The Boston Bruins got all they could handle from the cellar dwellers of the Metropolitan division last night, but all that matters is the result, and after just thirty-three seconds of overtime the Bruins pulled out a 2-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on a goal by Loui Eriksson.
Making sure that game went to extra time was Tuukka Rask, who let in just the one Blue Jackets goal after Columbus was awarded a penalty shot, and that was not the only breakaway Rask faced in the game. Columbus had three chances besides that one with players bearing in with nary a defenseman to be found, and Rask turned away all those opportunities, finishing with twenty-eight saves on the night and stealing two critical points in the standings in the process.
The game also saw the return of Patrice Bergeron to the lineup after the all-star had missed the two previous games with an undisclosed injury, and it didn't take Bergeron long to remind the Bruins why he's their best all-around player, tying the game at one apiece when he collected an errant clearing attempt and ripped a wrister home for his twenty-second goal of the year. In the three on three overtime the Bruins worked a perfect triangle formation goal with David Krejci carrying the puck into the zone, slowing up to give a drop pass to defenseman Tory Krug, who then threaded a thing-of-beauty pass to Eriksson, who was parked to the right of the goalie and simply redirected the pass into the open side of the net. The win vaults the Bruins past Detroit for second place in the Atlantic division, and they're just four points now behind Florida for first place. The road continues to be more friendly to the B's than home ice. They've won seven of their last eight road games, and the big question now is what does Bruins GM Don Sweeney do about the guy who scored the game winner last night? Playing in a contract year, Eriksson is having one of his finest NHL seasons, is an unrestricted free agent come next season, and if the Bruins want to keep him they'll have to shell out some big bucks. But despite where the B's are in the standings now, they don't have the look of a championship team this year, so the likelihood is Eriksson gets shipped out to a major contender that needs some depth at forward for the playoffs, but Sweeney needs to get bona fide high level prospects in return, especially since Eriksson is the player the Bruins received when they (for reasons I will never understand or accept) shipped Tyler Seguin, one of the best pure goal scorers on the planet, to Dallas. The trading deadline is fast approaching, and Sweeney owes it to Bruins fans to get the best possible deal for Eriksson. Don't be surprised if stalwart defenseman Zdeno Chara is dealt as well.
Yesterday's wintry mix of weather forced the postponement of some games in the boys' high school basketball playdowns, including top-seeded Burlington in Division one. The Seahorses' game against North Country was moved to tonight at seven o'clock in Burlington, and number five CVU will take on twelfth-seeded St. Johnsbury tonight at 7 as well after those two teams were postponed. Other games did beat the weather and all the higher ranked seeds came out winners. Mount Mansfield beat Colchester 57-35. Nyahm Ali-Levin led alls corers with thirteen points. Second-seed Rice Memorial rolled over Middlebury 68-19, after building up a 43-6 lead by half time. Rutland beat Essex 63-44. The closest contest was between the number eight and nine seeds, with Burr and Burton holding off Brattleboro 53-48. Carter Vickers led the Bulldogs with 19 points ion that one. Mount Anthony got 26 points from Jonas Parker to help defeat Spaulding 71-62, and BFA St. Albans beat Missisquoi 65-34.
In Division two the postponed games were Harwood and Mount St. Joseph. That game will tip off this afternoon at five. Bellows Falls and Woodstock will get things underway at seven o'clock. As in Division one all the D-2 games that did get played went to the higher-seeded teams, including number one U-32 beating Mount Abraham 67-40. Lyndon beat Otter Valley 60-42. Fourth-seeded Lamoille gave number three Montpelier a scare, but the Solons held on for a 59-54 win, with Alvaro Cordova leading the way for Montpelier with twenty-six points, and Enosburg beat Vergennes 54-22.