Boston — Since 2011, the Bruins have been chasing the ultimate NHL prize: adding another Stanley Cup to their rich heritage.
Boston has returned to the Stanley Cup Finals twice in that time, falling short in 2013 and 2019. Over the last two regular seasons, the Bruins have improved their talent and success, with one goal in mind: to win the championship.
Thursday night brought back memories of 2011, when the Bruins faced the Vancouver Canucks, whom Boston defeated to end a 39-year title drought. When the clubs played for the Stanley Cup that year, Vancouver won 54 games as the top team in the Western Conference before eventually capturing the conference championship. Against a strong opponent, the Bruins recovered from a 3-2 series disadvantage to triumph over the powerful Vancouver club.
Fast forward 13 seasons, and a same storyline continues in the NHL. Vancouver began the most recent meeting with the best record in the Western Conference. On Thursday night, TD Garden hosted a high-profile game against the greatest club in the Eastern Conference.
The Canucks started the game on a high note, taking advantage of a Jakub Lauko holding penalty just 17 seconds in. It did not take long for the Bruins to rip it off.
Brad Marchand needed only 15 seconds on the penalty kill and 32 seconds in the game to score and give the Bruins the lead. Danton Heinen added another short-handed goal later in the period. Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha scored goals in the second period, the Bruins killed all five penalties, and Linus Ullmark stopped the only 17 shots he faced in a 4-0 shutout victory.
Boston’s players welcomed the opportunity to get an in-season appraisal of where they stand versus elite talent, just as they would against any other strong club.
“It’s a good challenge for us to battle-test us,” Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm told reporters. “We’ll talk about the pros. “It’s just one hockey game.”
Wins like Thursday night’s can provide reassurance about the team’s potential. Linus Ullmark, the Bruins’ goaltender, surely agreed after recording his first shutout of the season.
“It confirms to us how good we are,” Ullmark told reporters. “Coming in here and playing one, if not the best game of the season. “It shows a lot.”
Ullmark went on to say, “Playing against the best is certainly fun. You want to demonstrate why you are one of, if not the greatest team. You have a small chance to really prove yourself. That is something that many clubs have against us in our current position. The challenge for us is to maintain our composure and humility in the face of every opponent we face, knowing that they will bring their best. “We have to answer the bell every night.”
Boston Bruins
On the coaching side, Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery was hesitant to celebrate the victory, knowing Vancouver would provide an improved test in just over two weeks, and possibly another to begin the summer.
“It’s not our best performance,” Montgomery admitted following the victory. “The next time we go to Vancouver, we’ll see a very different team. I understand it was first place in the West vs first place in the East. I get the question, but it didn’t feel right in terms of game intensity.”
The teams will face off again in British Columbia in 16 days, on February 24, when the Bruins visit the Canucks.
