Bruins Go into Break with a Win

(Photo: Alan Sullivan)

The Boston Bruins, after having done a good job of containing the Pittsburgh Penguins last Thursday with a 4-1 win, looked like they were going to do the same thing Sunday in Pittsburgh, when the Bruins went up 3-0 at the 15:07 mark of the first period. Unfortunately, the Penguins came back to score one in the first and second periods and two in the third to take the win. It was expected that Boston would come out strong on Tuesday during their game against the Vegas Golden Knights, not only because of Sunday’s loss, but also because it was their last game before the bye week and the All-Star break.

David Pastrnak put their first shot on Marc-Andre Fleury just ten seconds into the game with his linemate Patrice Bergeron getting their second just 13 seconds later. However, a minute later Mark Stone not only got the Golden Knights their first shot on Jaroslav Halak, but he got Vegas on the scoreboard. For the Bruins they would be playing catch-up hockey.

A couple of recalls from the Providence Bruins in the form of Jeremy Lauzon and Anton Blidh altered the lineup. It saw Joachim Nordstrom, Par Lindholm and John Moore watching from press level. Blidh took the left wing on the fourth line joining Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner, while Lauzon took the right side of the third defensive pair with Matt Grzelcyk on the left. David Krejci had also returned to the lineup.

Lauzon played with the Providence Bruins in three games in three days over the weekend and perhaps that had him focused. Perhaps it was the change of teammates, but whatever it was, he tied things up for the Bruins at 11:40 of the first with assists from Krejci and Karson Kuhlman.

“I thought he played hard, competes all over the ice. We’ve seen that before, so we expected that. Scores a goal — obviously, in a one-goal game, that matters. And did it in the right way, didn’t overthink it. Just got it, got off the wall, make sure you pound it hard so it gets by the first layer. If it gets blocked closer to the net, at least it’s not going to be a quick transition. We’ve been trying to instill that attitude in some of our other guys and Brandon [Carlo] gets one later and gets it through, so hopefully it kind of snowballs, that part of our game. But all-in-all had good composure, didn’t seem fazed by anything. We’ll always go back and look at it, there will be some details that we’ll talk about, but I liked his game. I thought he brought what we needed,” stated Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy after the game.

Overthinking may be getting in the way of a few of the Boston players, though the team is certainly not in a downward spiral by any means.

The teams went into the first intermission knotted at one, while the Bruins had outshot Vegas 14-8. Only one of Boston’s shots had been during the power play, despite them having been on the man advantage twice compared to one for the Golden Knights.

The second period in shots was a more even sheet of ice with the Bruins getting nine compared to the Golden Knights eight. However, in truth it was Vegas who was the better team during the middle frame. Despite being assessed three more penalties during the second, Vegas kept the Bruins from doing much with their power play. Meanwhile, when Brandon Carlo was sent off for a high sticking penalty, Nicolas Hague gave his Golden Knights the lead and earned his first NHL goal at 10:59 of the second.

Vegas took that one-goal lead into the second intermission and many thought that the Vegas win was almost certain. Coming into Tuesday’s game, when leading after the second period the Golden Knights were 20-1-1.

Jake DeBrusk tied things up for the Bruins going glove side high from the left half wall at 4:26 of the third. It was a goal that when asked about it after the game, Fleury’s response was short and to the point. “Just a good shot. Yep,” he said.

“That’s his kind of goal, he can separate and shoot in stride and shoot it past a goalie,” said Coach Cassidy. “Good for Jake. That got everyone excited and that’s something he can bring and has been of late.”

Of course, the Bruins have not been outstanding when a tie has sent them to bonus hockey. Going into Tuesday’s game they were 3-5 during the overtime period and an unexplainable 0-7 in the shootout. It had some people wondering if bonus hockey might once again be the deciding factor.

The resilience of the Bruins team continues to show. There was no panic from the players in black and gold. About eight minutes after DeBrusk’s goal, Carlo finds himself at the right point with the puck on his stick—roughly the same spot from which Lauzon scored—and fires a wrist shot on Fleury. While he didn’t score, Krejci was just to the right of the net and he put the rebound in to give the Bruins the lead for the first time in the game.

There was still close to eight minutes remaining in regulation and Vegas put five of their 13 shots on net for that period on Halak during those final minutes. However, the Bruins got it done and they go into the break sitting first in the Atlantic Division and second in the Eastern Conference and the League with 70 points a +34 goal differential.