Sacco’s debut

The Bruins host the Utah Hockey Club tonight at TD Garden in their first game under the direction of Interim Head Coach Joe Sacco.

Joonas Korpisalo is in deep thought as the pregame warmup winds down.

Here goes Sacco’s debut as the interim head coach of the Boston Bruins.

Also fun to run into UHC GM Bill Armstrong, former Providence Bruins coach and assistant coach when the team won the Calder Cup in 1999.

FIRST PERIOD

Mark Kastelic and Utah’s Robert Bortuzzo fight at center and sit in the penalties boxes at the 6:17 mark of the game.

One early note on the Bruins; They are more aggressive to cut off plays in the neutral zone and turn the puck around quickly with ambitious passes that, if misconnected, are still redeemable with another forward sprinting to offset icing.

Lawson Crouse off for tripping at 7:18, so here’s the first look at the Bruins powerplay under Joe Sacco (who said the PP will still be run by Chris Kelly).

The Bruins powerplay saw three sets of forwards over the first 70 seconds, and Morgan Geekie had the best look late in the session, firing low from the slot, but Karen Vejmelka got it with his left pad. Excellent save. More pressure before it expired, as David Pastrnak fired a rebound from a bad angle that cause Vejmelka to scramble.

0-0 midway through the first period.

Geekie off for tripping. Good powerplay for Utah, and Joonas Korpisalo fought off a high shot with his shoulder reminiscent of Manny Fernandez.

Jack McBain off for high-sticking Nikita Zadorov at 13:02.

Georgii Merkulov is back on the first unit with Brad Marchand and Elias Lindholm. More changes, and Pastrnak alternates between running plays off the LW halfwall and stepping into the circle for a one-timer that he delivered on net.

The Bruins haven’t found the net yet, but they have poured 10 shots, most really good ones, on Vejmelka.

The Utes hem in the Bruins for the first time, sustaining pressure exacerbated by a puck inadvertently intercepted along the boards by a referee. Korpisalo reached to grab a shot heading wide to end the threat.

Nice move by Mason Lohrei off the left point, but he is pinned and held up, but the penalty goes to Logan Cooley for slashing at 17:37.

The Bruins landed 15 shots on net, but the natives were nonetheless restless with the lack of instant result on the powerplay.

Once again, Utah gets an offensive-zone possession, the second occasion in which the Bruins show they are still playing a zone defense, as the defensemen reach and stay in structure. Utah ran out the clock without getting a shot.

Shots after one in this scoreless game: 15-5 Boston.

SECOND PERIOD

Zadorov turnover, more Utah pressure, but Michael Carcone’s blind pass was picked off by Pastrnak, who wanted but won’t get a penalty shot after being fouled by McBain. Bruins to the powerplay.

Merkulov, for the first time, does not get the PP start – Zacha does. Pasta one-timer save Vejmelka.

Journeyman D Ian Cole saves a goal.

Charlie Coyle’s frustrating season just reared its ugly head, as he passed up a shot, lost the puck behind the Utah net, takes a penalty.

Maveric Lamoureux and Justin Brazeau collided in the open ice. Lamoureux kept his feet, Brazeau need a moment to get up. Both shook off some discomfort up high as they went to their benches.

Zadorov continues to be a ruffian, and Utah’s Logan Cooley takes a penalty, putting the Bruins back on the powerplay with 7:40 left in the second period.

Second straight PP no Merkulov, as Zacha has the spot the Russian occupied in the first period.

Elias Lindholm scores 21 seconds into the man advantage and the Bruins lead 1-0. Boy, was Lindholm happy to see that puck sitting there.

Bortuzzo throws a hit at Kastelic, who pummels his opponent.

Shots are 23-9 Boston with 7:05 left in the second period.

THIRD PERIOD

Officlal shots corrected to 26-13.

Zacha threw the puck too far in front of himself, and Lawson Crouse hit the left post.

Michael Kesselring off for crosschecking at 1:54, Bruins to the powerplay.

McAvoy hits the right post. Marchand digs the puck out from under Vejmelka, but his kick eludes Boston’s point men and the Bruins have to start over.

Sacco is sticking with Zacha over Merkulov on the first PP unit.

Bruins ice the puck, fans don’t like the call.

Merkulov is on the second unit.

The UHC is pushing, but the Bruins are defending solidly. Many of their formerly flimsy zone exits have been more solid, though the visitors have had their chances to tie the score. 7:21 left in regulation, 1-0 Bruins.

Cole Koepke slashed down Matias Maccelli on the rush with 6:56.

Vejmelka to the bench with two minutes remaining.

Timeout called by Utah coach Andre Tourigny with 1:47.

Faceoff outside the Boston zone right in front of the home bench. Vejmelka back in net.

Kevin Stenlund vs. Zacha. First one went to Utah but ruled unfair, Zacha wins the second, Marchand along on Vejmelka, penalty on Stenlund. Bruins wanted a penalty shot.

Bruins powerplay with 1:38. Utah gets it down ice, Vejmelka out, Bruins get the puck back, Pastrnak scores with 58.8 seconds left.

Hold your horses, the play is under review after Pastrnak knocked the puck down with a stick above his shoulder (not the shot).

The goal is waved off, the TD Garden crowd (still remaining) boos loudly.

Zacha with a big block on Crouse. Puck to the net, Korpisalo covers in a maze of players.

Next draw: second tick, puck stays in, Utah gets it, deflected out of play with 16.6.

Coyle with a big defensive play to gain possession and flip a backhand out of the D zone.

Bruins win Sacco’s debut, 1-0.

Drive safely.