In Marty Turco's first start at goaltender since getting shellacked by the Tampa Bay Lightning two weeks prior and Rich Peverley's return from a 19-game absence, the B's played Duck Hunt in a 3-2 derailing of the Anaheim Ducks.
Zdeno Chara, Benoit Pouliot and Brian Rolston did the scoring for Boston, accounting for the first of several good signs. The top two forward lines for the Bruins have produced less consistently of late, and it's good to see secondary scoring getting them over the hump. After all, it was secondary scoring that got them through some of the most critical moments of last summer's Stanley Cup run.
In addition to the secondary scoring, we got another positive indication — Marty Turco can play goaltender. Donning his new bright yellow pads, Turco turned aside 25 of Anaheim's 27 shots to earn his first win as a member of the Bruins. It may seem a little bit meaningless since the veteran isn't even eligible to be on the playoff roster, but with their position in the Eastern Conference playoff picture not yet locked down, it will be crucial to get Tim Thomas some rest in the final seven games without sacrificing chances to earn points. I would expect Turco to get two more starts in the final seven games of the season. If I were a gambling man, I would pinpoint next Saturday's matinee with the Islanders as one of those two games. Depending on how things go, we may see him facing Ottawa or Buffalo in one of the last two games on Boston's schedule.
Perhaps the biggest positive to come from this Bruins victory, however, is the return of Rich Peverley to the lineup. Peverley had missed the previous 19 games spanning over two months with an MCL sprain. No. 49 skated with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand while Tyler Seguin moved back up to the top line with David Krejci and Milan Lucic. Jordan Caron, who previously skated with Krejci and Lucic, droped down to the fourth line alongside Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton. Daniel Paille became a healthy scratch as a result.
Peverley's impact to this roster was on display against the Ducks. He didn't find the scoresheet, but he was making plays. He fits the system. He's so versatile. When the playoffs come, we will see a few duos staying together. Bergeron will play with Marchand. Krejci will play with Lucic. Who will be the other winger on each of those lines? Now that Peverley has returned, it can really go either way. Seguin may stay with Krejci and Lucic, but if coach Claude Julien chooses to move the youngster back to the Bru-Tang Clan, Peverley is fully capable of stepping in to the right of Krejci. He brings an element that was so critical to the championship run we witnessed last season. Even if the B's may not get Nathan Horton back this postseason, it is an extreme relief to see that Peverley is back on the scene.
Many of you were panicking a week ago when the Bruins were sputtering. After all, they had given up six goals in back-to-back games, both of which were ugly losses. They had lost their grip on first place in the Northeast Division.
Now, having won four of their last five games, Boston stands five points ahead of Ottawa with a game in hand on the Sens. A few more wins can lock up the No. 2 seed in the East. But that's not really the important part.
What's important is that this team is getting closer to being at full health, and their game is clicking at the right time. The last time that happened, about 365 days ago, the ensuing results were relatively satisfying.
