The Boston Bruins have one of many two-in-two weekends, the opener coming with the advantage of a day off following Wednesday’s 4-1 win in Buffalo, a day off and a practice. This kind of week is precious and few in today’s NHL, and it will only be remembered in a positive light if the Bruins close 2023 with two more solid outings.
After tonight’s game against the not-so-great-lately New Jersey Devils at TD Garden, they travel to face the Detroit Red Wings on New Year’s Eve. The Devils won handily on Friday at Ottawa. The Red Wings will be in the same position the Bruins are tonight, at home and rested.
The amazing AI poster for this game was created by Darryl Vautour, son of “The Bruins Book” author (and Sec. 324 season-ticket holder) Kevin Vautour.
PREGAME
One interesting aspect to the Bruins’ situation, especially with NHL rookie Matt Poitras playing for Team Canada in the World Junior Championships in Sweden, is the forward-lines configuration with Pavel Zacha moved to LW. So, essentially, the Bruins, who went out to their super start with Zacha, Charlie Coyle and Poitras down the middle (with John Beecher), have been significantly revised during their rough patch that has led to more solid if not as flashy hockey.
Morgan Geekie is now in the middle of the line rushes, but the tendency here is to expect he will be back at RW at least some of the time as it would seem the Bruins are committed to making Zacha a center. Meantime, the Bruins are also committed to bringing Poitras back from the WJC. The only option would be a return to junior, but none of the stakeholders think that’s in Poitras’ best interests.
One thing Geekie has done is add a go-to-net attitude to the top six, and after personnel (including the 23-year-old Merkulov) sorts itself out, the 2023-24 roster blueprint will have been tested in a manner that management can crystalize its outlook and strategy for the trade deadline.
Until then, winter is here.
Happy Hockey New Year everyone.
FIRST PERIOD
The Bruins started with energy and a strong forecheck but still gave up a pair of Grade-A scoring chances to two of the Devils’ top forwards, Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier, the latter who would later score at 6:03 on the powerplay (Kevin Shattenkirk high sticking).
Pavel Zacha picked off a pass and split John Marino and Luke Hughes, but Vitek Vanecek was aggressive and made the stop look easy.
Zacha made another nice play, this one on the left wall to win a puck south of the hashmarks, getting it back to the point, resulting in a chance for David Pastrnak at the New Jersey net.
The Bruins were coached up to play fast in this game, and their puck movement in the offensive zone has been as rapid as we’ve seen.
The Bruins generated their best shift of the period, sustained pressure, got changes, and Johnny Beecher hit the left post. Mason Lohrei, among the second set of players to enter the fray, was crafty with the puck, especially behind the New Jersey net.
But it was New Jersey who would get the next powerplay with 1:31 remaining, as Pastrnak tripped Jack Hughes coming out of the Devils zone with the puck.
Marchand knocked down Jack Hughes on a zone entry, as the slick New Jersey centerman went to stop in the soft area between the points. The Devils got one shot from the slot, Tyler Toffoli, but Linus Ullmark shut it down and covered.
Pastrnak will have 29 seconds left to serve at the start of the second period.
Shots after one: 13-9 Boston.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bruins got the penalty kill that spilled over from the first period, but NJ defenseman Luke Hughes scored on a screen shot from the top of the left circle at 1:11 to make it 2-0. It was a 1-on-1 carry that meandered just enough that a bodycheck would have been in order. Instead, the 20-year-old Hughes weaved into a spot where his wrist shot to the top of the net eluded Ullmark. Ironically, McAvoy, the Boston defenseman most likely to put an opponent on his tail pad, was the defenseman on the play.
Brad Marchand stole the puck right out from under Vanecek, who was handling it behind the Jersey net, and his second attempt at a play fed Jake DeBrusk, who cut in hard from the left circle, falling as his backhand snuck inside the far post. 2-1 New Jersey.
Hometown boy John Marino was defending a goalmouth when the Bruins tied the game. Pastrnak was in the vicinity, and it was determined he put the puck in the net, thus an unassisted goal.
Giant NJ D Kevin Bahl (6-6, 230) held Marchand at 14:02, putting the Bruins at a man advantage for the first time.
Pastrnak put Boston on top for the first time with 4:21 remaining in the second period, deking Vanecek and sliding the backhand into the open net. DeBrusk and McAvoy with the assists on Pasta’s second goal of the game and his 22nd of the season.
Kevin Shattenkirk padded the lead with 2:46 left in the period, snapping home a wrist shot from the right circle to make it 4-2 and send TD Garden into a frenzy.
Shots after two: 24-15 Boston.
THIRD PERIOD
Pulling Vanecek is obviously not on Lindy Ruff’s radar with tonight being New Jersey’s second in two nights.
Devils push but get no puck luck. Former Bruins Eric Haula was the best example, failing to calm a bouncing puck that would have been a clean pass to an uncovered teammate bearing down on Ullmark.
Meantime, Mason Lohrei’s pretty good game got adventurous with an O-zone turnover, leading to an off-man rush that Shattenkirk shut down. Morgan Geekie also factored with an excellent backcheck to cancel a Bruins turnover.
4-2 Boston with 12:58 remaining in regulation; it’s a cliche for a reason: next goal’s a big one!
Pastrnak hit Zacha going to the net, but his deflection missed the net. Pastrnak stole a puck that looked like it was coming out of the NJ zone and set up a shot from the point.
Next shift after taking a post-whistle crosscheck from Bahl (who has 9 inches on Marchand), the Bruins captain hit Luke Hughes with a jolting bodycheck before changing.
Always fun keeping tabs on Marchand’s subplots.
NJ making a late push, and Bahl hit Zacha high in the corner. Ullmark with saves on former Bruin Eric Haula and Dawson Mercer.
Shots even at 29 apiece with 5:18 left in the game.
Bahl to the box for high-sticking Zacha with 4:11 left. Bruins to the powerplay for the second time (they converted the first).
The Bruins got sloppy, the Devils made a short-handed rush, the Bruins intercepted, McAvoy’s shot was stopped by Vanecek, Marchand has a great look to ice the game but overthunk it and lost the puck in his skates, Jersey took off, Lohrei dove to intercept a goalmouth pass intended for Marino, the puck almost went in, but McAvoy crashed hard into the right post. He left under his own power, not pretty.
Shattenkirk did ice the game (5-2) with 3:11, converting Marchand’s feed on the 2-on-1
Ensuing action, Mercer played with a bee in his bonnet, looking to hit anything.
Not a lot of Merkulov in the third period, but he got a shift in the final two minutes with the Bruins up by 3.
For a deeper dive and some old-school reflection on the game of hockey, read my Sunday column at BostonHockeyNow.com.
Rink Rap with Mick Colageo 