- Finally, top-flight production Let's be honest: so far this season, the B's first line has been pretty awful, David Krejci and Nathan Horton in particular. Well they're starting to wake up, and it's no coincidence that the team is starting to win. Lucic has been playing well ever since the Montreal games, and Horton is showing signs of life. If Krejci can get going, that line will get back to being the formidable trio they were during the playoffs. In any case, it was great to see Lucic keep up his hot streak and Horton get going last night. Krejci also now has two multi-point games in a row. Is this the return of the HuLK line? Let's hope so...
- Best. Field Trip. EVER. On Twitter, I've tried to name the Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin trio "the field trip line," mainly because Patrice Bergeron is Saint Patrice, a responsible citizen, and is stuck riding with the two crazy kids on the team. Since they've come together as a triumvirate, they've been by far the most exciting line to watch. In fact, I'd say that they're currently the most exciting Bruin line I've seen since the lockout, with only the Lucic-Savard-Kessel line even coming close (though Boyes-Bergeron-Sturm was good too). The scary part? They might not have hit their peak yet. Seguin is starting to know where to go when his linemates have the puck, as was made quite clear by his goal last night. But there were still a few errant drop passes and a few miscommunications. It's awesomely frightening to think that this line might even get better. It's like one of those non-educational field trips to Canobie Lake Park or something. SO MUCH FUN!
- One in the bag for Rask Poor Tuukka Rask. He was probably starting to wonder if he's teammates really liked him. As was the case (for whatever reason) last year, Rask hadn't been getting much help from his black and gold buddies this season. He deserved a better fate in some of his starts, but was winless coming into last night. Finally, the team gave him some offense, and he held down the fort for his first win of 2011-2012. Rask played a pretty solid game, making a couple of big stops. The two goals he allowed were on a great tip by Matt Moulson and a wicked wrister by Michael Grabner, neither being Rask's fault. Hopefully Claude Julien gives him another start on Thursday and let's him get on a bit of a roll.
- Paille's face Yikes. The picture of the inside of Daniel Paille's helmet was pretty troubling, but it was good to hear that he was walking around the locker room. If Lucic can joke about Paille's nose looking like his now, chances are he's not in any serious danger. But that play served as a gruesome reminder of how dangerous this sport can be.
- Turnovers... Last night, I made a purposely bad joke about the Bruins being able to open up their own bakery with the number of turnovers they were making last night (WAKKA WAKKA!), but it's true: they were pretty careless with the puck. There were a few times last night where the B's made mistake after mistake in their own zone, allowing the Isles to put on sustained pressure. If not for a bounce here and there and some key stops by Rask, the game likely would've been much closer. Those turnovers might slip by against a young team like the Islanders, but a better team will make them pay.
- Milan Lucic is the engine that powers the B's: he's gotten going, and the wins are starting to come. When he plays with power, strength, and a bit of a snarl, he's hard to stop. Last night's goal was a perfect example: he simply out-willed Steve Staios, beating him to the puck, refusing to have his stick lifted, and putting the puck in the net.
Attaboy: The first line. I've piled on them in the past, so I have to give them credit when they do well, right? Right. They're coming around, and if they keep it up, the B's will be hard to stop.
Providence shuttle: Evgeni Nabokov didn't do much to help the Isles win. He probably should have dropped down to the butterfly on the first goal, and after that couldn't buy a save. Three goals on 12 shots in just under 15 minutes? Yikes.
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