It was good fortune that Rich Peverley’s wide-right snap shot rocketed off the end boards to Milan Lucic’s stick for the tying goal in regulation yesterday in the Bruins’ 4-3 shootout win over the Predators.
But it was not mere luck that Lucic was in the right spot to corral Peverley’s rebound.
As Peverley took a pass from Zdeno Chara, crossed the blue line, and sliced into the high slot, Lucic was just a step behind the wing. Lucic was already in high gear when Peverley let his shot go.
But when the puck caromed off the boards, Lucic punched the turbos to make sure he was first to the rebound.
With a backhand whack, Lucic tapped the puck over Pekka Rinne at 18:53 to tie the game at 3.
“I was expecting anything,’’ Lucic said. “Just a rebound or whatever happened. Just a loose puck. That’s what is part of our job - to go to the net and find loose pucks. It was a great bounce going our way.’’
The goal capped one of Lucic’s best games. In 18:21 of ice time, Lucic ripped off a game-high seven shots, and the Predators blocked two other attempts.
With his score, Lucic became the first NHLer this season to score 20 goals while racking up 100 penalty minutes. Lucic has 107 PIMs, 20 via fisticuffs.
“That’s part of my game,’’ Lucic said of the surliness that accompanies his goal-scoring presence. “It’s something I’ve worked hard at, in creating space, since I was rookie. It’s been there this year.
“I need to keep that physical side to it, because I don’t think I get one thing without the other.
“I’ve just got to focus on being physical and doing those types of things.’’
Horton out again
Nathan Horton (concussion) missed his seventh straight game and will not play Tuesday against the Rangers. Horton tried skating on his own last Sunday, but his symptoms returned following the on-ice workout.
With Horton out, Peverley remained in his spot on Lucic’s flank. Jordan Caron served as the third-line right wing, Peverley’s usual position.
“All year long, you hear us talking about how we have enough depth,’’ coach Claude Julien said before the game. “It’s basically time to show it more than it’s time to use it as an excuse, which I don’t think we’ve used.
“Those are setbacks that happen. We’ve been through that with players before that missed the rest of the season. That didn’t stop us from competing and being a good team.’’
Rough day
Adam McQuaid didn’t have his best stuff yesterday. The No. 6 defenseman played only 13:03, his lightest workload since Jan. 12 (12:44 against Montreal).
