Bruins Roundup: Bruins start strong, Ference gives back
Bergeron scores a goal during the shootout against Winnipeg Jets. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Hockey is finally back and the Bruins are off to a great start for the shortened season.
On opening night on Jan.19, the Bruins hosted one of their biggest rivals, the New York Rangers. Goals from Milan Lucic, Gregory Campbell and Johnny Boychuk, helped the Bruins win the home opener 3-1.
Lucic said he was thrilled with the way the Bruins played the first game.
“That’s also one of the things we tried to touch up on this week of practice, is go over our systems again and getting back to being defensively sound and having those good, quick breakouts, and even being quick in the neutral zone,” Lucic said. “So it was great to see that everyone was fired up for this game, especially against one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and all of the NHL, and it was good to see that we rose to the occasion.”
After winning the first game of the season, the Bruins stayed at home to host the Winnipeg Jets on Jan.21.
Although the Jets scored the first goal of the night, the Bruins followed it up about 13 minutes later in the first period to tie the game, 1-1. The game was scoreless through the rest of regulation and went into overtime. After an unsuccessful OT for either team, the game went to a shootout. Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin both scored for the Bruins, locking in another victory for Boston.
On Jan. 23 the Bruins hit the road for a rematch against the New York Rangers. This game did not turn out like the last against the Rangers.
Even though Brad Marchand, Nathan Horton, and Lucic were able to score one goal a piece, bringing the game into overtime, the Bruins couldn’t hold up against the Rangers. Just 27 seconds into overtime, New York Ranger Marian Gaborik, who already had two goals on the night, scored the winning goal, marking his first hat-trick of the season.
The 4-3 loss was the first Bruins loss of the season.
“It was good to see us battle back after the start that we had,” Lucic said after the game in reference to the Bruins two-goal deficit going into the second period. “They were able to get that two-goal lead, and that’s what ended up costing us in the end.”
On Jan. 25, the Bruins traveled back to Boston to host the New York Islanders. The Bruins showed that they were not letting the Rangers loss affect them and won the game, 4-2.
After a first period goal by Shawn Thornton, the Islanders came back minutes later with a goal of their own. Tied up going into the second, the Islanders were first to score, leading the game 2-1. Less than five minutes later, Campbell tied the game at 2-2, a score that lasted into the third period. Goals from Zdeno Chara and Bergeron in the third secured the Bruins win over the Islanders.
Before getting back on the ice for the Bruins next game against the Hurricanes, Andrew Ference decided he wanted to give back to the community.
Ference and daughter Ava painted canvases for project 351. (@NHLBruins)
On Jan. 26, Ference, joined by his daughter Ava, 7, took part in Project 351, a non-profit organization designed for 8th-grade students in Massachusetts to help make a difference in their community.
Ference and his daughter painted canvases, made care packages and crafted fleece blankets for a local housing development which helps the elderly and disabled.
Ference said that it is important to him that his daughter takes part in these types of projects with him.
“She’s been involved coming to things… seeing what life is like outside of her bubble. It’s important for me, as a parent, to show her what makes this a special city and makes this a special state is that people do things like this,” said Ference. “Now I see her and she’s right into it, and she’s getting her hands dirty, and it makes me really proud.”
On Monday, Jan. 28, the Bruins will hit the road once again to take on the Carolina Hurricanes. The game will be televised live at 7 p.m. on NESN.
