Boston Bruins Season 21/22

[Brewin Flames]

2021-22 SEASON PREVIEW: BOSTON

BY COREY ABBOTT

August 27, 2021, 11:14 am ET

Updated On: August 29, 2021, 11:09 am ET

 

 

 

 

BOSTON BRUINS

 

2020-21 Record: 33-16-7, 73 points

Result: Third in the East Division. Lost 4-2 to the New York Islanders in the second round.

 

Significant Gains: Linus Ullmark, Nick Foligno, Erik Haula, Tomas Nosek, Derek Forbort

 

Significant Losses: David Krejci, Nick Ritchie, Jeremy Lauzon

 

Strengths: Boston’s top line of Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron remains the strongest part of the roster.

 

They account for most of the team’s offensive production, while matching up against the top players on the opposition. The Bruins also excel as a group defensively. Charlie McAvoy had an outstanding year from the back end at both ends of the ice. Boston tied for the fourth-best goals against per game (2.39) and had the second-best penalty kill (86.0%) during the 2020-21 campaign.

 

Weaknesses: The Bruins have a big hole to fill on the second line following the departure of Krejci, who has decided to continue his playing career in the Czech Republic. He has been the steadiest source of production beyond the first line for the team for a while now. 

 

Taylor Hall and Craig Smith brought some much-needed secondary scoring last season, while offseason additions Foligno and Haula could occupy middle-six forward spots. Charlie Coyle is considered the early favorite to center the second combination. Still, depth up front and on the back end remain question marks for Boston entering the year.

 

Player to Watch: Coyle has sleeper potential if he cements his spot on the second line, but all eyes will be on Ullmark between the pipes going into the 2021-22 campaign. He was signed to a four-year contract by Boston because of the uncertainty surrounding Tuukka Rask, who is currently an unrestricted free agent and had offseason hip surgery. Ullmark has been a bright spot for the lowly Buffalo Sabres over the past two seasons and stands a good chance to make a big impact for the Bruins, while teaming up with Jeremy Swayman.

[Brewin Flames]

DWWean/NHLI via Getty Images

Take a quick look at the Bruins current roster and one thing that might jump out at you: the Bruins have a lot of freakin’ centers.

Besides the guys returning from last year who can play in the middle of the ice (Patrice Bergeron, Charlie Coyle, Curtis Lazar, Trent Frederic, and Jack Studnicka), the Bruins added centers Tomáš Nosek, Erik Haula, and occasional center Nick Foligno this summer via free agency.

With so many options at center, the question then becomes which players will get a shot to play center and which line will they play on.

Line 1

The center for the first line is an absolute no-brainer, and requires very little to be written on it.

Bergeron will be centering Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak when the season begins. End of story.

Line 2

While there are a few options here to fill David Krejci’s old spot, it looks like Boston’s 2C to start the year will most likely be Coyle.

Head coach Bruce Cassidy already alluded to bumping Coyle up from the third line in August when asked about who would be his second line center.

“The obvious choice is Charlie Coyle,” he said at the time. “He’s the most familiar with our guys and I’m the most familiar with him.”

And while there is no guarantee this will happen as the Bruins have yet to start training camp and chemistry could form between Taylor Hall, Craig Smith, and another center, Coyle appears to be the guy at the moment.

 

If this is true, the Bruins will need a big bounce-back season from Coyle. Last year, he was not the player that he was in the 2018-19 playoffs or during the 2019-2020 season.

After the season ended, we did learn that Coyle had been playing a bad knee all year, an injury that required two surgeries this summer.

To date, Coyle has never had such a prominent role as he appears slated to have this season. The pressure is certainly on for Coyle to produce.

Coyle is a solid playoff performer when the games matter most, so hopefully this is an indication that he can perform under the scrutiny he’ll face in 2021-22.

Line 3

This is where the uncertainty begins for the Bruins.

 

The Bruins have at least four legitimate players who could slot in as the third-line center; however, many are predicting that Haula might get the first shot here with Nick Foligno on his wing.

 

In the past, 30-year-old Haula has shown some offensive punch (scoring 29 goals and 25 assists in 2017-18), and if he could find that scoring touch on the third line this year it would go a long way in making the B’s a complete hockey team.

 

After an knee injury in 2018-2019, however, Haula has not produced at a similar rate as that career year. Haula is still a great skater though, is sound defensively, and very strong in the faceoff circle (55.1% last season), making him the most likely candidate to center line three.

Perhaps we shouldn’t sleep on Jack Studnicka as a third-line center quite yet . Though a longshot, if Studnicka has a really strong training camp and preseason, he may be able steal this spot.

 

The B’s have also got to be eager to give their top pick from 2017 a shot at his natural position before too long so they can see what they really have in the kid.

Fourth line

The Bruins’ fourth line center spot probably comes down to Nosek or Lazar, and the deciding factors may be that:

 

• Lazar has plenty of experience playing right wing in the NHL, while Nosek doesn’t have as much experience on the wing.
• Nosek is a much better face-off man (career numbers: Nosek 52.6% vs Lazar 46.4%).
•  

Nosek is also coming off of a career year in Vegas (8 goals and 10 assists in 38 games), so the Bruins may want to continue to see if Nosek grows at center.

 

The very long shot for fourth-line center is Frederic.

 

Frederic was drafted by the Bruins as a center, but in his limited time in the NHL so far, he’s played mostly on the wing.

You can expect the same to happen this season, unless injuries bite the Bruins down the middle.

 

Despite having a plethora of center options, there are many Bruins fans wondering if Boston still needs to find a bona-fide 2C.

Coyle’s performance last year has many people doubting if he or any of the other centers (not named Bergeron) are good enough to lead the 2nd line.

 

The departure of Krejci has left very big shoes to fill, and the Bruins may have to look outside the organization to fill them.

 

Complicating matters is the fact that if a deal is done to bring in another center, the Bruins would have even more centers on the roster; one would likely have to be moved in the deal to make space in lineup and under the salary cap.

 

Ultimately, if another center is not brought in to Boston, this could very well come down a what Sweeney referred to as a “center by committee” situation.

 

In all likelihood, the guy who plays center on lines two through four could change quite frequently; however, you have to think this plan is less than ideal for a team that wants to compete for another Stanley Cup.

Edited September 14, 2021 by Brewin Flames

[Brewin Flames]

The Bruins will open training camp secure in the knowledge they’ll have a lot of good NHL players.

 

Though we’re still waiting to see who will hold down the No. 2 center spot, the top nine forwards look strong. They should have at least six good defensemen, with some flexibility in pairings. They have the makings of a quality goalie tandem.

 

The six exhibition games may tell us more about the players on the fringe, and those whose NHL careers are a few years away. Those players are in focus here.

 

These players have fewer than 60 NHL games on their résumés and are considered prospects based on reviews of game film, live viewings, past performance, interviews with hockey personnel and other sources, statistics, and analytics:

 

Forwards

 

Jack Studnicka, C/RW: Listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 171 pounds, he says he put on 15 pounds this offseason. Looks the part. Once camp drills start, Bruins would love to see signs that the 2017 second-round pick (53rd overall), who has 22 NHL games under his belt in two pro seasons, is capable of holding down a top-six center spot (recall, if you dare, that Patrice Bergeron is 36). Entry-level deal expires next summer. This season, is he better served as a spare part in Boston or an all-situations guy in Providence?

 

Trent Frederic, C/LW: Club wants to keep him at center, but he’s got a tough battle with fellow left-shot centers Erik Haula and Tomas Nosek sure to make the roster. Bruins protected him from the Seattle expansion draft (most other players on this list were exempt) and handed him a two-year, $2.1 million contract extension. St. Louisian could push right-shooting Curtis Lazar to fourth-line wing, or Chris Wagner out of the lineup.

 

Jakub Lauko, LW: Third-round pick (77th overall) from 2018 is feisty and fast with some offensive upside. Will be a key player in Providence if he doesn’t win a fourth-line job. Should be an NHL regular in two to three years.

Oskar Steen, C/RW: Small, stocky, and competitive. May not have enough offensive oomph to play center at 5-9 but could earn spot starts as a winger. Is exempt from waivers.

 

Jesper Froden, RW: Swedish veteran (age 27) can deliver pace on the right side. Showed intelligent two-way game and nose for the net in the Buffalo rookie tournament (four goals in two games). Looks like a better version of Karson Kuhlman, more touch with the puck and around the net. Waivers-exempt.

 

Anton Blidh, LW: A bit slower and heavier than Lauko, with less panache but more thump. Unlike Lauko, would have to pass through waivers.

 

Karson Kuhlman, RW: Plug-and-play fourth-liner. Quality substitute who can play 10 minutes a night, and sit for long stretches, sans issues.

Zach Senyshyn, RW: Bruins re-signed him for one year at the league minimum. Has not broken through. May get a better shot in another system.

 

Cameron Hughes, LW/RW: Slightly built (5-11, 160) and soon to be 25, looks like an AHLer.

 

Fabian Lysell, RW: Several years away but will get a taste of the preseason. Electric skater and playmaker. Should be a point producer for WHL Vancouver this season.

 

Defensemen

 

Jakub Zboril, LD: Performed well enough in 42 games last season (0-9—9) to earn a few All-Rookie votes but more veteran help on the left side (Derek Forbort, a healthy John Moore) means a job is not yet his. Was not taken in Seattle expansion draft.

 

Urho Vaakanainen, LD: Development of first-round pick (18th overall, 2017) appears to have stalled since 2018 arrival in North America. Not much “wow” to his game. Unless he defends harder and creates more offensively, may be a top-four fixture in Providence.

 

Jack Ahcan, LD: He’s even smaller than his listed 5-8, 184 pounds. That makes him a tricky evaluation for the Bruins. Does he look so dynamic because he’s so small, or is he just dynamic? Either the next Torey Krug or a future AHL All-Star.

 

Brady Lyle, RD: Struggled in Buffalo rookie tournament but will likely calm down. His size (6-3, 215) and shot could help the Bruins, who are light on right-side depth.

 

Nick Wolff, LD: Has to improve puck play to be an NHLer. Big (6-5, 230) penalty-killer type.

 

Goalie

 

Kyle Keyser: Big year for 22-year-old, who earned a Bruins contract out of the Buffalo rookie tournament in 2017. Can he beat out AHL veteran Troy Grosenick for the majority of starts in Providence? Yet to play a full AHL season. Has a steep climb to full-time work in Boston with Jeremy Swayman’s emergence and Linus Ullmark’s four-year deal. Entry-level contract expires next summer.

Edited September 22, 2021 by Brewin Flames

[Brewin Flames]

Bruins pre-season game #1

 

Jake DeBrusk and Erik Haula each scored and had a goal in the shootout to help the Boston Bruins defeat the Washington Capitals 3-2 in the preseason opener for each team at Capital One Arena in Washington on Sunday.

 

Garrett Pilon tied the game 2-2 at 5:26 of the third period for the Capitals.

 

Joe Snively gave Washington a 1-0 lead 4:15 into the first period before DeBrusk tied it 1-1 at 12:56.

 

Haula made it 2-1 at 1:09 of the second period.

Jeremy Swayman made 18 saves on 19 shots playing 30:11 for the Bruins. Troy Grosenick made 11 saves on 12 shots in relief.

 

Pheonix Copley made 12 saves on 14 shots through the second period for the Capitals. Vitek Vanecek made the save on all nine shots he faced in the third period.

Daniel Sprong scored Washington's only goal in the shootout, and Hendrix Lapierre, the No. 22 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, had two assists for the Capitals.

[Brewin Flames]

Bruins pre-season game # 2

 

 

[Brewin Flames]

Bruins pre-season game # 3

 

 

[Brewin Flames]

Bruins pre-season game # 4

 

 

 

 

Edited October 3, 2021 by Brewin Flames

[Brewin Flames]

Bruins pre-season game # 5

 

 

 

[Brewin Flames]

Pre-season game # 6

 

 

[Brewin Flames]

Ullmark was just not good in this one....

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 1 Boston 3 Stars 1

 

Marchand scores 2 for Bruins in 3-1 win over Stars

 

 

Bruins start season off with a win

Boston beats the Dallas Stars 3-1 to start their NHL campaign off with a win.

---

ByAP

Updated: 5 hours ago

BOSTON -- — Brad Marchand scored twice, Jake DeBrusk broke a tie early in the third period and the Boston Bruins opened the season with a 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.

 

Marchand scored on a penalty shot in the first period and added an empty-netter with 1:37 left to play. Nick Foligno, Erik Haula and David Pastrnak each had assists and Jeremy Swayman stopped 27 shots for the Bruins, who never trailed.

 

"All in all, a good start and a good finish," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said.

 

Luke Glendening scored for Dallas and Braden Holtby kept the Stars close with 37 saves. Boston had the first nine shots of the game and finished with a 40-28 advantage, keeping the Stars close despite the volume of shots coming his way.

 

“I thought we battled back, but it’s tough to start on your heels like that,” Glendening said.

 

DeBrusk put Boston up 2-1 on a goal 4:43 into the third period, grabbing the puck in front of the crease after Nick Foligno lost control and poking it past Holtby.

After opening the season with a 3-2 overtime win at the New York Rangers on Thursday, the Stars got off to a slow start defensively Saturday and never quite recovered.

 

Dallas didn't get a shot on net until 4:02 remained in the first, when Swayman easily handled a wrist shot by Jamie Benn to preserve the scoreless tie.

 

Less than two minutes later, Marchand swooped in for a turnover just outside the Dallas zone and skated in on Holtby, drawing a penalty shot when Ryan Suter grabbed his stick.

 

Marchand gathered the puck at center ice went full speed toward Holtby, beating him with a low wrist shot on the stick side for a 1-0 lead. There was some question over whether Pastrnak cleared the zone in time before Marchand took the puck back in but the call stood, as did Boston’s 1-0 lead.

 

The Bruins nearly added another goal right away after a faceoff win, but Holtby got his right pad extended enough to block any rebounds during a scrum in front of the net.

 

“It’s been outstanding,” Glendening said of Dallas' goaltending through two games. “They’ve made great saves, kept us in games and got us two points in New York. Holts was a huge reason we were in the game tonight, especially in that first period.”

 

Glendening evened the score on a wrist shot from the slot 9:15 into the second period. Dallas responded with a stronger second period, still only getting seven shots but holding Boston to just 11.

 

Swayman stopped Glendening on a short-handed breakaway with 7:20 left in the second. Although Dallas showed a little more life offensively in the second, Swayman was solid and gave up very few rebounds.

 

“They’re a great team. They have depth. They play hard, they play heavy. We weathered the storm really well,” Swayman said. ”I’m the last line of defense. I want to do my job, making sure that I’m battling just as hard as those guys in front of me are for me, so I was happy with the outcome."

 

NO TUUKKA

 

The Bruins opened the season with Swayman in net as Tuukka Rask remains unsigned and recovering from an operation in July on his right hip. An unrestricted free agent who has played all 14 of his NHL seasons with Boston, Rask has said he’d like to re-sign with the Bruins and hopes to be healthy enough to play around the holidays.

 

Swayman made his NHL debut in April and went 7-3 with two shutouts last season.

 

“Going into it, I just wanted to treat it like another game — no bigger or smaller than what I’ve played before,” Swayman said. “Now I do realize the magnitude of it and it’s something pretty special, something I’ll never forget.”

 

Boston also opens the season without forward David Krejci, who spent 15 seasons with the club before returning to play in his home country of the Czech Republic.

Edited October 17, 2021 by Brewin Flames

[CorkyM]

Swayman looked really good. A great way to start the season. 

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 2

 

Boston 3 Flyers 6

 

Flyers score six, pull away to defeat Bruins

Atkinson has two goals, Jones makes 37 saves for Philadelphia

by Adam Kimelman @NHLAdamK / NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

 

•  

 

 

PHILADELPHIA -- Cam Atkinson broke a tie with his second goal of the game 58 seconds into the third period, helping the Philadelphia Flyers defeat the Boston Bruins 6-3 at Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday.

 

Joel Farabee and Sean Couturier each had a goal and an assist, and Derick Brassard and Keith Yandle each had two assists for Philadelphia (2-0-1). Martin Jones made 37 saves in his Flyers debut.

 

"This was a fast-paced game, fast-paced hockey from both teams," Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. "Both teams forced one another into turnovers. I thought we were able to capitalize on a few more than them."

 

Karson Kuhlman, Taylor Hall and Brad Marchand scored for Boston (1-1-0). Jeremy Swayman made 19 saves.

 

"Obviously accountable for what happened," Swayman said. "Thought the team played great, great comeback in the second. I just want to do my job better, give the team a better chance to win."

 

Farabee started the play that led to the go-ahead goal when he intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and rushed the puck into the Boston end. He centered it to a cutting Atkinson, who pushed the puck past Swayman while falling to the ice to make it 4-3.

 

The goal came after Marchand tied it 3-3 with 1:00 remaining in the second.

 

"The most important shifts are after you score a goal or you get scored on," Atkinson said. "It's never a good thing to get scored on in the last minute, but I think we did a good job of responding and staying positive on the bench."

 

The line of Farabee (six points; three goals, three assists), Brassard (five points; one goal, four assists) and Atkinson (four points; three goals, one assist) has combined for 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) through the Flyers' first three games.

 

They were put together late during the preseason, in part because Atkinson and Brassard were linemates from 2011-13 with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

 

"I think it's just simple hockey," said Farabee, who has scored in all three games.

 

"We're not really trying to do too much. When we don't have a play we're getting it in and getting on the forecheck, and I think for us that's creating a lot of turnovers and just using that as offense."

 

Travis Konecny made it 5-3 at 11:17. It was his third straight game with a goal.

 

Couturier scored a power-play goal into an empty net with 59 seconds remaining for the 6-3 final.

 

"They took advantage of the opportunities we presented to them, and credit [to] them for finishing and finding the open guy," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said.

 

Atkinson finished a 2-on-1 to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead at 8:06 of the first period.

 

Kuhlman tied it 1-1 at 16:48 after Trent Frederic's shot from the slot went off the skate of Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim and to Kuhlman near the left post.

 

Farabee put Philadelphia ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal with nine seconds remaining in the first.

 

The Bruins outshot the Flyers 10-7 in the first period, but Jones made nine saves.

 

"Always feels nice to get the first one under your belt," Jones said. "I thought we played really well, I thought we defended really well. I was able to see a lot of shots, a lot of stuff in the outside. It was a great game all around."

 

Scott Laughton's goal at 1:58 of the second period extended the lead to 3-1.

 

Hall scored on a breakaway to cut it to 3-2 at 8:38.

 

 

 

• 00:38 • October 20th, 2021

Bruins forward Nick Foligno left the game with 4:15 remaining in the second because of an upper-body injury. Cassidy said he did not believe the injury was serious.

 

NOTES: Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy had two assists to give him 100 in the NHL. They came in his 237th game.

 

The only Bruins defensemen to reach the milestone faster were Hall of Fame members Ray Bourque (176 games) and Bobby Orr (180). ... Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had two shots, two hits and two blocked shots in 18:37 of ice time in his Philadelphia debut.

 

He missed the first two games because of an upper-body injury. ... Farabee and Konecny became the first Flyers to score in each of the first three games of the season since Claude Giroux in 2011-12. ... Philadelphia forward James van Riemsdyk had an assist and four shots in his 800th NHL game.

 

 

Edited October 21, 2021 by Brewin Flames

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 3

 

Boston 4 Buffalo 1

 

Coyle, Ullmark lead Bruins to 4-1 win over Sabres

 

 

---

ByAP

Updated: 5 hours ago

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- — Charlie Coyle had a goal and and two assists, Linus Ullmark made 35 saves against his former team and the Boston Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Friday night.

 

Taylor Hall added a goal and an assist, and Brad Marchand tallied two assists as the Bruins rebounded from a 6-3 loss Wednesday in Philadelphia to salvage a split on its first road trip of the season. David Pastrnak and Tomas Nosek also scored for Boston.

 

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said Ullmark was “excellent” in his first start and “gave us a chance to win.”

 

“Good for Linus,” Cassidy said. “I’m sure he wanted to play well here specifically, and play well in his first game no matter where he played. But, more importantly here.”

 

Ullmark, who signed a four-year, $20 million contract with the Bruins in July after playing six seasons with the Sabres, said winning his Bruins debut in Buffalo “was very special.”

 

“It’s definitely going to be one of those lifelong memories,” Ullmark said.

 

The Sabres got a goal from Victor Oloffson in their first loss of a four-game homestand. Craig Anderson stopped 22 shots.

 

“We have to make sure that we learn from it and become better because of it,” Sabres coach Don Granato said. “It’s nice to be able to play tomorrow, even though there could be a fatigue factor. We need to play more efficient.”

 

Ullmark made 15 of his saves in the opening period, his best coming on a Buffalo power play when he used the heel of his left skate to stop a backhand shot from Dylan Cozens that slipped between Ullmark’s pads.

 

“He was a brick wall tonight,” Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo said. “He held us in that game, throughout the first two periods, especially.”

 

Olofsson scored with 5:25 remaining in the third to end Ullmark’s shutout bid. The Sabres outshot their opponent for the fourth straight game, but couldn’t continue the momentum from a three-game win streak.

 

“It was a big learner for us, for sure,” Olofsson said. “We feel happy with the way we played. I think we’ll take a lot with us in this game.”

 

Coyle scored on a power play to give the Bruins a three-goal lead about five minutes into the second period. It was the first power-play goal the Sabres allowed this season after nine successful penalty kills.

 

Marchand threaded a pass from the right circle past three Sabres’ sticks to set up Coyle on the left side of the net.

 

Marchand also had a hand in the Bruins’ first goal when he took the puck from Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin along the end boards, received a backhand pass from Patrice Bergeron and fed Pastrnak for a one-timer from the right slot.

 

Coyle set up Nosek for a tap-in from the left edge of the crease to make it 2-0 toward the end of the first.

 

Hall assisted on Nosek’s goal and scored into the empty net in the closing minutes of the third period. Hall, who played 37 games for the Sabres last season before he was traded to Boston, drew boos from the crowd of 7,820 in his first game back in Buffalo with fans in attendance.

Edited October 23, 2021 by Brewin Flames

[CorkyM]

Good to see this. Hope for many more.

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 4

 

Boston 4 Sharks 3

 

 

BOSTON -- — Brad Marchand scored 28 seconds into the game and added an assist as the Boston Bruins ended San Jose’s unbeaten start with a 4-3 victory over the Sharks on Sunday.

 

David Pastrnak and Derek Forbort each had a goal and an assist, and Jake DeBrusk also scored for Boston. Patrice Bergeron had two assists and Linus Ullmark finished with 23 saves for the Bruins, who held on after the Sharks scored back-to-back goals late in the third period.

 

The Sharks pulled their goalie for the final 1:37, but Forbort and his fellow defensemen helped Ullmark weather the late push and hang on.

 

“That’s to be expected when you’ve got a one-goal lead and they’re pushing hard to score,” said Forbort, who signed with Boston as a free agent in July and got his first goal as a Bruin on Sunday. “I love it. Being out there with a one-goal lead, goalie pulled, it’s kind of my favorite time to play hockey."

 

Jasper Weatherby, Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier scored for the Sharks, who were trying to start 5-0 for the first time since 2013. Adin Hill was pulled after allowing four goals on 14 shots in the first 21:28. James Reimer replaced Hill and stopped all 20 shots he faced, keeping the Sharks close before goals 1:49 apart in the third made it a tight finish.

 

“There were some tips in front that made the game a little bit more interesting than it had to be, so that’s on me,” said Ullmark, who won back-to-back starts. “But overall, it was a step in the right direction.”

 

Hertl pulled the Sharks to within 4-2 when he tipped in a goal with 6:41 left in the third. Meier made it a one-goal game on a tip with 4:52 remaining. The Bruins challenged whether Meier’s stick was too high when it made contact with a shot by Logan Couture, but the call stood after a video review.

 

Marchand needed just 28 seconds to put Boston up 1-0 on a wrist shot from the slot after taking a setup pass from Bergeron from behind the net. Pastrnak also had an assist as Boston’s top line got the Bruins rolling early and kept it up throughout the first period.

 

“We weren’t playing our game,” Hill said.

 

Marchand picked up an assist on a crossing pass to Forbort, whose wrist shot from just inside the blue line put Boston up 2-0 with 16:42 left in the period.

 

Bergeron set up Pastrnak’s power-play goal with 3:48 left in the first, and DeBrusk added his second goal of the season early in the second period, forcing a turnover and skating the puck up the left side before firing a wrist shot that Hill couldn't get with his glove.

 

“I thought Jake played well. He seems to have that extra step in his game this year, which is great to see. He’s such a dangerous player when he’s moving his feet and attacking the way he is,” Marchand said. “He can kind of make something out of nothing like he did on that goal there.”

 

Weatherby's goal 32 seconds after Pastrnak put Boston up 3-0 was San Jose's only goal until Hertl tipped in a shot with 6:41 left in the third.

 

“We only played maybe 10 minutes to our identity tonight and we almost got a point,” Hill said. “Think we just weren’t playing our game. There’s no particular reason. We didn’t do anything different. We all prepared the same way. It just wasn’t our night to start. We got it turned on at the end and hopefully we can carry that into Nashville.”

Edited October 25, 2021 by Brewin Flames

[CorkyM]

Almost let them there, but victory in the end! 

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 5 

 

Boston 1 Florida 4

 

Bobrovsky makes 29 saves as Panthers stay undefeated

 

---

ByAP

Updated: 4 hours ago

SUNRISE, Fla. -- — The Florida Panthers became the 14th team in NHL history to start 7-0-0 by beating the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Wednesday night — with coach Joel Quenneville on the bench a day after he was named in a report about the Chicago Blackhawks improperly handling sexual assault claims.

 

Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves for the Panthers, and Eetu Luostarinen scored the go-ahead goal. Anthony Duclair and Mason Marchment also scored, and Owen Tippett added an empty-net goal. Sam Reinhart and Gustav Forsling each had two assists.

 

“It gets more and more fun every game,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. “We just keep working and find a way to get better and we’re having a lot of fun. And I don’t think anybody wants to stop.”

 

Charlie Coyle scored for the Bruins, and Linus Ullmark made 23 saves in his third consecutive start.

 

“With Bobrovsky doing what he’s doing, you have to match him punch for punch and that’s where he was a little bit better,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said.

Quenneville is scheduled to meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Thursday about the report, which detailed an investigation into how the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks — the team Quenneville coached to the Stanley Cup — did not promptly and properly handle sexual assault claims a player made against an assistant coach.

 

Quenneville was not made available to the media after the game.

 

Leading 2-1, the Panthers stretched their lead on Duclair’s goal. He brought the puck from the side boards, skated in quickly and backhanded the puck past Ullmark with 7:20 left in the third.

 

Tippett’s empty-netter with 25.4 seconds provided the final score.

 

“The fact that we were able to turn around and get the win and (Bobrovsky) played amazing and some timely goals was great,” Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad said.

 

The Panthers took a 2-1 lead Luostarinen’s goal at 14:16 of the second. Reinhart passed from behind the goal line to Luostarinen in front, who poked in the puck past Ullmark.

 

The Bruins took a 1-0 lead on the goal by Coyle at 10:37 of the first. Coyle passed from behind the net and the puck bounced off a Panthers player and into the net.

 

Marchment tied the score at 14:16 of the first on his wrist shot from the right circle.

 

“They’ve got a good team, that’s why they’re 7-0,” Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton said. “They put the pressure on. In the first we matched that, in the second we didn’t.”

 

The Panthers are the 11th different franchise to have at least one 7-0-0 start, joining Buffalo, Edmonton, Montreal, Nashville, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Quebec, San Jose, Toronto and Washington.

 

Edited October 28, 2021 by Brewin Flames

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 6

 

Boston 0 Canes 3

 

Hurricanes shut out Bruins, remain undefeated

Andersen makes 33 saves, has assist in Carolina's franchise-record sixth straight win

by Kurt Dusterberg / NHL.com Independent Correspondent

 October 28, 2021

•  

 

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes remained undefeated with a 3-0 win against the Boston Bruins at PNC Arena on Thursday.

Frederik Andersen made 33 saves for his first shutout with Carolina, which won its franchise-record sixth straight game to start the season.

 

"Our goaltending through these six games has been elite, and obviously, that's helped," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "Everything has to go your way. You get a bounce here, a bounce there. Tonight, we got the bounces, really the [first] two goals."

 

Tony DeAngelo, Nino Niederreiter and Andrei Svechnikov scored from the Hurricanes. Andersen also had an assist in his 20th NHL shutout.

"I'm just happy to be winning," Andersen said. "That's our goal every night, and I think that's what matters. Just one of those games where you battle, and I think I got a lot of good help from the guys."

 

 

 

Jeremy Swayman made 21 saves for the Bruins (3-3-0), who were shut out for the first time this season. Boston has lost two in a row after a 4-1 loss at the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.

 

"I think we kept coming against a good team, a rested team," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. "A little different luck around the net and I think it's a different outcome. It's a couple games in a row we haven't been able to generate much, so obviously, we've got to look at that."

 

DeAngelo scored his first goal with the Hurricanes for a 1-0 lead at 15:16 of the first period. DeAngelo one-timed Brady Skjei's pass from the left point. The puck appeared to redirect off the stick of Boston defenseman Brandon Carlo, with Jesperi Kotkaniemi in front of the net for Carolina.

 

"Any time the goalie can't see us, it makes it easier for the puck to go in somehow," DeAngelo said. "Our forwards, all 12 of them, do a great job of getting there. We always have traffic. "

 

Carolina made it 2-0 on the power play when Niederreiter's centering pass deflected off the left skate of Bruins defenseman Derek Forbort and past Swayman at 13:35 of the second.

 

 

 

Svechnikov scored an empty-net goal with 25 seconds remaining in the third to extend his point streak to six games (six goals, four assists). Aho earned the secondary assist to extend his six-game point streak (four goals, four assists).

 

The Hurricanes killed three penalties in the third period, including 1:01 of a two-man advantage.

 

"We just haven't gotten the end result," Cassidy said. "[Carolina] pressed hard. They're a good penalty-killing team, but we had to finish the 5-on-3. One went by the back post and (Taylor) Hall missed a bunny, a tap-in.

 

I still think we're turning down some shots that we typically get from the right elbow from (David Pastrnak) that plays into the bumper to (Patrice Bergeron). The shot tips we typically make were not as clean."

[Brewin Flames]

Game 7 

 

Boston 3 Panthers 2 SO

 

 

For some reason, i can't find a good recap...but here is all you need to know.

 

 

Edited October 31, 2021 by Brewin Flames

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 8

 

Boston 5 Wings 1

 

Patrice Bergeron scores 4, Bruins beat Red Wings 5-1

 

 

Patrice Bergeron matches his career high with four goals in the Bruins' 5-1 win vs. the Red Wings.

---

ByAP

Updated: 5 hours ago

 

BOSTON -- — Patrice Bergeron scored his first four goals of the season, Brad Marchand had four assists and the Boston Bruins beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 on Thursday night.

 

Marchand assisted on all four of Bergeron’s goals, Mike Reilly scored his first of the season and added an assist, and Charlie McAvoy had a pair of assists for Boston. Jeremy Swayman finished with 14 saves for the Bruins, who remained unbeaten at home.

 

Bergeron entered Thursday with three assists through the first seven games. He had a hat trick before the end of the second period, and finished with his second career four-goal game.

 

“When he gets on a roll, he really gets on a roll,” Marchand said. “Just because Bergie goes through a stretch where maybe he doesn’t score as much as he used to, he’s still so effective for our team and the heart and soul of our team.”

 

Lucas Raymond scored Detroit's goal, beating Swayman with a wrist shot with the Red Wings on a 5-on-3 power-play 7:46 into the third period. That made the score to 3-1, but Boston needed less than a minute before Reilly poked in a rebound and Bergeron added his fourth goal with 4:08 left to play.

 

Thomas Greiss finished with 32 saves for Detroit, which lost its fourth straight, the last three coming in regulation.

 

The Bruins outshot the Red Wings 12-3 in the opening period and held Detroit to just six more in the second period.

 

“Boston came out ready to go and playing with a lot of pace and tempo,” Detroit defenseman Marc Staal said. “We just caught ourselves defending a lot and then found ourselves in the box. It’s tough to climb out of a hole like that.”

Bergeron, the Boston captain who has played his entire career with the Bruins, had his seventh career hat trick secured before the end of the second period, beating Greiss on a wrist shot with 1:15 remaining.

It was also the third power-play goal of the night for the Bruins, who entered the game with three goals in 19 power-play opportunities.

 

“In the end, the game comes down to specialty teams,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “You’ve got to stay out of the box, but you’ve also got to kill the penalty. Their power play hadn’t been clicking a whole lot. Obviously, it clicked tonight. We’ve got to do a better job killing.”

 

Bergeron gave Boston its first lead 11:03 into the first with a shot from the slot off of passes from Marchand and McAvoy. Bergeron started the play with a face-off win and dropped the pass to McAvoy, who sent it back down to Marchand for a quick redirect to Bergeron for a one-timer that Greiss had little chance to stop.

 

“He’s able to make plays out of nothing and that’s what happens on those plays,” Bergeron said of Marchand.

 

“You just want to stay with him and stay open.”

 

Marchand and Bergeron worked the puck around for another power-play goal 10:52 into the second, when Marchand slipped a pass from behind the net to Bergeron in the slot as Tyler Bertuzzi sat out an interference penalty after Swayman came up with a big save on one of the few times he was tested.

 

Bertuzzi made a steal just outside the blue line and skated in on the Boston goal with Mitchell Stevens, who got off a shot that Swayman was able to drive away before Bertuzzi drew a penalty for interference, which resulted in Boston’s second power-play goal of the night.

 

Bergeron picked up his third 18:45 into the second, set up again between the circles on a pass from Marchand for a wrist shot that beat Greiss and triggered a flurry of hats coming from the seats. It took a few minutes to clear the headgear from the ice and play out the final 1:15 of the period.

 

Detroit, playing the third of four straight on the road, kept up with the Bruins through a choppy opening 10 minutes, then Boston took control.

 

 

Game notes

The Bruins held a pregame moment of silence for Jerry Remy, the former Boston Red Sox player and longtime broadcaster who died last week at age 68 after a battle with cancer

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 9

 

Bruins 2 Leafs 5

 

Matthews, Tavares score twice in Leafs' 5-2 win over Bruins

 

John Tavares gets the rebound opportunity for his second goal securing the Maple Leafs' 4-2 win vs. the Bruins.

---

ByAP

Updated: 5 hours ago

 

TORONTO -- — Auston Matthews summed up life under the microscope in Toronto with a few succinct sentences.

 

“The highs can get real high here,” he said. “And the lows can get real low. Sometimes you’ve just got to take a step back and take a breath.”

 

The Maple Leafs did that in the midst of an early swoon. Now, they’re reaping the benefits. Matthews and John Tavares had two goals as Toronto picked up its fifth straight victory by defeating the Boston Bruins 5-2 on Saturday night.

 

Mitch Marner added an empty-netter and had three assists for Toronto, while Jack Campbell made 40 saves. Morgan Rielly chipped in with two assists of his own, and Tavares had one.

 

Coach Sheldon Keefe pointed to a 4-1 setback against the high-flying Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night earlier as the moment Toronto began to show signs of getting its swagger back.

 

“I thought our team would grow through that experience, and it’s been incremental ... and things have started to fall into place. We’ve shown belief to just stay with it. We’ve been talking about it for a long time. Every team talks about it, just how important it is to keep the belief in the room, block out the noise.”

 

The four-headed offensive monster up front of Matthews, Tavares, Marner and William Nylander have scored Toronto’s last 13 goals and combined for 32 points during the five-game surge.

 

“Good preparation, good mindset, and just continue to compete,” Tavares said of what’s clicked. “Good things are happening.”

 

Taylor Hall and David Pastrnak scored for Boston, which got 31 stops from Linus Ullmark. Brad Marchand had two assists.

 

“We’ve got to create our identity where we’re hard to play against for 60 minutes,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Not 30, 20, 40 ... whatever it is. It’s got to be 60.”

 

The Leafs and Bruins last played Nov. 15, 2019 — a stretch of more than 720 days — when Boston picked up a 4-2 victory in Toronto in the final days of the Mike Babcock era.

 

Tied at 1 late in the second period, Toronto’s power play stayed hot by connecting for a fourth straight game. Marner moved into the offensive zone and fed a pass to Matthews, who saw the puck go off his skate, Ullmark’s pad and then back to the star center’s stick for him to bury his fifth goal of the season with 5:01 left.

 

Marchand then took a penalty for high-sticking on Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren with 1:57 left in the period to send the home side back on the man advantage.

 

Matthews promptly made Boston pay when he blasted a one-timer from the right faceoff circle short side on Ullmark with 66 seconds left on the clock to make it 3-1.

 

“We haven’t really changed much,” Rielly said of a power play that’s now 5-for-10 following a 0-for-17 stretch. “It’s just a matter of sticking with it, working through any kind of confusion that we have. A good step in the right direction.”

 

The Bruins and their power play got a chance early in the third, with Patrice Bergeron and Hall coming close. But Tavares came out of the penalty box and led Toronto’s counter before scoring off of a William Nylander setup for his second goal of the night and team-leading sixth overall at 2:53.

 

The Bruins got one back at 8:29 when Pastrnak fired his third past Campbell, but the Leafs held firm before Marner scored into the empty net.

 

Boston, which knocked Toronto from the first round of the playoffs in both 2018 and 2019, opened the scoring on a power play at 8:37 of the first after Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin was whistled for delay of game following a battle that saw Campbell’s net knocked off its moorings.

 

Coming off a four-goal game Thursday in a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, Bergeron took the initial one-timer off a Marchand feed that Hall tipped past Campbell for his third.

 

Toronto tied things up with eight minutes left in the period on a strange play that required a lengthy review when Marner’s shot was tipped in tight by Tavares for his fifth of the campaign — and fourth in the last five games.

 

The Boston net was dislodged before the puck crossed the line, but the goal stood because officials ruled Bergeron caused the displacement, and the puck would have entered the goal under normal circumstances.

 

 

“I learned a little bit about how the rule works when these nets comes off,” Keefe said. “I was a little unsure about that. You don’t see those type of plays happen very often, but obviously great that it worked out for us.”

 

The Leafs will look to continue to build — and remain focused. Or as Matthews would say, take a step back and breathe.

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 10 

 

Boston 3 Sens 1

 

Bergeron snaps tie, Bruins hold off short-handed Ottawa 3-2

 

 

Updated: 8 hours ago

BOSTON -- — Patrice Bergeron scored the tiebreaking goal late in the second period and the Boston Bruins held on to beat the short-handed Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Tuesday night.

 

Brad Marchand and Derek Forbort also scored for the Bruins, who survived a sloppy start against a team that has been depleted recently by COVID-19.

 

"We knew they're a young team that has a lot of speed and works hard," Bergeron said. “That's what they gave us. We weren't necessarily prepared for it or ready for it from the drop of the puck, but I thought after that we got going and we played to our strength.”

 

The Senators, who canceled practice Monday for precautionary reasons, were without five players and an assistant coach who have been placed on the COVID protocol list.

 

David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy each had two assists, and Jeremy Swayman finished with 24 saves for the Bruins, who won for the 200th time under coach Bruce Cassidy and improved to 5-0 at home this season.

 

Zach Sanford and Nikita Zaitsev scored for Ottawa. Matt Murray stopped 33 shots for the Senators, who lost their fifth straight and for the eighth time in nine games.

 

Despite the patchwork lineup, the Senators pushed the Bruins for all three periods.

 

“Proud of the group, with the guys that were out and the effort that we gave,” Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said. “If we keep playing with that effort and that hunger, not only will wins come, but the morale in general will be better."

 

Ottawa answered after falling behind 2-1 on goals by Marchand and Forbort, tying it again when Zaitsev took a shot from between the right circle and the boards and got it through Swayman, tying it at 2-all 13:09 into the second period.

 

But Bergeron, who scored four goals Thursday in a win over Detroit, put Boston back up 3-2 with 1:20 left in the second period. A pass from Pastrnak deflected off a broken stick right to Bergeron, who corralled it for a quick wrist shot and his fifth goal of the season.

 

"I was hoping that it wasn't going to touch it," Bergeron said of the broken stick. “When it did, I was just trying to make sure I was able to control it right away and try and surprise the goalie.”

 

The goal gave the Bruins some momentum heading into the final period, which was full of physical play and two Boston penalties that gave the Senators a chance to tie it. Ottaway finished without a goal on six power-play opportunities, but Smith said he liked the way his players responded once the Bruins started hitting.

 

“This wasn’t your typical November game,” Smith said. “I think the way we played made them get fired up and it was a really good hockey game."

 

The Senators outskated the Bruins early and took a 1-0 lead just 1:14 into the game on a goal by Sanford. Swayman stopped the initial shot by Brady

 

Tkachuk, but the Ottawa captain scrambled for his own rebound and pushed it across to Sanford as he drove the net and had plenty of space to tap in the puck. It was the first goal of the season for Sanford, a native of nearby Salem, Massachusetts.

 

Marchand tied it on a power-play goal 5:12 into the second period, deflecting in a shot by Pastrnak while Artem Zub served a penalty for a cross-check on Pastrnak.

 

Forbort, called out by coach Bruce Cassidy for a sloppy play that resulted in a goal Saturday during a loss at Toronto, beat Murray with a wrist shot 10:58 into the second period, giving Boston a 2-1 lead after a sluggish start.

 

Cassidy said it was nice to see the defenseman score for the Bruins, who have been relying too much on their top line of Bergeron, Marchand and Pastrnak.

“It’s 10 games in. We need some other guys to step up," Cassidy said.

 

Game notes

Cassidy is 200-86-41 behind the Bruins bench. 

Edited November 10, 2021 by Brewin Flames

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 11

 

Boston 3 Edm 5

 

Draisaitl has 2 goals and an assist, Oilers beat Bruins 5-3

 

---

ByAP

Updated: 6 hours ago

 

BOSTON -- — Leon Draisaitl had two goals and an assist, moving ahead of teammate Connor McDavid into the NHL scoring lead and leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-3 victory over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

 

Evan Bouchard, Zach Hyman and Cody Ceci also scored, and Mikko Koskinen stopped 26 shots for Edmonton. The Pacific Division-leading Oilers, who fell to Detroit on Tuesday, avoided their first back-to-back losses of the season.

 

“We competed way harder. We got behind quick but the ability to get it right back -- not chase the game — we were pretty strong,” coach Dave Tippett said. “We don’t want to lose two in a row, so we came out and played well.”

 

McDavid had one assist to extend his scoring streak to 12 games to start the season. After entering the game tied for the NHL lead with 23 points, McDavid fell behind Draisaitl, who has a league-leading 12 goals to go with his 14 assists.

 

David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand each had a go-ahead goal for Boston that was answered less than a minute later by an Edmonton score. Brandon Carlo gave the Bruins their third lead late in the second period and then in the third turned the puck over to Draisaitl right in front of the net to make it 3-all.

 

“It says a lot about our group that we don’t stop, and we stick with it, even if it’s not pretty,” Draisaitl said. “There are lots of things that we can improve on, that we don’t have to score five goals every game to win.”

 

The Oilers went ahead for the first time about three minutes later when Ceci powered toward the net before sliding it to Draisaitl in front to make it 4-3. Ceci made it 5-3 in the final minutes — his first goal of the season.

 

“It’s especially nice for him to get a goal, and make a huge play on the game-winner,” Draisaitl said. “He’s been amazing. Probably not the prettiest guy to watch, if that’s what you want to say. But he’s so effective and so good at what he does.”

 

Linus Ullmark stopped 23 shots for Boston, which lost at home for the first time this season.

 

RESPONSE GOALS

 

Pastrnak broke in on a two on one with Marchand in the first period, taking it himself to put the puck between Mikko Koskinen’s pads. Just 44 seconds later, Bouchard beat Ullmark on the glove side to tie it.

 

In the second, Pastrnak tried to pass it to Bergeron at the side of the net, but it was intercepted by Bouchard. The Oilers defenseman deflected it right to Marchand in the slot, though, and he made it 2-1.

 

But just 24 seconds later, the Oilers tied it again when Hyman skated in from the circle and, switched over to his backhand and beat Ullmark on the far side to make it 2-2.

 

After Carlo made it 3-2 with about three minutes left in the second, the lead held up for about nine minutes until Carlo gifted Draisaitl a turnover right in front of the net to make it 3-all.

 

COLBY CAVE

 

The teams had a pregame ceremony to honor Colby Cave, the former Bruin and Oiler who played 67 games in the NHL before he died in April 2020 at the age of 25 due to a brain bleed. The Bruins played a video in his memory, and his wife, Emily Cave, dropped the puck for a ceremonial opening faceoff.

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 12

 

Boston 5 Devils 3

 

Marchand scores twice, Bruins end Devils 3-game win streak

 

---

ByAP

Updated: 10 minutes ago

 

NEWARK, N.J. -- — There are a lot of new faces in the Boston Bruins' lineup this season and they are learning how to play together at times.

 

Two nights ago at home, they blew a third-period lead, giving up three goals in losing to Edmonton. The Bruins didn't make the same mistake in New Jersey on Saturday.

 

Brad Marchard scored twice, Jeremy Swayman made 27 saves, and Boston beat New Jersey 5-2, ending the Devils' three-game winning streak.

 

“There’s been a few games this year where we had the lead or we were tired and we kind of let it slip away from us,” Marchand said “So it was great tonight that we’re able to keep our composure and put a good third period together and separate that lead a little bit.”

 

Erik Haula, Patrice Bergeron and Jake DeBrusk also scored as the Bruins ended a three-game losing streak on the road. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy added three assists in helping Swayman win his third straight game.

 

“Typically, there is weathering the storm, especially on the road, because they’re gonna have their push and they did,” said coach Bruce Cassidy, who has five players in their first season with the Bruins. “So I think it all happened in the third.

 

Then you get the empty net and that’s how you end up with three goals and you extend the lead. So if you can script it as a coach, that’s how you want to do it.”

 

Rookie Dawson Mercer and Jesper Bratt each had a goal and an assist for New Jersey. Linemate Andreas Johnsson added two assists.

 

“We’ve won a couple of games by just getting pucks to the net, getting 40, 40-plus shots,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “We saw tonight we made two really nice plays on the goals, but we didn’t get a lot of second opportunities because even when we came in to the dot line we didn’t shoot a lots of pucks.”

 

Boston never trailed after Haula scored his first goal of the season at 17:37 of the first period.

 

Marchand extended the advantage to 2-0 early in the second period with a power-play goal.

 

Mercer cut the lead to a goal just 28 seconds later, capping a quick counterattack. It was his fifth goal of the season.

 

Marchard restored the two-goal margin a little more than two minutes later, putting a rebound past Jonathan Bernier, who made 31 saves.

 

Bratt narrowed the lead to 3-2 with 36 seconds left in the second period off a nice feed from Mercer, but Bergeron made it 4-2 midway through the third period, tapping the rebound of a David Pastrnak over the line. DeBrusk scored into an empty net.

 

Ruff smiled when asked if he ever gets sick of seeing the Bruins' top line of Marchard, Pastrnak and Bergeron.

 

“They are the typical guys you wish you had on your team so you don’t get sick of them,” Ruff said. “We know that to win a game, you’ve got to do your part to make sure you limit them.”

 

 

Game notes

The two-goal performance was Marchard's 50th multi-goal game with Boston, tying him for fifth in Bruins' history with linemate Patrice Bergeron.

Edited November 13, 2021 by Brewin Flames