22-23 Season
YEAR II OF THE BOB BOUGHNER BOWL!
The second season started like the first - another Penguins loss.
Season II of the Bob Boughner Bowl started off with Buffalo and Pittsburgh again. Pittsburgh came strong and scored early in the third to give them a 3-1 lead in the game. Pittsburgh was poised to get their first victory in the Bob Boughner Bowl but Buffalo stormed back with an "epic comeback" of their own with a 5 goal third period, giving them a 6-3 win. Pittsburgh remains winless in the Bob Boughner Bowl through 7 games.
Game 2 of the 2022-2023 season started with surging Buffalo and the runner up last season the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh. Buffalo took a quick lead but Carolina's play in the second and third earned them a 5-3 victory, notably Buffalo scored with 0.1 second left to keep Buffalo's goal differential positive
The next games were a critical home and away between the defending champion Avalanche and the second place Carolina Hurricanes. The Avs took 4 points and Carolina took home 1 point. The Avs then faced Buffalo, taking home another 2 points.. seemingly putting the Avs in the driver seat.
From despair to disbelief - the emotional roller coast that is the Bob Boughner Bowl
On December 10th, the Penguins got their first win of the Bob Boughner Bowl by beating Buffalo - critically wounding their chances in the Boughner. Despite this loss the Sabres upset the Avalanche and put them with the pack.
We finished the season with a critical home and away between the Avalanche and Penguins. The battered Avalanche facing major injuries dropped their game against Pittsburgh, which led to another final game showdown.
The possibilities on the final day were simple
With a win the Avs win the Boughner
With a loss Carolina wins the Boughner
The Penguins, fighting for their playoff lives, came out strong and won it 5-2, granting them second place, and more importantly the Carolina Hurricanes the Boughner.