Bruins 3, Ottawa 1: Khu beat the Senators? Khudobin
Khudobin
There’s seemingly no limit to the goaltending depth in the Bruins’ organization.
Well, I wouldn’t go that far. But tonight in Ottawa Anton Khudobin let the Bruins know that they’d be in good hands in the short term if he’s called upon, and that maybe down the road he wants a legitimate chance to win an NHL job.
Khudobin made 44 saves on 45 shots, including 17 of 17, in the first period, in the Bruins’ 3-1 win against the Senators, who failed to wrap up the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Ottawa could still finish eighth with a regulation loss, a Washington win and a point by the Florida Panthers in the season finale for all three teams Saturday.
We already knew this wouldn’t be a playoff preview because the Bruins left Tim Thomas, Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron home. But we had no idea the Bruins were going make Khudobin work extra hard for his day’s NHL pay.
With Tuukka Rask healing and working out, Khudobin’s services might not be needed. However, now the Bruins know that the 1.40 goals-against average Khudobin compiled in six NHL games prior to tonight might be somewhat reflective of his capabilities.
The Bruins conclude the regular season Saturday against Buffalo, which was eliminated from contention tonight.
▪Congratulations go out to rookie defenseman Torey Krug. The Boston free-agent signee recorded his first NHL assist, even if the scorekeeper stretched the rules a little bit. Krug started a play that finished with a Milan Lucic goal on the back end of a give-and go with David Krejci in the third period.
▪Lucic’s 26th goal pulled him within one of Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin for the team lead. So Lucic still has a chance to lead the Bruins in goals for a second straight season.
▪Adam McQuaid didn’t take a shift after the early part of the second period. There was no useful update from the Bruins on the defenseman’s status.
▪Greg Zanon scored his first goal with the Bruins. The score was also his second point since joining Boston.
▪The Bruins have now won nine straight on Ottawa’s home ice.
▪With an assist, Brian Rolston now has at least one point in nine of his last 12 games. Benoit Pouliot has a goal in four of the last seven contests.
Yah I figured I’d throw it out there for discussion. Torts does it for sure to draw media attention possibly away from his players. I have watched many a you tube on him and geez he is a reporters nightmare.
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Terry
I agree with Clemens. Torts trys to draw attention to himself regarding his comments. My guess is his grating personality will, in the playoffs, wear thin on his players. I prefer Julien’s style. He sticks to his principles and is workman-like approach is much better in the long haul. He keeps the focus on a team concept, not what his opponents are up to.
However, Torts rants against some New York media types are entertaining.
Well, if this is rip on the pens day, I’ve gotta say, Tort’s comments weren’t too far off from reality, and they would be spot on when directed towards the canucks. Milbury’s rant also had the glimmer of truth behind his usual fountain of refuse, namely that Crosby really isn’t that nice a guy on the ice and that he needs to do a better job of keeping his mouth shut off the ice. I don’t really like watching Crosby because despite all his fancy moves, he’ll try to hurt people from time to time, not just tell them what’s what, but actually try and hurt them. And that’s the way the rest of the team plays too, so I personally hate the way the pens play more than any other team in the east. At least the Flyers will fight you…
Torts is a loudmouthed jackass. He has a point about the Pens, but it falls on deaf ears cuz he makes stupid comments all the time. Like when he calls out the Devils for causing that brawl to start the game last week, even though Torts chose to start his tough guys after finding out the Devils were doing that. He could’ve just started his first line and skated circles around them. And implying the refs intentionally called the winter classic a certain way is stupid and makes the sport looks bad. I much prefer Claude or someone like him that follows the pats way and just stays quiet. Win with class, not with a braying douche like Torts.
Off topic but if Claude ever retires I want Tortarelli from the Rangers. The guy calls it like it is. There is such a bias in the NHL towards the Penguins and Canucks it is crazy. Tort’s gets fined $20,000 for those comments what did he really say ? Big grinding teams B’s, Rangers, philly always get the shaft from the brass. I for one would like to see Betman and his merry band get some stones and tell Sid the kid and Malkin keep your head up. Next guy who even breathes on those two will get suspended guranteed. Oh yes let us not forget the league protection for the Sedin sisters as well. Tortarelli is a stand up guy!
You have to hand it to Chiarell, Neely, Julien, and B’s scouts. Anton played well last night. (certainly that gives the team flexibility if someone gets too money hungry) Krug, if you pair him with someone like Boychuk or McQuaid, looks like he could be a regular next year. He moves the puck well, could be on the last pairing of D’men, with some time on the power play. Zanon has done a real good job lately, and is starting to block more shots. I hope that they give Lucic and Sidenberg a game off, before the playoffs. Great news about Boychuk!
This goalie was fantastic. I’m hoping though this didn’t Washington 7th place, meaning, if Washington wins Saturday and Ottawa loses, Washington could be playing Boston in the first round. If Florida gets a point they will, if they lose in regulation they will play Florida. Ottawa has New Jersey who has been hot lately. Washington has the Rangers which could go either way, depending on who the Rangers dress. I would hope that the Rangers want to keep first overall in case they make it to the final, but maybe resting Lundquist is more important to them. Florida has Carolina which could go either way. Carolina can surprise you sometimes. All in all I hope we don’t get Washington. They know how to beat us.
Great game in nets by Whodoubthim, but I’m not ready to hand the reigns (back-up or otherwise) over after one game.
I hope that I’m reading into Quaider way too much here, but he seemed pretty timid and dazed behind his own net at one point in the first. After that I saw him speaking with the trainer on the bench, and then the trainer speaking with the Claude, and then I never saw Quaider again. I hope it’s just some pain and swelling over the peeper and not the dreaded…
Rolston shown some scoots on the Pouliot goal.
Claude my man where have we been hiding this hooby, khauoby. I know it was his first game but dam he looks like a fantastic all around goal tender. Ah my questions of where’s Tukka are gone. For those of us who over follow this team you never hear anything about Tukks’a recovery until recently when Claude wimpered he’s skating again. My two cents P C is keeping him out to off him (undented) and maybee a few others in the off season. I know we keep our injuries hidden ala Bill Bellycheck but so close to the playoffs where’s Tukka I for one will take this new Hooby/Khauoby all day long.