Jussi Strikes Again - Canes 3, Bruins 2 in OT
by Bob Wage on May 7, 2009 3:21 AM EDT
in Hurricanes Game Related
33 comments
Jussi Jokinen did it again for Carolina. The surprise of the 2009 playoffs scored the game winning goal at 2:48 in overtime and the Hurricanes defeated the Boston Bruins, 3-2, in front of a sold out crowd last night at the RBC. The win gives the Canes a 2-1 lead in the best of seven series with game four to be played in Raleigh on Friday night.
Jokinen scored his second game winner this post season. His first one was an NHL record breaking goal with just 0.2 seconds left on the clock in game four against the Devils. The Finn also scored the game tying goal against New Jersey with a minute and change left in game seven.
As Cam Ward said after the game, Jussi has been "money".
An emotional Jokinen reminisced with reporters after the game about how far he has come the past few months, from a player no one wanted on the waiver wire, to a valued player on a team winning in the playoffs. He said that Mark Recchi was one of the players who helped him get through the tough times in Tampa Bay.
What Jokinen didn't mention was that he also had to deal with the death of his father in March. Needless to say, it has been a season of extremes for the future restricted free agent.
But this was not just a one man effort for the Hurricanes. The home team dominated the visitors in just about every category but the scoreboard, and once again, everyone on the team contributed. The Canes out-shot, (41-23), and out-chanced, (12-6), the Bruins by almost a two to one margin.
Carolina seemed to have the better of the play in the first period, but were unable to get on the scoreboard. Ray Whitney just missed a point blank chance, as did Matt Cullen. Boston's Milan Lucic did not miss with his chance though, and the visitors jumped out to a 1-0 lead about eight minutes into the first.
The second period was all Carolina though as they imposed their will on Boston. At one point later in the period, they held the puck in the Bruins zone for over a minute and ended up drawing a penalty. During the ensuing powerplay, the puck went behind the net but Eric Staal took it away from Steve Montador and skated all alone in front of Tim Thomas. The goalie did not have a chance as the All Star center buried the shot to tie the score for the Hurricanes.
The crowd went nuts and the team responded with even more pressure in the opposing zone. Just a minute and change later, Scott Walker found an open Sergei Samsonov approaching the slot and the Russian sniper made no mistake, scoring his first goal of the playoffs.
The Bruins got a bit lucky in the third period and tied the score when a Chuck Kobasew shot bounced in the net off of Mark Recchi's shin pad. Fans started to wonder, would the Canes end up losing this game even though they played well enough to win?
But after a couple of key saves near the beginning of overtime by Cam Ward, Jokinen made sure the valiant effort in regulation was not wasted and he put the Canes in the lead of this series with his game winner. We will see what the Bruins are made of when they come out in desperation mode on Friday.
Game Notes:
Boston must be a bit concerned by now because the Hurricanes have outplayed them two games in a row. Bruins coach Claude Julien was unhappy with the way his team played and said "the better team won this game."
Cam Ward had another outstanding game. He had 21 saves on 23 shots, the most important of those being in OT. His rebound control was excellent.
Tim Thomas had a lot of saves, but allowed too many juicy rebounds. Jokinen's game winner was off of a rebound.
Scott Walker had an amazing nine hits and was named third star. Erik Cole had eight.
This was the first time this postseason that the Bruins scored first in a game, but still lost. It was also the first time they allowed a powerplay goal in the playoffs.
The Canes are still undefeated in the playoffs when Eric Staal scores. They have only lost once or twice all year when he notches a goal. People around the league should take notice because he is consistently dominating the game at both ends of the ice against grade A competition. The center is having a great postseason so far.
The Hurricanes had 16 blocked shots and were led by Anton Babchuk with three. The Bruins had a total of eight.
Chad LaRose once again skated like he was shot out of a cannon. He was all over the rink and created a lot of havoc as well as helped with puck possession.
This sounds like a broken record, but Joni Pitkaknen led both teams with 28:42 of ice time. Next highest on the Canes was Joe Corvo with a far distant 23 minutes.
Paul Maurice did another great job of mixing the lines up and had Staal on the ice sometimes with Chara, sometimes without him. The new line of Samsonov, Ruutu, and Jokinen looked very good and were rewarded when they teamed up for the winner.
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Post game interviews:
Jussi Jokinen
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Just my guess…. but the media will say Boston gave this one up. According to Julien this was “one of the worst games (they) played all season”
whatever… they didnt play great, but maybe they just are not great….
“They are who we thought they were!!!” And we stuck it to them.
by packpigskinfan25 on May 7, 2009 3:39 AM EDT reply actions
Remember while we're toasting Jussi
and wondering why Tampa would do that to him, we have a Cane we couldn’t have done it without in the ’06 Cup win.
Frantisek “Frank” Kaberle
I’ve even read on this blog site where some “never want to see him in a Hurricane Jersey again”.
Just a little perspective.
Knowledge is Power!
Power Corrupts!
Study hard,
Become Evil!
Enlighten me
Great game all around Canes! I really like our Finnish connection. The intensity of Tuomo, the all around excellence of Jussi’s game, and the steady, calming presence of Joni. LaRose is bringing things up a notch as well with his hustle.
Educate me Canes fans: What allows a player to just ‘sit’ on top of a player after a check? Noticed this several times during the game, usually the Bruins doing the sitting. Is this just a case of letting the boys play, or is it legal?
It's not legal.....
but the “sitter” could just be “trying to get up” only to have their “skates slip” and fall back down.
Knowledge is Power!
Power Corrupts!
Study hard,
Become Evil!
moreover
it’s probably one of those little things that is let go in the playoffs, especially if the puck is long departed.
Assume you mean Chara..
Yea, Chara pretty much does that any time he knocks someone down. I think its intentional but it could just be that he’s a lumbering oaf and can’t get up very quickly. I have no idea how this guy gets Norris contention. Sure he has a hard shot but really the only other thing he has is a ridiculously long reach. He makes up for his lumbering, out of position play by recovering with his long stick. When he gets the puck, he usually tosses it up the boards. I’m am thoroughly unimpressed with his skill. Again, he gets the job done more often than not with his reach but I’d give the Norris to 50 other guys with more skill.
I don’t know about all that. Chara is an amazing player in all three zones. I think what we’re seeing, though, is a player (Staal) who is absolutely running him ragged.
by Cory Lavalette on May 7, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
generally there is some holding down involved more so from the person on the bottom,
grabbing a stick or a arm or something to keep from an odd man rush.
but you never know
i think its kind of a two way deal,
although it always looks ridiculous.
Not sure who the Cane was on the bottom, Staal maybe, might have been Chara on the top. Lasted a LONG time though. Anyway, thanks for the education.
If it was when I think it was, the longest stretch goes to Chara sitting on top of Ruutu
Knowledge is Power!
Power Corrupts!
Study hard,
Become Evil!
Yeah, Chara definitely got away with a hold on at least one occasion last night.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 7, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Bubba, I think you meant to say, “Tim Thomas had a lot of saves, but allowed too many jussi rebounds.”
Still not a crook!
Kudos to Bubba for posting his story at 3:21 a.m. Keep in mind he has a day job, then went to the game, did the postgame stuff and wrote the story. And today he’s on the road all day for the day job.
Dedication, folks.
It is for some people. See: Puck Daddy
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure!
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 7, 2009 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Bruins nominees
Vezina- Getting outplayed
Norris- Making silly mistakes and not shutting down Staal
Jack Adams- Being thoroughly out-coached.
Looks like you shouldn’t have underestimated the Canes Bahstin!
Still not a crook!
Thomas’s goalie stats are still better than Ward’s. It’s tough to win when the offense isn’t clicking.
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure!
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 7, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Without checking I know two stats not better for Thomas...
Wins
Shutouts
Love, love, love the Canes!
You know...
I’m amazed at the Hurricanes but, I remember things turning on a dime in the playoffs so I hope they keep themselves grounded and “don’t drink the gatorade.” They have to keep playing this way to have any chance of beating Boston two more games in this series. I believe Boston has been throttled. I believe they’re licking their wounds. Are they gonna come out like the Cane’s do with their backs to the wall or are they gonna keep “not playing their best” as Julien would have us believe. Frankly, I believe as long as the Canes keep the pedal to the metal the Bruins are toast. This series, to me, is all about how the Canes play and not necessarily what the Bruins come up with. They’ve been told all year how great they are. Now we’re gonna see, one way or the other, what the truth is.
Love, love, love the Canes!
What am amazing game. Canes outplayed the Bruins in every aspect. The key to this series will continue to be Thomas giving up rebounds and us crashing the net and getting those rebounds. Sure Thomas is athletic and makes some ridiculous saves but he can’t get them all the time.
While the Canes were damn good, I also have to give a big standing O the the crowd last night. The energy in the RBC was electric and the fans were relentless in cheering the Canes on. Let’s bring even more energy on Friday!
did anyone else see
the girl taking her shirt off on the jumbotron in front of a soldout crowd?
That was hilarious! First she took off her jersey, and then lifted her shirt. I almost peed myself.
by Andrea's evil twin on May 7, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
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