WHAT A GAME!

As a Bruins fan I was disappointed. But as a hockey fan I was thrilled. My first chance to see this season's B's team in person had everything: scoring, fighting, and one of the most unbelievable finishes of the season. It all happened this afternoon at TD Banknorth Garden, where the St. Louis Blues beat Boston 5-4 in a shootout.

St. Louis led 2-1 heading into the third period, and had possession of the puck for much of the final frame. David Backes hooked Michael Ryder to the ground with Boston already on the power play, giving the Bruins a 48-second two-man advantage in the final five minutes. Just 20 ticks later and Ryder wristed a feed from David Krejci over Chris Mason's shoulder to tie the game at two.

Still up a man, the Bruins took a 3-2 lead just 19 seconds later when PJ Axelsson blasted a slapper by Mason. Then 1:20 later, captain Zdeno Chara beat the Blues goalie five-hole, 4-2 Bruins.

With just 2:48 left, Stephane Yelle was called for tripping. Mason was pulled for an extra attacker, and the Blues wasted little time in six on four. David Perron netted a tip-in pulling St. Louis back within a goal with 1:20 remaining. Mason again went to the bench for the extra skater, but all looked lost for St. Louis as Bruins forward Blake Wheeler stormed towards the empty net in the final minute. Wheeler's snapper trickled just wide, and the Blues mounted a final rush in the last five seconds of the game. Perron's blast from just past the face-off dot ricocheted off Tim Thomas' left arm and straight up in the air. David Backes batted the puck out of mid air past and past Thomas as the buzzer began to sound, tying the game at four.

After a lengthy review--making sure the puck went in before 0:00 was on the clock, and to see if he had made contact with the puck higher than the crossbar--the goal was upheld. According to ESPN's Game Report though, "The puck was slightly above the cross bar when Backes hit it, the video showed" which should have nullified the tying score. It was so close though, that leaving it as it was called on the ice was probably the right move.

Former Bruin Brad Boyes beat Thomas between the pads to end the game, giving the Blues the 2-0 shootout win, and a 5-4 victory in the game. Plus, based on their play, the Bruins didn't really have any business winning this one, leaving Boston head coach Claude Julien to remark, "we got what we deserved."

Despite the loss, it was an awesome game between the top team in the east and the cellar dwellers of the west. Zdeno Chara and Brad Winchester got into it throughout the afternoon, and a few scrums in front of the nets livened up the action and created chippiness between the two teams. Five goals were scored in the last five minutes of regulation, and the final thirty seconds alone was worth the price of admission.

A tremendous play capped off a tremendous afternoon. Hopefully the Bruins will learn from their defensive lapses in the final minute and come back stronger after the all-star break.