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 The Bruins appeared big and bad once again, outmuscling the Red
Wings early and getting to the net often during a 4-1 win on Sunday
that evened the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at a
game apiece.
"I think it was just a little bit more determination from our
group," Boston coach Claude Julien said.
The Bruins scored twice during a three-minute span in the first
period, then further deflated the Red Wings with goals late in the
second and early in the third while storming back from a shutout
loss in the series opener on Friday.
Boston frustrated Detroit into repeated penalties and power-play
goals by forward Reilly Smith in the first period and defenseman
Zdeno Chara in the third.
"It's been a strength for us throughout the season," said winger
Milan Lucic, whose goal with 3:44 left in the second period gave
Boston a 3-1 lead. "It's not always going to be pretty. It's going
to be those goals when you have to chip away and get that second or
third shot."
After being held without a shot for the first 7:38 of the game, the
Bruins peppered Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard with 18 shots during the
rest of the first period. It was the kind of aggressive play that
Boston used throughout the regular season but was absent during
Detroit's 1-0 win on Friday.
"They were engaged. Thy won the battles. They were quick. We were
slow," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "We weren't very good here
tonight. Give them credit. They were better and we didn't respond."
The series moves to Detroit for Game 3 on Tuesday.
The Red Wings utilized their speed and tight checking to win Friday,
but could not stop the physical Bruins once they started pressuring
on Sunday.
Forward Justin Florek got Boston rolling with a goal on the Bruins'
first shot of the game 7:38 into the first period when Howard's
clearing attempt bounced off a teammate and right to the winger.
Smith made it 2-0 on a power-play goal with 9:25 left in the first
and the Bruins never let up.
"First goal usually dictates the game and usually ends up winning,"
Smith said. "So it was good to get those first two early and I think
it just gave us a little more energy and added a little extra
intensity to the game."
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Detroit pulled within 2-1 with 6:40 left in the second period on a
deflection by center Luke Glendenning off a shot by center Darren
Helm, but Lucic restored the two-goal cushion on a give-and-go with
winger Jarome Iginla with 3:44 left in the second.
The Red Wings gave the Bruins another power play early in the third
and had nobody to clear Chara from in front, where he poked in a
rebound off Iginla's shot and the lead was 4-1.
"We knew this was going to be a long series and they played a real
solid game today," Howard said.
Detroit's frustration built after the first two goals and led to
numerous scrums after the whistle. The first period ended with a
pileup behind the Boston net and a shoving match between Brendan
Smith and Chara that nearly escalated into a fight.
Smith, about seven inches shorter and 50 pounds lighter than the
Boston captain, continued challenging Chara as he laughed before
having enough and throwing down his stick as a linesman charged in
and broke it up.
NOTES: Boston F Jarome Iginla had two assists. ... Boston forwards
Justin Florek, Reilly Smith and Luke Glendenning scored the first
three goals of the game two nights after making their playoff debut.
... Detroit D Brendan Smith, Reilly's brother, unintentionally had a
hand in the first goal of the game when Detroit G Jimmy Howard's
clearing attempt bounced off his calf and right to Florek.
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