Jarome Iginla And Boston Bruins Heading To Game 7
By Traci Kay
Photo Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s recap, shall we.
Jarome Iginla and the Boston Bruins were stunned in their first game of the playoffs against the Detroit Red Wings. They lost the first game of that series but went on to find their stride in the following four games to win the series in a dramatic way.
Here we are, cheering for the same team – but not the same stride – in round two of the playoffs against the Bruins biggest Original Six rival, the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs took game one when P.K. Subban struck first to put Montreal on the board. Two more goals by Rene Bourque and Francis Bouillon gave the Habs three goals throughout the game, but Boston fought back with goals by Reilly Smith, Torey Krug, and Johnny Boychuk. The nail in the coffin came in the second overtime period when Subban netted the game winning goal. Final score, 4-3, Montreal.
Game two was a little different. The Bruins looked stronger, skated faster, and managed to keep the turnovers to a minimum. It was another relatively high-scoring game in the end as Daniel Paille opened the scoring for the Bs. The second period wasn’t the best period the Bruins have played but they came back in the third to finish the game at 5-3 with four more goals by Dougie Hamilton, Patrice Bergeron, Reilly Smith, and Milan Lucic.
Game three was embarrassing for the Boston team. Montreal had complete control of the game from start to finish except for the odd spurt of energy from the Bruins. If they would have been wearing different jerseys, I would not have guessed that the Bruins were playing. Final score, 4-2, Montreal.
Game four looked better for the Bruins as they fought off the hungry Habs in all three periods, forcing overtime. With a goal by newbie, Matt Fraser, who had been called up that day, the Bruins took game four with a score of 1-0.
Jarome was his typical self in game five when the Bruins came out of the gates swinging. Carl Soderberg opened the scoring in the first and led the way for the Bruins to score two more in the second frame, including a goal by our favorite former captain of the Calgary Flames. Brendan Gallagher and Subban had the lone Habs goals but they were no match for the 4-2 Bruins win.
Everyone was on the edge of their respective seats during game six. Things always seem to get more and more nasty as the series moves into the end games and this one was no exception. With pressure on the Bruins to finish off the Canadiens, they came up short in goals and high in turnovers as Montreal took the shutout win, 4-0 and forced game seven back in Boston on Wednesday night.
So, here we are…on the cusp of game seven in one of the biggest rivalries in hockey. One team will move on to round three, the other will pack up their hockey gear for another season.
Jarome, if by any chance you’re reading this, your Calgary Flames fans are behind you, cheering you on and hoping you can earn that cup. I can honestly say that I haven’t been quite this invested in playoffs for many many years (since your last run) and I’m hoping you can find that Angry Iggy inside of you. Remember him? He’s the one that always took the bull by the horns and led the Flames down the Red Mile and through all the other playoff runs while still maintaining class and dignity. I think it’s safe to say that we want to see him again – and we want him to get his Stanley Cup!
Go Iggy Go!