Bruins defeat Seguin, Stars 3-1

The Bruins were able to take away two points in a 3-1 victory, defeating the Dallas Stars on the first night of a back-to-back before the All-Star break.  

Defenseman Matt Bartkowski was the lone healthy scratch for tonight’s contest, joining forward Brad Marchand, who is serving the second game of a two-game suspension for a slew-foot against the New York Rangers’ Derek Brassard. Tuukka Rask and Kari Lehtonen were the starting goalies.

   Nine seconds into the first period, Jamie Benn took off on a breakaway that Rask turned aside. Adam McQuaid headed to the penalty box for tripping up Benn, and the Stars got zero shots on goal during the man advantage. After forcing Dallas to play in their own zone, Loui Eriksson drew a tripping penalty on Jordie Benn to send the Bruins on their first power play of the night. Shortly after, the Stars would be caught with too many men on the ice, sending the Bruins on their second power play, but the Bruins were unable to capitalize on either.  

Gregory Campbell found the back of the net a little past the halfway point of the first, but the goal was negated due to a hooking penalty on Jordan Caron. The Bruins were able to make the kill, despite a few good looks from the Stars. Travis Moen laid out to break up a pass but was called for concealing the puck, putting the Bruins’ special teams to work once again. The Bruins came away from that power play with zero shots on net. McQuaid was sent to the box again, this time sitting for interference. The first period ended with neither team getting on the board.  

The Bruins came out with a bang to start the second, with Lehtonen coming up with a few big saves on Eriksson and Chris Kelly. Vernon Fiddler struck first for the Stars, beating Rask with a backhander. McQuaid headed to the box again, called for roughing against Antoine Roussel after landing a big hit on him, but the Bruins were able to make the kill. Eriksson was able to tie the game up after a series of beautiful passes. Kelly set up Carl Soderberg with a cross-ice pass, who dished the puck to Eriksson in the slot for the one-timer. Campbell was able to tuck home the go-ahead goal from his knees. The sequence started due to great plays by Craig Cunningham, who took the body and won a puck battle to throw a shot on net.  

Dougie Hamilton was sent to the box for tripping 25 seconds into the third, but the Bruins were able to make the kill. The Stars were in their offensive zone for an extended period of time, with Rask coming up with a few timely saves. The Bruins immediately answered, cycling the puck in their offensive zone. Jason Demers was sent to the box for holding after a hit on Soderberg, and the Bruins would go on their third power play of the night. This time, they were able to capitalize. Dougie Hamilton blasted the puck, beating Lehtonen top corner, putting the Bruins up 3-1. Milan Lucic headed to the box for holding with 4:08 left in the third, and the Bruins made the kill. The Bruins came away with the victory, 3-1.

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