Bruins Beat Stars in Opener

Let’s face it, it’s been a long time coming! The Boston Bruins played in their first game of the 2021-22 season, a home game, before a full house, as they took on the Dallas Stars on Saturday, October 16, 2021. After the shutdown and bubble play of the 2019-20 season and then the shortened, limited teams 52-game 2020-21 season which began in an empty arena, it is safe to say that the Boston Bruins were happy to hear their fans chanting “Let’s Go Bruins.”

The Bruins look a little different this season to be sure, with David Krejci going back to the Czech Republic, Tuukka Rask not being re-signed, and the Seattle Kraken having taken Jérémy Lauzon in the Expansion Draft. Boston also added unrestricted free agents Tomáš Nosek, Erik Haula, and Nick Foligno on the first day of free agency, July 28, 2021.

The first line for Boston was always a given with Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrňák reuniting as the Bruins top line. After the chemistry of Taylor Hall, Krejci and Craig Smith on the second line last season the only question was who would center that line and Charlie Coyle has earned that spot. Haula centers the third line with Jake DeBrusk on his left and Foligno on his right. The fourth line currently slots Trent Frederic on the left, Nosek in the center and Karson Kuhlman on the right.

For the first time since 1995, the Bruins’ season opener had a rookie between the pipes. Jeremy Swayman is just 22, but he showed last season that he was up to the task of defending the net for those in black and gold. While he spent much of the first period of the game doing nothing, Dallas having their first shot on net at 7:17 and their second not until 15:58, overall, his play was strong allowing just one goal in the game for a .964 save percentage.

“Yeah, [Swayman] was, you know, he was good. He got beat on a clean shot. We had a breakdown and we addressed that, and we’ll look at it and clearly it kind of triplicated there. Guys got a little fatigued and that’s… Give them credit, they found the right guy and made a play. And after that he was rock solid. Pucks were hopping around, a little bit warm in there, so you know some knucklers coming in on both ends so thought both goaltenders played well. I thought he responded well, so good for him, but I mean, he’s done it for us almost every time he’s played, so it’s almost like we’re coming to expect that and that’s a good thing,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy after the game.

Meanwhile Marchand gave the Bruins the lead on a penalty shot at 17:38 of the first period as well as notching an empty netter at 18:23 of the third. The game winning goal came off the stick of DeBrusk at 4:43 of the third.

For the first home opener in a full TD Garden arena in two years, it was clear that the fans were happy to be there and that the Bruins were pleased to have their fans back. Boston will be on the road for their next two games before returning to Boston to host the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, October 24th.