The Blackhawks celebrate after Brent Seabrook netted the game-winner in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final Wednesday night. (Getty Images)
There was absolutely no way to predict what transpired in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden Wednesday night. After both teams scored five total goals in Games 2 and 3 combined, Chicago outlasted Boston 6-5 in overtime (third overtime game in the Final). Brent Seabrook’s winner at 9:51 sends the series back to Chicago tied 2-2. Game 5 is on Saturday (8 p.m., NBC) and the club to win two of the next three contests will take home the Cup. Game 6 is Monday (8, NBC) in Boston.
Asked if he thought this loss was tough to come back from, Bruins assistant captain Patrice Bergeron said, “You can’t look at it that way. We had some chances to put it away in overtime but this wasn’t our style of game. We need to tighten things up in our zone and the neutral zone.”
Indeed, Boston’s defense and Tuukka Rask (41 saves) had been the toast of the NHL after allowing one goal in Game 2 and two goals in Game 4. The last time the Bruins gave up six goals in the postseason was April 22, 1996 vs. Florida. Chicago scored their most goals in a playoff game since April 19, 2011 vs. Vancouver thanks to the re-emergence of their stars. Patrick Kane (1 goal, 1 assist), Bryan Bickell (2 assists), Jonathan Toews (1 assist), Patrick Sharp (1 goal), Duncan Keith (1 assist) and Marian Hossa (1 assist) all showed up on the scoresheet.
“We have to give them credit,” said Bruins forward Rich Peverley. “They scored so many goals and we didn’t help Tuukka, it wasn’t his fault.”
Like Game 1, the Bruins had better chances in overtime but it was the Blackhawks who were able to find the net.
“I think before it started everybody knew it was going to be a tight series,” noted Bruins head coach Claude Julien. “I don’t think that anybody that is a fan of hockey is disappointed right now. We as a hockey club went into Chicago and won Game 2 and had a chance to win Game 1. We have to go in there and win Game 5, we have the ability to do that.”
Follow Metro Boston Bruins beat writer Richard Slate on Twitter @RichSlate
