The Boston Bruins have among the best strains in hockey, but when we’re being sincere, it’s the unsung heroes that actually have helped drive the bus this season.
With the slew of accidents the Bruins have handled wire to wire, oftentimes it has been the underside six guys getting thrown into completely different roles, and time and time once more they’ve risen to the event. At instances, it’s been Chris Wagner, Sean Kuraly or Joakim Nordstrom which have stepped up, however the record is longer.
Recently, and definitely on Saturday, it was Noel Acciari who made an enormous distinction.
The B’s ahead, centering a fourth line with Nordstrom and David Backes on his wings, had a objective in Boston’s 7-Three pounding of the Florida Panthers, which secured a playoff spot for the third straight season. He additionally mercilessly beat MacKenzie Weegar in a battle. With his objective, Acciari now has set a profession excessive in factors (12), posting 5 targets with eight assists.
All season, its been the “next man up” mentality for the Bruins. And with Kuraly out for roughly 4 weeks, Acciari shall be amongst those that, once more, should up their contributions. Acciari has accomplished his half loads of instances this season, and he’s heading in the right direction to making sure that continues the remainder of the best way.
Here are another notes from Saturday’s Bruins-Panthers recreation:
— On the identical day he signed a one-year deal for subsequent season with the Bruins, Zdeno Chara had a pleasant night time towards the Panthers.
The defenseman tallied a objective and an help, with the objective being the 200th of his profession. That makes Chara one in all simply 22 blueliners in league historical past to attain at the very least 200 targets.
Chara solely trails Shea Weber by two targets for many profession tallies by lively NHL defensemen.
— It additionally was a historic night time for Patrice Bergeron, who additionally had a objective and an help within the victory.
Even although he was enjoying in simply his 59th recreation of the marketing campaign, Bergeron’s objective was his 73rd level of the season, which ties his profession excessive, which he set in his second yr with the B’s.
With seven video games nonetheless to go within the common season, it appears possible the 33-year-old will set a profession excessive.
— The Bruins have been in a position to lean on Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak all season lengthy, to the purpose the place they’ve develop into one of the profitable tandems in franchise historical past.
Halak turned away 31 photographs in Saturday’s recreation, giving him his 20th win of the season. He and Rask now are simply the fifth Bruins goaltending duo since 1970 to every have 20 wins. The final combo to do it was Andy Moog and Rejean Lemelin within the 1989-90 season.
— Connor Clifton recorded his first NHL level Saturday night time, helping on Acciari’s first-period objective.
— Karson Kuhlman, known as up from Providence on Saturday morning, scored towards the Panthers. It was the second objective of his NHL profession.
Thumbnail picture through Robert Mayer/USA TODAY Sports Images