Telling observation in the early going of tonight’s Oilers-Bruins game from Matt Vautour of Mass Live. Vautour noted that the sight of Connor McDavid on TD Garden ice served a reminder of what it was like to have the 4 Nations Tournament in this building last winter.
McDavid, of course, scored the winning goal of the Gold medal game against the United States in overtime. (Rink Rap’s takeaway was how defiantly Jordan Binnington held Canada in the championship game, while Team USA pounded away on the ropes, unable to seal the deal thanks to the least-popular goalie in the world. Binnington, whose career pratfalls have been widely received with laughs across the NHL, was last seen at his brilliant best in this same arena, shutting down the Bruins in Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup series. Binnington still plays for the St. Louis Blues, who have done very little since coming out of nowhere to outgrind the Western Conference and finally the Bruins to win the only championship in franchise history. In fact, the last time the Blues had appeared in a Stanley Cup final had been 49 years earlier and 9 inches away at the old Boston Garden the day Bobby Orr flew into Boston sports folklore (the statue is outside greeting patrons to TD Garden).
Beyond the 4 Nations/McDavid factor, Marco Sturm is coaching tonight against countryman Leon Draisaitl, the uber-talented German who is today’s version of Jari Kurri while riding alongside McDavid’s version of Wayne Gretzky. These are not meant to be hockey comparisons as much as one storied franchise’s next-gen of world-class skill and impact. McDavid and Draisaitl have yet to win their championship (Gretzky and Kurri won four together, and Kurri won another in 1990 – here of all places – while Gretzky was in Los Angeles and Mark Messier had taken over as Oilers captain.)
This is Game 2 of a five-game homestand for the Bruins, who beat Utah on Tuesday and host consecutive weekend home games against Vancouver and Ottawa before the Montreal Canadiens – remember them? – visit next Tuesday night, Dec. 23. followed by the Christmas break and a five-game road trip to bridge the new year.
FIRST PERIOD
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins converted a centering pass from Connor McDavid with Mark Kastelic in the penalty box, and a first period without many scoring chances gave the Bruins a late-period powerplay when Darnel Nurse went to the box. Elias Lindholm deftly flipped the puck over defenseman Ty Emberson’s stick, and Pavel Zacha beat Tristan Jarry with the backhand to tie the game at 1-1.
Shots through the first period were 7-5 Boston.
SECOND PERIOD
Andrew Peeke gets the stick up and goes off the ice for a two-minute penalty. McDavid makes a dazzling zone entry, fakes out Fraser Minten and gets to the slot, but Jeremy Swayman is equal to the task. Bruins get the kill.
Elias Lindholm has a conversation with Mattias Ekholm. I’m guessing it was in Swedish. P.J. Axelsson is here tonight – I should have asked him if he reads lips.
The Oilers press late in the period and score the go-ahead goal when Quinn Hutson converts the backhand putback off the rebound of a Swayman save in the slot with 5:22 remaining in the second period. 2-1 Edmonton.
This game has been plodding and methodical, a real grind with shots 14-13 Oilers as the game hits a TV timeout with 3:52 left in the second period.
Reacting to Morgan Geekie’s shot, Jarry struggled physically and was replaced by Calvin Pickard in the Edmonton net.
As an aside, maybe Trent Frederic (the subject of an early ovation when recognized by the Bruins) will get his rematch against Tanner Jeannot, but if he does it will mean the Oilers have extended a lead without much time for a Boston response.
The Bruins perk up and test Pickard, who finds himself right in the game. The Bruins have rarely looked so lively as they have since Pickard entered the game.
Second period ends with the Bruins holding a 16-15 shots advantage.
This is the 35th game of the Bruins’ season, and not a single one including this one has/will have ended in a shutout for either side.
THIRD PERIOD
From an Edmonton perspective, it would be a big deal if Pickard can keep the door closed on the Bruins, who have scored more goals than expected this season. The Oilers took a long time before parting ways with Stuart Skinner, the hometown goalie who backboned consecutive runs to the Stanley Cup final in 2024 and 2025. Now Jarry is out of the game with an apparent injury, so the news on the extent/severity thereof will be especially intriguing for a team that is fine-tuning a Cup contender and hoping to get over the top.
Evan Bouchard off for hooking only 30 seconds into the third period, so the Bruins go on the powerplay down 2-1.
Nugent-Hopkins intercepts a loose puck in the Edmonton zone and finds McDavid as the world’s best player blows the zone, and he takes it in full flight – three strides – fakes and pulls the backhand around Swayman – 3-1 Oilers on a spectacular short-handed goal 1:41 into the period.
Three strides and McDavid had a half zone on his closest pursuer. It’s incredible that one player can be this capable of such separation in today’s game.
The Bruins’ powerplay resumes but cannot convert in the time remaining.
Geekie turns it over on a cross-ice pass, and the Bruins backcheck furiously. Swayman snares the backhand from brief Bruin Max Jones.
Nikita Zadorov yells at the officials while sliding on his side. Zadorov has been otherwise quiet.
Mason Lohrei to the box for crosschecking Zach Hyman, who was cutting back and went down with minimal contact, so the Bruins, down 3-1 with 13:41, absolutely need this kill to have any realistic chance at getting this game to overtime. The Oilers have checked too well tonight; nothing is coming easily for the Bruins. They simply cannot afford the hole to get any deeper.
Sean Kuraly did a nice job ragging the puck on the penalty kill, but then he got too cute looking to make a stretch pass diagonally to the right wing and Nugent-Hopkins picked off the pass, setting up an eventual shot for Edmonton.
The Bruins’ recovery ability has been a major aspect of their defensive improvement this season. This was an example.
Boston gets the kill and now has 10:59 to work with and a two-goal deficit.
Marat Khusnutdinov goes out for tripping with 10:31 left. The Bruins just aren’t giving themselves a chance with Pickard in the Edmonton net. One goal here could send doubt throughout the Oilers’ bench, given the drama that went on leading to the Skinner-for-Jarry trade.
Swayman stops Draisaitl’s one-timer from the right circle – full stretch… still 55 seconds to kill.
Hyman has an angle and pulls the puck to the right post, but Swayman and McAvoy fend him off.
The Oilers pepper Swayman, who is spectacular in holding the Bruins in the game, then a shot hits the iron and caroms out. (Imagine the Oilers with Swayman in their net.)
The Bruins get a powerplay with Vasily Podkolzin in the box for slashing with 5:31 left in regulation and Edmonton up 3-1.
The challenge facing the Bruins’ attack tonight feels like the playoffs. When a talented team such as Edmonton checks well, it forces the Bruins to execute more swiftly than what comes naturally, and passes and scoring opportunities have misconnected because of it.
Swayman to the bench for an extra attacker with 2:00 remaining.
One minute to go…
Drive safely.
Rink Rap with Mick Colageo 