The Bruins got production from their third line, and three first period goals in a span of almost three minutes to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 at TD Garden in Boston. Tuukka Rask made 23 saves for his second shutout of the season.
With Chris Bourque back in Providence the Bruins recalled Jordan Caron and inserted him into the lineup for the first time this season. Caron was thrown onto the third line playing with Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley, the move paid off for all involved.
Chris Kelly scored the second goal of the game for the Bruins—less than two minutes after Tyler Seguin’s power play tally—with assists by both Caron and Peverley. The goal was Kelly’s second of the season, but more importantly it was a goal produced by the entire line, a line that as a whole has really struggled this season.
“It was nice to see it go in” said Kelly. “Not relieved, but just happy.”
Caron’s assist was his first point of the year, but more impressively it was Rich Peverley’s 200th career NHL point. Kelly was impressed with the play Caron made to set up the goal.
“He passed in stride. He passed coming out of the turn there, and he made it look easy. But it’s not an easy play—especially when a guy is on you—to get a heads up play and find that open man because everyone is collapsed down. That’s the way they defend. It was a great heads up play by him” said Kelly.
Despite just the one goal, it was arguably one of the best games the Bruins have gotten from their third line and Bruins head coach Claude Julien was happy with what he saw from the Kelly line tonight.
“Yeah, we’ve talked about it for a long time, get some secondary scoring and we got it today” said Julien.
Caron said he was happy to be back with the Bruins, but he knows what he has to do in order to stay with the Bruins.
“Just play my game and being good on the forecheck and create turnovers and being strong in the corners and be good defensively, as well” said Caron.
“I don’t want to be caught in my d-zone too much. I just want to chip in offensively.”
More performances like today from Caron and No. 38 shouldn’t have to worry about getting sent back down to Providence.
Hear what the Bruins had to say postgame after their win.
Chris Kelly:
Tuukka Rask:
Shawn Thornton:
