Ryder Helps Bruins Run Streak to Eight

The Bruins and the Thrashers isn't exactly a game that hokey fans get amped up for and early it looked like the Bruins felt the same way. In the first two minutes of the game Atlanta was all over Boston, testing Manny Fernandez with four early shots.

The Bruins escaped the early fire and the rest of the period went a long with the Bruins holding a slight edge in the play. Both teams had their opportunities on the power play, Atlanta with a five-on-three toward the end of the period, but nobody was able to pot a goal.

That is until the final minute when Bryan Little beat Manny Fernandez on a breakaway. Little was able to pick the Bruins pocket and get a back breaking goal, putting the Thrashers up one heading into the dressing room.

Even with the Bruins down by one heading into the second period they were not holding their heads. Not only are the Bruins used to playing the come back game, they also outplayed the Thrashers for most of the first period and were a few bad bounces away from having the lead.

The Thrashers came out blazing again in the opening minute of the second but the Bruins quickly turned the tide as Phil Kessel got the puck at the top of the circles and put it through Kari Lehtonen to tie the score. The goal was number 22 on the season for Kessel.

The rest of the period was back and forth and included a breakaway for each side. Fernandez had to make a dandy of a save to keep the game tied and the two teams played out the period still knotted at one.

The Bruins had the first few opportunities of the third period but it was Atlanta who looked like they were going to take the lead. The Thrashers had three straight shots on Fernandez that Manny was able to kick aside.

With just over six minutes remaining in regulation David Krejci came down the left wing and found Michael Ryder down the middle for Ryder's 14th goal of the season. After a miserable start for Ryder in terms of production, he has really done a 180 and is sizzling hot.

With the goal Ryder now has 11 goals in the last 14 games. The 14 goals equal Ryder's season total from last season.

In the final minute of the third period, Fernandez had to make one last spectacular save to ice the game for the Bruins. With the 2-1 victory the Bruins extend their winning streak to eight.

Thoughts...

Michael Ryder is hotter than a pistol right now in the old west. This guy was under the gun early with his slow start. Ryder had only three goals after the first 22 games and everyone thought that this guy was a major bust. However, since being paired up with David Krejci and Blake Wheeler, Ryder is on a tear and looking like his 30 goal self of two years ago.

GAME LOG:

Scoring Summary:

First Period- Atlanta, Little 18, 19:45.

Second Period- Boston, Kessel 22 (Savard, Wideman), 1:43.

Third Period- Boston, Ryder 14 (Krejci, Wheeler), 13:56.

Shots on Goal:

Boston 14-10-4-28.

Atlanta 10-11-12-33.