Bruins recover, douse Flames

In Calgary, the frenzy lasted just about 21 minutes. The first 21 minutes of the game on Friday were crazy with the both teams scoring three times in the first frame and Brad Marchand ending the game’s offense with 52 seconds elapsed in the middle frame.

Jaroslav Halak made 18 saves for the Boston Bruins in a 4-3 win over the Flames.

Patrice Bergeron had two goals for the Bruins – file photo by Lewis Bleiman

“Definitely not the start you want as a team,” Boston’s Patrice Bergeron (two goals) said. “I thought we showed some great resilience staying with it and sticking to the program and bouncing back after those early goals. I thought we settled down and played more sound hockey and didn’t give up as many quality chances.”

Lucky for Calgary their competition is also losing and they remain tied for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.

Mikael Backlund struck for two in the first period as the Flames held a 3-1 lead in the frame.

“We came out well,” Backlund said. “But I thought they got a little better in the second half of the first (period) and carried it over into the second. I thought it was an even game. We tried to push in the third. It wasn’t enough.”

Bergeron and Charlie Coyle rallied Boston back from the two-goal deficit.

“I think our second half of that first period we had the momentum,” Coyle said. “We tied it up. Came back. That’s what it takes. That’s what good teams do. They jump out like that. We just calmed down. You don’t panic. You go right back out that next shift and that next line does something good.”

Johnny Gaudreau also scored for the Flames in the frenetic first four minutes of the game.

“It was 3-1 with, what, 55 minutes left in the game, so it’s basically a whole game there,” Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk said. “You can’t take it for granted, that lead, even though it was nice to get off to a good start. Then they got three unanswered goals.”

[WATCH: All Bruins vs. Flames highlights]

Cam Talbot made 19 saves in the loss.

“Things you can learn from a team like that is they’re responsible, they don’t give up much,” the Flames’ Milan Lucic said. “They make you earn everything, and that’s what makes them such a good team. We play them again on Tuesday night so we know what to expect.”