On Saturday, the Bruins were down 2-0 after the first period against the New Jersey Devils. That immediately changed in the second period, due to an offensive outburst by the black and gold, including goals from Jake DeBrusk and David Pastrnak and Kevin Shattenkirk.
Charlie Coyle, who finished plus-two and had two assists on the night, was overshadowed by the enthusiasm.
Check out the video above from “Bruins Postgame Final,” presented by Rodenhiser Home Services, for more information.
The Bruins score four goals in the second period to defeat the Devils 5-2.
With a two-goal deficit early in the second period, the Bruins appeared to be in for one of those nights against an offensively explosive young New Jersey Devils.
But then the B’s 35-year-old captain Brad Marchand did what he has done so many times in his career, sparking the squad with a high-energy shift that resulted in the B’s opening goal. That sparked a four-goal flurry in the second period, and the Bruins cruised to a 5-2 victory at the Garden.
Linus Ullmark made 31 saves while David Pastrnak (2-1-3) and Kevin Shattenkirk each scored twice.
When they were behind by a goal, the B’s were not playing poorly, but they needed the first one to open the floodgates on Jersey, which had held them to a goal in their previous match. Jake DeBrusk appears to be finally percolating offensively in their second consecutive win. After picking up two assists in Buffalo on Wednesday, he scored the game’s first goal and added another assist on Saturday.
“I’ve had this feeling all year. “It’s nice to be back in that groove,” DeBrusk remarked with a smile. “Obviously, Marchy made a great play (on the first goal).” Those are opportunities you don’t want to pass up. That was a terrific play by him, and Pasta was certainly on his way.
The Bruins were left holding their collective breath when No. 1 defenseman Charlie McAvoy exited the game with what appeared to be a left leg injury after colliding with Linus Ullmark in an attempt to break up a shorthanded bid at 3:43. Coach Jim Montgomery, on the other hand, gave excellent news during his post-game press conference.
“He’s fine,” Montgomery said of his team’s game at Detroit on Sunday (5 p.m.). “I believe he had a scare with a stinger of some kind.” I’m not sure where it was. But he’s still moving around. We’re fine since he’s happy right now.”
Much of the first period was evenly played, with neither team getting much extended zone time. A New Jersey power-play goal made the difference.
At 6:03, New Jersey captain Nico Hischier scored on a nice tic-tac-toe play with Jack Hughes and Tyler Toffoli, just six seconds after Shattenkirk was called for high-sticking. Toffoli’s pass was intercepted by Hischier, who ripped it over Ullmark’s glove shoulder for a 1-0 lead.
Late in the period, the Bruins began to apply pressure, pinning the Devils in their own zone at one point while goalkeeper Vitek Vanecek was playing without his stick. The Devils, on the other hand, survived the storm and were able to take a breather when Pastrnak was called for offensive zone tripping with 1:31 remaining in the game.
The penalty was killed, but the Devils scored at 1:11 of the second on what appeared to be a nothing play. After moving the puck, rookie defenseman Luke Hughes took a double hit near the end boards in the Devils’ zone from Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha, then followed the play. He beat Ullmark after taking a feed from Toffoli at the Bruin blue line with a long distance wrister, one of the very few soft goals either Bruin goalie has allowed this season.
