Seguin The Savior As B’s Force A Game Seven Back In Boston

Tyler Seguin‘s first tally of the postseason 3:17 into the first overtime period of game six in this first round series has lifted the defending champion Bruins to a 4-3 road victory and has forced a game seven back in Boston on Wednesday evening. It was a beautiful move by the B’s sensational sophomore, created by his tremendous speed and patience as he controlled the puck long enough to skate around Holtby and slide it into the Washington net.

The 20-year-old former second overall draft choice had been one of Boston’s best defensive forwards throughout the first six games of this series, but simply hadn’t been able to find the score sheet. After a quiet first two periods, number nineteen was buzzing in the third frame, creating a plethora of offensive chances for both he and his team.

“I think in this series we’ve had a lot of chances and opportunities and I haven’t been bearing down and finishing them off and it’s just really nice to get that feeling off your back.” – Tyler Seguin

Boston had previously allowed three one goal advantages to slip through their grasp before Seguin’s fourth career playoff tally would allow them to escape elimination — at least for the time being –.

The B’s would take a 1-0 lead for the second time of the series at the 5:56 mark of the opening period when Rich Peverley deflected an Andrew Ference shot past Capitals’ netminder Braden Holtby. Washington would quickly erase that deficit as less than four minutes later, defenseman Mike Green would unleash a slapshot from the left point that deflected off Greg Zanon and into the Boston net. It would be the first goal for the former Norris trophy candidate since October 22, 2011. Top line pivot David Krejci would wake from his playoff slumber towards the end of the period when he redirected a Milan Lucic pass into the Caps’ net to give the B’s a 2-1 lead as the two teams went to the locker rooms at the first intermission.

It wasn’t until the 19:18 mark of the middle frame that either team would get on the board again as the Capitals would draw even on power forward Jason Chimera‘s first goal of the postseason. Before Chimera could make it down to score, it looked as if he caught Brad Marchand up high with an elbow to the face, causing the B’s 5’9″ agitator to fall to the ice with blood spewing from his face. Whilst many Boston fans were looking for a penalty call, the replay indicated that number 63 simply hit his own face with his stick and the officials on the ice were correct in their decision to let the goal stand.

Just past the midway point of the third period it was Seguin who would rush up the right wing and fire a perfectly placed wrist shot into the mask of Holtby, allowing defenseman Andrew Ference to capitalize on a rebound in front. NHL uber-star Alexander Ovechkin would blast a one timer past Tim Thomas directly off an offensive zone face-off won by Nicklas Backstrom to once again tie the score with less than five minutes left in regulation.

Game seven is slated for Wednesday evening back in the Hub at 7:30 PM.

“It’s been a great series. Washington’s a great team and we were battling. Game 7 at the Garden it’s what we’ve been working for, home ice advantage so we’re going to seize the opportunity.” – Tyler Seguin

Ben’s Three Stars:

1)  Tyler Seguin (1 Goal/1 Assist)

2) Andrew Ference (1 Goal/1 Assist)

3) Alexander Ovechkin (1 Goal/7 Shots)

Series:  Tied 3-3

Next Game: Wednesday April 25, 2012. 7:30 PM. TD Garden, Boston, MA.

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