With the exceptionally boring style that the Minnesota Wild prefer to play, I almost don't blame the Boston Bruins for playing terribly last night. For some unknown reason, the Wild are 9-2 all-time against the Bs including a 6-0 mark in Boston. Weird.
Three fatal Bruins (21-12-6) mistakes led to each Wild (20-15-5) goal as Minnesota won 3-1 at the TD Garden.
It wasted yet another fine effort by Tuukka Rask (31 saves), who lost to Jose Theodore (35 saves). Rask turned in one of the best saves you'll see all season in the NHL, robbing Martin Havlat of what should have been an easy tap in.
After a scoreless first period, the Wild took advantage of a bogus hooking call on Shawn Thornton early in the second period. Minnesota defenseman Brent Burns flopped like only the Montreal Canadiens can and he surprisingly got the call. Four seconds later, Havlat scored from Patrick O'Sullivan.
Bruins rookie defenseman Steve Kampfer (who has played wonderfully from day one since he got called up) tied it up following a steal in Minnesota's end by Patrice Bergeron. Tyler Seguin also assisted on Boston's lone goal.
By far the biggest mistake by the Bs led to the game-winner for the anonymous Wild as Marc Savard failed to clear the puck after a long shift in his own end and hit it right to wannabe porn star name Cal Clutterbuck. Rask had no time to react and Minnesota had a 2-1 lead.
Boston pressed for the tying goal but Theodore stood tall while Minnesota also had some more luck as Mark Recchi's stick shattered after Rask had been pulled for the extra skater.
Mikko Koivu put it away with an empty-net goal following Recchi's problem with his stick.
There's no time to feel sorry for themselves though as Boston goes to Montreal tomorrow night for a showdown with first-place in the Northeast Division on the line. Expect Tim Thomas to be back in between the pipes after he's sat out the last three contests.
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