2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Review: (A1) Boston Bruins vs. (W2) Detroit Red Wings

Series Summary

Game 1 turned out to be a goalie duel, as Tuukka Rask and Jimmy Howard stopped 23 and 25 shots (respectively). It took 57 minutes for the lone goal to be scored, as Pavel Datsyuk would break the deadlock and give Detroit the win. Boston bounced back in Game 2, scoring twice in the first while outshooting Detroit 18-10. The Red Wings would get one back in the second, but goals by Milan Lucic and Zdeno Chara later on would put the game out of reach and give Boston the win. The Bruins looked to finally take the series lead in Game 3, as Rask stopped all 34 Red Wing shots while Dougie Hamilton and Jordan Caron both scored in the first to give the Bruins the 3-0 win (Patrice Bergeron added an empty netter). Game 4 looked to be Detroit's time to bounce back, as Nicklas Kronwall would open the scoring midway through the first. The Red Wings would add another in the second but that would be it for them. Torey Krug would cut the lead to 1 in the second before Bergeron tied it up early in the third. This game needed overtime, where Jarome Iginla would deflect Hamilton's point shot to give the Bruins the win and push the Red Wings to the brink of elimination. With the next round in their sight, Boston struck early in Game 5, as Loui Eriksson's powerplay goal gave them the lead. Both teams swapped powerplay goals in the second. Lucic would add to the Bruins lead in the third. Henrik Zetterberg would pull the Red Wings within one, but they could not find a way to tie the game. Iginla would add an empty net goal and Boston would win the game. The Bruins would take the series in 5 games, and will now face the Canadiens in the second round.

Games

Detroit Red Wings 1
Boston Bruins 0

Detroit Red Wings 1
Boston Bruins 4

Boston Bruins 3
Detroit Red Wings 0

Boston Bruins 3 (OT)
Detroit Red Wings 2

Detroit Red Wings 2
Boston Bruins 4

Three Thoughts on the Series

1. Really wonder what the hell Brendan Smith was thinking here.
2. Should have known the Bruins would win the series, they had a holy entity on their side.
3. It's funny how out of the 8 first round series, it was the 2 Atlantic Division ones to finish first.

Picture of the Series

Lucic goes taint-hunting again (and actually got fined this time).

(Image via Puck Daddy)

Highlight of the Series

Datsyuk goal in Game 1 was the lone goal in that game, and it was spectacular. Also, credit to Abdelkader for tying up Hamilton and giving Datsyuk a nice screen to shoot through.