Things looked bleak for the Boston Bruins midway through the third period, after they once again found themselves down two goals with little more than half of a period to go.
But they had read that story before.
Though it took more time than regulation had to offer, the B's finished the game with two points, and a strong message to both Buffalo and the rest of the NHL.
They are ready for the playoffs.
After they came back to tie the game in the third period, they went on to play overtime and then, ultimately a shootout.
Tim Thomas put on his best again, stopping all three of Buffalo's shot in the event, including shots from Tyler Ennis, Brad Boyes and Jason Pominville.
And offensively the B's had their faithful match the enthusiasm on the scoring end. Patrice Begeron has a knack for shootouts and put one past Jhonas Enroth to earn two points in the last regular season game of the year.
However, that's far from where it started.
Tyler Seguin started the scoring, netting his 28th of the year 3:15 into the second period taking a perfect pass from Patrice Bergeron and tapping it past Enroth. Seguin went on to score again in the third period to cut the Sabres lead to one, and ensure his spot as top scorer on the team this year. Perhaps more impressively, Seguin is the youngest player ever on the Bruins to lead the team in scoring.
"Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. It’s definitely an honor, I did not know that," Seguin said. "Obviously again, like I was saying before my linemates make the game a lot easier for me. Marshy [Marchand] and Bergy [Bergeron] with how much chemistry they had all ready from last year, going all the way with the same line to the Stanley Cup Championship, they had a lot of chemistry. It was nice to step on that line and hopefully we’re going to get better."
After Seguin's first goal, the Sabres came back and scored three times before the Bruins were able to answer. Brad Boyes had two goals on the night and Jason Pominville added one for good measure. But, as the Bruins have done so often this season, they rallied in the third, and did so convincingly.
However, when the Bruins fought to within one, Brad Marchand didn't want to be outdone and less than two and a half minutes later, he netted his own, his 28th goal, and tied the game with 7:39 left to go in regulation.
"Well, going into that third period, we really said we have to have a good third period tonight if we want to have a good third period in the playoffs," Seguin said. "It’s just that sense of urgency, that passion, that commitment we want to have even in a game like today in the third period just to show that we can do it in the playoffs as well. We got the win tonight, our last game at home it was special."
The Bruins didn't allow a single shot through to Thomas in overtime, but picked up five of their own against Enroth. Finally, when it came down to the shootout, they won. They improved to 9-3 when a game is decided by a shootout.
Even with the win, the Bruins still don't know who they will play in the first round of playoffs yet, though it's between either the Ottawa Senators or the Washington Capitals.
But many of the players, Seguin included, are less worried about who they are playing, and more concentrated on what they need to accomplish.
"We’re a confident group in here – we know if we’re going out there only worrying about what our personal jobs are, not the guy next to us, as a team we’re going to do a good job," Seguin said. "If you’re worried about going in who you’re playing, or who’s ahead of you in the standings during the season, it’s not how you win games in the playoffs."
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