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Boston Bruins clinch playoffs, break SHG record

Zdeno Chara

Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, of Slovakia, center, is congratulated by teammate after his goal against the Buffalo Sabres in the third period of their NHL hockey game in Boston, Thursday, April 8, 2010. The Bruins won 3-1. gaining 2 points in the East race. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

AP

Give the Boston Bruins credit. They clinched a playoff berth with their spirited 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, salvaging a season that almost seemed to test the limits of Murphy’s Law. I guess it makes sense, then, that the team won on the strength of breaking an odd record. Stanley Cup of Chowder notes that the Bruins broke an NHL record by scoring a stunning three shorthanded goals in 1:04.

The B’s started their goal scoring blitz 32 seconds into the second period on a shorthanded goal from Daniel Paille. Paille carried the puck from the right wing corner, skated to the front of the net, and momentarily lost possession of the puck before beating Cam Ward with a wrister from the left circle.

Blake Wheeler made it 2-0 49 seconds later. David Krejci’s pass from the right wing corner found Wheeler in the slot for his 18th goal of the season.

Steve Begin added another shorthanded goal 15 seconds after Wheeler’s shorty to make it 3-0. Begin’s wrister beat Ward 5-hole after Dennis Wideman made a pass to start Begin’s rush.

As Evan also wrote, the Bruins will face either the Penguins, Sabres or Devils in the first round now. They avoided a first round match with Washington (who they’ll be playing against in our Game of the Week tomorrow afternoon). As I discussed in the playoff scenario earlier today, the Bruins could clinch the sixth seed if Montreal loses to the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight.

It must be strange that in the short term, the Bruins have been rooting for the Leafs even though every Toronto win would presumably decrease the Bruins’ first round draft pick. That has changed, though, as the Leafs are assured the second least points now. At least for one night, fans of the B’s can justify rooting for their rivals.

I’m sure it still won’t be easy to do that, though.