The Boston Bruins lost to the Minnesota Wild, 2-0, at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday.
The Bruins turned up the heat in the third period but could not find a way past Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom who turned away a season-high 48 shots. Boston did not get many second chance opportunities all game. The Bruins' struggling power-play unit only got one power-play opportunity which came in the first period.
Boston outshot the Wild, 48-29 (including a 22-3 advantage in the third period). Both of the Minnesota goals (Chad Rau, Matt Cullen) came in the second period, the second of which was the result of the only power-play the Wild got. There was a fight between Shawn Thornton and Matt Kassian in the third period but that couldn't turn the tide either for the Bruins.
Tim Thomas played a good game but his counterpart in net on the other end of the ice was just better and didn't fall victim to a lucky goal. Thomas was beaten by Matt Cullen in the second period after Cullen whiffed on the initial shot and then scored with his second shot before Thomas could recover from his first reaction.
With the loss, the Bruins fell to 35-19-2 on the season. Boston will next be in action on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. against the St. Louis Blues at the Scottrade Center.
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