Nikita Zadorov’s walkoff, overtime goal that completed an unlikely comeback on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden was the kind of stuff that, had it occurred to end a game that mattered, would have been indelible to those who had watched his debut season with the Boston Bruins.
The Bruins were so far out of their second preseason tilt against the New York Rangers that Joonas Korpisalo had to make multiple saves from scoring areas to keep the Bruins within three goals, down 4-1 just 11:08 into the second period.
Strange things began to happen in the third, starting with Adam Fox’s dead-end turnover on a NYR powerplay. Mikey “Pain in The” Eyssimont pounced on the situation, eluded former Boston College star Gabe Perreault’s fly-by steal attempt and finished by roofing a backhand over second-half goalie Talyn Boyko, 4-2.
Eyssimont would score a second goal (assisted by fellow newcomer Jordan Harris) to make it a one-goal game (4-3), then with 1:05 remaining in regulation and Korpisalo on the bench for a sixth attacker, the former Tampa Bay pest fed 2025 deadline pickup Marat Khusnutdinov for the goal that sent the game to overtime.
Eyssimont even put Boston in a position to win the game, expertly dropping to his knees on a Sam Carrick crosscheck with 15 seconds left in regulation. The Bruins failed to capitalize on the ensuing powerplay, but this is when Zadorov took over. The left-shot defenseman carried the puck around the New York net as the teams were back to 3v3 hockey, curled out into the right circle, fired home a wrister – assist from Khusnutdinov (time of the goal 3:27) – and glided straight to the nearby corner door to the visitors’ runway.
If anyone had the stomach to watch the Florida Panthers’ second- and third-round series following their shocking, 2023 comeback to beat the 135-point Bruins in seven, you’ll remember Matthew Tkachuk scoring in overtime on the road, sprinting straight to the away team’s exit door and waving his teammates to follow him out of the rink. No on-ice hugs or stick taps, more like let’s get outta here or else we’ll miss our flight.
Zadorov, albeit in a relatively muted mood, paid Tkachuk a bit of a tribute with his “celebration.” He would return, as there was – oh yeah – the shootout that concludes all preseason games even if they’re blowouts.
Zadorov is just really starting to get comfortable as a Bruin, being himself and, at the same time, making the adjustments necessary to apply his alpha-male skills to the NHL on a winning basis. The return to the organization of the real “Big Z” (Zdeno Chara) will only help Zadorov get his game where he wants it to go.
Today, the Bruins announced that Chara has been appointed as the team’s new Hockey Operations advisor and mentor. In these roles, the 48-year-old former captain of the Bruins will work with staff and players, strengthening communication, providing training guidance for defensemen and, while being a regular presence at home games and practices, will also look in on Boston’s prospects playing in Providence (AHL).
Something was obviously up when, late last season, Chara began showing up around the team and becoming a little more elusive to the media. His roles were not defined at the time, and as camp opened General Manager Don Sweeney acknowledged the Hockey Hall of Famer would be officially joining the organization as soon as the language identifying his roles was worked out. Here we are.
No doubt, his former teammate Adam McQuaid, newly appointed director of Player Development, and his coordinator Ben Smith will welcome the opportunity to engage Chara as to their process.
Chara will engage the media on Friday at Warrior, where the Bruins will be practicing.
Rink Rap with Mick Colageo 