He kept the game deadlocked in the opening frame with a pad save on Anthony Beauvillier. In the second period, he got low to stop a wrist shot from Josh Bailey.
Anthony Beauvillier is going to be having nightmares about Tuukka Rask after this series. That's gotta be 4 or 5 golden chances Rask has robbed him on.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 5, 2021
You would've bet the house on Pastrnak scoring with the net that wide open.
Boston ultimately scored first anyway, and it's impossible to say with any certainty whether the Bruins win if he scores there. But those kind of missed opportunities can take on a larger significance in the playoffs.
What's Next?
The puck drops for Game 5 on Monday at 6:30 p.m. ET in Boston's TD Garden.
Brad Marchand's OT Winner Lifts Bruins to 2-1 Series Lead over Islanders
Jun 4, 2021
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JUNE 03: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins chases down the puck against the New York Islanders during the second period in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nassau Coliseum on June 03, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
After dropping Game 2 in overtime on Monday, the Boston Bruins got one back, defeating the New York Islanders 2-1in overtime in Game 3 on Thursday to take a 2-1 series lead.
Brad Marchand had the winner 3:36 into the extra period for the Bruins, who won Game 1 on Saturday.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 4, 2021
For the Islanders, who earned the 4-3 overtime win on Memorial Day, Mathew Barzal scored the equalizer with five minutes left to play to keep the Islanders in it.
Notable Performers
Brad Marchand, Bruins: game-winning goal
Craig Smith, Bruins: 1 goal
Mathew Barzal, Islanders: 1 goal
Tuukka Rask, Bruins: 28 saves
Semyon Varlamov, Islanders: 39 saves
Craig Smith's Strong Return
On Tuesday, the Bruins played without Craig Smith, who is a crucial piece of the team's scoring depth on their second line alongside Taylor Hall, due to a lower-body injury.
Jake DeBrusk moved up to fill his spot in Game 2, but the return of the veteran who posted 13 goals and 19 assists in the regular season—and the double-overtime winner against the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of the first-round series—was promising for Boston, and he made his return known right away.
Smith opened the scoring from the slot with 5:52 gone in the first.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 3, 2021
Though they were leading heading into the second intermission, the Bruins were outplayed by the home team in the second period. Boston was outshot by two in the first period, but the gap became even more apparent early in the middle frame, though the Bruins came along to outshoot the Islanders 5-0 in the final two minutes of the period.
With the Bruins pushing to increase the distance—and the Islanders fighting to get one—the Boston defense took a serious blow when Brandon Carlo went down on a hard hit against the boards from Cal Clutterbuck.
But the fast-flying offense—and a collapse from the Islanders—kept Boston in it until Mathew Barzal's equalizer at 14:34, which forced the extra period.
Isles' Offense Falters Halfway Through
The Islanders' power play changed the game on Monday, when a five-on-four goal from Josh Bailey tied the game at 1-1, then another power play point from Jean-Gabriel Pageau made it a 3-1 lead at the end of the second period.
But they couldn't capitalize on power plays at the start on Thursday, missing out on an opportunity to tie a shorthanded Boston squad that was up 1-0 after one.
While they fell short on the power play, the Islanders forced Tuukka Rask to earn his keep. After outshooting Boston 7-5 in the first period, the Islanders went into the second intermission with nothing to show for the early domination.
Midway through the second period, the Islanders began to fall apart, and the third frame was all Boston, with the Islanders outshot 8-0 before they finally found Rask's pads at 5:10 of the third frame.
Varlamov was the hero in the Islanders net, making save after save to keep any further damage at bay, but with the offense dropping off halfway through, there was little he could do to solve the problem.
Luckily for New York, Barzal found the back of the net for his first goal of the postseason to tie things up with five minutes to play.
All of a sudden, the Isles were alive again, headed to OT for the second game in a row.
What's Next?
Game 4 is Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET.
David Pastrnak Hat Trick Leads Bruins to Game 1 Win over Islanders in NHL Playoffs
May 30, 2021
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) and defenseman Ryan Pulock (6) react as Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) celebrates his goal with center Patrice Bergeron (37) in the second period of Game 1 during an NHL hockey second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
The Boston Bruins came back from an early 1-0 deficit to win Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the New York Islanders, 5-2, on Wednesday.
David Pastrnak's hat trick led the way as the Bruins star picked up his second career three-goal game in the playoffs.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) May 30, 2021
Equally as important is the fact that Boston retains home-ice advantage with the first two games played at TD Garden. The Islanders struck first with forward Anthony Beauvillier netting his fourth goal in New York's past five games thanks to a deflection on the power play 11:48 into play.
That took all the energy out of TD Garden just after the midway point of the first period .
Goals from Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy helped restore that as the Bruins stormed back to take the series opener.
Boston goalie Tuukka Rask recovered to make 20 saves on 22 shots in the win.
Notable Performers
David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins: 3 Goals, 7 Shots, 16:24 TOI
David Krejci, C, Boston Bruins: 3 Assists, 4 Shots, 2 Blocked Shots
Anthony Beauvillier, LW, New York Islanders: 1 Goal, 4 Hits, -3 Plus/Minus
Ilya Sorokin, G, New York Islanders: 4 Goals Allowed, 35 Saves
Boston Pasta Party
TD Garden opened its doors to 17,000 fans Saturday, marking the largest live audience at an NHL game this season. Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy wanted to take in as many of their faces as he could, and Pastrnak happened to provide the perfect opportunity.
As hats flew to the ice from across the arena to celebrate the winger's third goal of the night, Cassidy couldn't help but spend a minute or two soaking it all in. Icona Pop's "I Love It" blared throughout the arena, followed by Kernkraft 400's "Zombie Nation" with the building growing louder and louder.
"I was trying to enjoy the moment," Cassidy told reporters after the win. "Good moment to look around, see a lot of joy."
He could do that because of Pastrnak's efforts.
David Pastrnak's hat trick is the 25th in Bruins playoff history. He becomes the fifth Bruin to have multiple hat tricks in the playoffs:
Phil Esposito: 4 Johnny Bucyk: 3 Cam Neely: 3 David Krejci: 2 David Pastrnak: 2
The winger was at his absolute peak Saturday, scoring in just about every way a coach would want to see from a playmaker. Pastrnak's first came on the power play in the first period, tying the game at 1-1 after New York goalie Ilya Sorokin gave up a massive rebound to the winger in the left faceoff circle. Pastrnak had the presence of mind to take a few extra seconds to wait for the net to open up before depositing the equalizer.
His second goal was an absolute blast off a one-timer from the same exact spot, making him look more like a pitcher switching between a fastball and changeup to fool Sorokin once again.
Finally, with 4:10 remaining in regulation, Pastrnak charged down the ice in transition, waited for a screen and wristed another right past Sorokin's pads for the dagger.
After a disastrous first few shifts allowed the Islanders to momentarily grab the momentum in Boston, the Bruins came right back and made sure they didn't waste their home crowd.
Once it became clear that wouldn't be the case, Cassidy had to enjoy the moment. His team had earned it.
Sorokin Screens Cause Trouble for Isles
The Islanders' biggest problem Saturday wasn't keeping up with Boston—though the Bruins did edge New York 40-22 in shots on goal. The Isles actually proved they can skate with the B's and made the game physical enough that open space proved a rarity.
Instead, it was Sorokin's ability to track the puck from the crease that caused the most trouble. And it's one that may have him on a short leash in Game 2.
While the goalie made a number of big-time saves in the loss, his rebound control and ability to find the puck made him a massive liability on the back end, especially with so many Bruins shots hitting the net.
Three of the four goals Sorokin allowed came on screened looks with Boston posting up right in front of the crease. Pastrnak's one-timer proved the exception—even if it wasn't much of a consolation.
The problem is clearly twofold for the Isles, and there isn't much time to clean it up.
First, the Islanders need to do a much better job of keeping Boston from screening Sorokin. Whether that's moving bodies out of the way or keeping a defenseman further back toward the crease, New York needs to make a concerted effort to ensure its netminder can see the puck better.
Beyond that, Sorokin can't keep giving up rebounds with so many Boston players camping around the net. That's going to mean sucking in more shots—though hopefully for the Isles he won't have to face another onslaught of 40 or more pucks on net in Game 2.
If New York doesn't prove capable of making things easier for Sorokin, head coach Barry Trotz might not have a choice but to turn to backup Semyon Varlamov to see if he can take any better care of the puck.
What's Next?
Game 2 between the Islanders and Bruins is set for Monday at TD Garden. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Bruins Advance to 2nd Round with Game 5 Win over Alex Ovechkin, Capitals
May 24, 2021
Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrates his goal with the bench during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The Boston Bruins reeled off their fourth straight win over the Washington Capitals, beating the Caps 3-1 on Sunday to advance out of the first round in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Following a scoreless opening period, David Pastrnak drew first blood for the Bruins with 2:28 off the clock in the second frame. While Mike Reilly was credited with the assist, the goal was largely the result of brilliant individual play by Pastrnak.
Patrice Bergeron doubled Boston's advantage with 5:55 left in the period.
Conor Sheary provided a much-needed jolt to the Caps in the third period. He waited just 11 seconds before making it a 2-1 game, pouncing on the rebound from his own effort on Tuukka Rask.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) May 24, 2021
Bergeron took the wind out of Washington's sails with his second goal. It looked like Lars Eller got another back for the Capitals, but the referees wiped out the goal due to goalie interference on Evgeny Kuznetsov.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around what Kuznetsov was doing there. Unreal. #Caps
This is Washington's third first-round exit in a row after lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time in 2018. With Alex Ovechkin set to become a free agent, this could be a pivotal offseason for the franchise.
Notable Performers
Tuukka Rask, G, Bruins: 40 saves, .976 save percentage
David Pastrnak, RW, Bruins: one goal, one assist, three shots
Patrice Bergeron, C, Bruins: two goals, four shots
Conor Sheary, LW, Capitals: one goal, three shots, one blocked shot
Efficiency Trumps Volume for Bruins
Not all shots on goal count the same.
If you weren't aware of the score, you probably would've expected the Capitals to have sailed through comfortably in Game 5. Washington owned a firm 41-19 edge in shots.
Sheary's goal aside, Rask delivered between the pipes for the Bruins.
Eller sets up Sheary for Capitals' best scoring chance so far to right of the net, but Rask is there waiting for him to make the save.
This was also a strong collective effort from Boston's defense. For much of the game, Washington was reduced to taking shots with a low percentage of finding the net.
Washington is taking shots from far out with no traffic on Rask. Doesn’t seem to be ideal.
Coming from behind to take Game 3 turned this series irretrievably in the Bruins' favor. They dominated Washington in Game 4 and were in firm control for the vast majority of Game 5.
Washington started to look a little more threatening after Sheary's opener, yet was unable to capitalize. Boston didn't panic and eventually responded through Bergeron to put the final touches on a dominant performance.
Ovechkin Era Potentially Ends with a Whimper
The Capitals weren't the favorites to win the Stanley Cup this year in no small part because neither of their top two goaltenders had logged a playoff appearance entering the postseason. Craig Anderson, meanwhile, played in just four games during the regular season.
The 11 goals surrendered by Washington over the previous three games underscored what was clearly the team's biggest weakness. Bergeron's first goal came on a shot you'd expect a veteran netminder to stop.
Considering what hangs over the Capitals this summer, the sting of Sunday's loss will be felt even more. Nothing will totally erase what the 2018 triumph meant, but to witness what has transpired since then has to be somewhat deflating for the fanbase.
You know how the end of a gangster movie comes kinda out of nowhere - a couple minor things go wrong and then everything is awful? I really hope that’s not what I’m watching with the Caps
You never want to see a franchise legend leave, but allowing Ovechkin to leave might be the only way for Washington to embrace the transition it sorely needs. There's only so much the front office can do to revitalize a roster that's already projected to carry a $77.3 million cap hit in 2021-22.
The players' lackluster effort Sunday was particularly damning.
Thoughts through 40 minutes: *Pastrnak isnt heating up. He's on fire. Be very afraid, rest of the NHL. *Charlie McAvoy w/6 blocked shots in 16 minutes. This after 3 assists in Game 4. What a stud *Tuukka Rask quietly brilliant in this series *Capitals look ready for tee times
Ovechkin has been the face of the franchise and a reference point for the Capitals for 16 years. It might be time to start over.
What's Next?
Boston awaits the winner of the other East division playoff series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders. The teams are tied at two games apiece.
