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  • Kelly steals show from Holtby

    Post Game

    Kelly steals show from Holtby

    Joe Makarski April 13, 2012
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    Chris Kelly, Boston Bruins, St. Patrick's Day, Philadelphia Flyers

    (Getty Images) Chris Kelly's goal 1:18 into overtime propelled the Bruind to a 1-0 victory and helped the Bruins jump out to a 1-0 series lead.

    For 61 minutes and 18 seconds it was the Braden Holtby show, then with one single shot—his only shot of the night—it became the Chris Kelly show.

    Through three periods of regulation playoff hockey the Bruins had 29 shots, Holtby had 29 saves. The Bruins dominated at times through regulation, but couldn’t get any rubber past the 22-year-old Holtby.

    Holtby—making his first career National Hockey League playoff appearance—was nothing shy of amazing for the Capitals.

    “It was a great game by him” said Capitals defensemen John Carlson. “He held us in it the whole way, we had our chances and we didn’t really cash in on a few good chances. He kept us in there the whole game and you can’t ask a goalie to keep you in there for 80 minutes of hockey every game. We have to give him something.”

    Thanks to Chris Kelly and his overtime game-winning-goal, the positive attention has been shifted to the Bruins. Kelly beat Holtby 1:18 into overtime giving the Bruins a 1-0 series lead in their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals matchup with the Washington Capitals.

    At such a weird low-scoring angle, Kelly admitted he was surprised to see his shot sneak past the red-hot Holtby.

    “I think so. I think I was probably the most surprised in the building. Like I said, I think it might have went off the defenseman’s stick a little bit and changed up” said Kelly. “Goalies are so good now that I think that the days of going down the wing and beating a goalie with a shot or a long pass. I was pleasantly surprised to see it go in.”

    Not to be overlooked was the play of Tim Thomas. The Capitals had just seven shots on Thomas through two periods, but the third period and overtime was a different story as the Caps sent 10 pucks on net including a few big scoring chances.

    Thomas knew the shots would eventually come, and luckily for the Bruins he was up for the task.

    “More often than not, when your team outshoots the other team heavily for a couple of periods, whether you score or not, there’s usually a time period in the game where the tables turn, and I knew they were going to get their bursts sooner or later” said Thomas who made 17 saves in total. “So I was mentally prepared for that going into the third period. So I guess that answers it.”

    Game two is set for Saturday afternoon in Boston. Puck drops shortly after 3:00.

    Here’s some post game video:

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