Your Boston Bruins ended their abysmal homestand with a feel good shootout victory at The House that Bergy Built this afternoon against the Dallas Stars. On a day when the organization was honoring Brad Marchand for becoming the 8th player in team history to get hold of his silver stick; the B’s desperately needed this W not only for the standings but also for the vibes before heading out on their West Coast swing.
How bad was this homestand? I mean it wasn’t historic bad, if that’s what you’re asking: That honors goes to the 1924-25 Bruins that lost an incomprehensible 11 straight GP at the old Garden. This wasn’t THAT bad, but certainly not to the standard that’s become the norm on Causeway Street. Out of their last 7 games at home the team has lost 5 getting wins only against VAN and today vs. DAL.
The effort in games have been uneven at best and apathetic at worst. There were long stretches of disinterest and not just from Jake DeBrusk. Somehow the B’s have managed to hold a 1pt lead in the Atlantic Division (FLA has a game in hand) and are still up 2pts over the Metro leading NYR. Luckily the Rags will self implode (per usual) and are rapidly becoming embroiled in a goalie controversy. Hate to see it.
So what has taken me 3 paragraphs to say is this: This West Coast trip (actually their next 7 games which includes one home game vs VGK) is going to go a looooong way in determining what type of team this incarnation of the Bruins will be. Can they dig deep and get back to playing winning hockey? (and I mean winning hockey as a team: not hanging on until their goalie bails them out). Can they get back to being hard on the puck in every zone and making smart decisions? Will they show up from the opening draw on a nightly basis? Can they keep the hyenas at bay?
Looks like we’ll all have to stay up a bit late to catch these West Coast games to find out for sure, but let’s talk a bit about today’s game. First of all, it was a great ceremony for Marchand. Great to see the videos and the images and look back on his career: going from the biggest rat (you can admit, we’re amongst friends here) in the league to being one of the top wingers in the game. I mean you all knew he was going to score in the shootout right? Here’s one of the videos that was shared by the team:
The B’s were dialed in from the opening drop, as they fucking should be when honoring their captain! With just about 4mins played Jesper Boqvist got the hometown team on the board when he dragged one around Jake Oettinger and got the tuck. Unbelievable sauce from Anthony Richard to put this puck on Boqvist’s tape.
Wyatt Johnson got one back for DAL just past the midway point to tie it back up. Not sure how many people are aware, but DAL is tops in the Central Division and only 1pt off the lead in the Western Conference. I mean it’s a trash city and organization, but they’re playing pretty good hockey. With just about a minute played in the 2nd period, the ghost of Ryan Suter put DAL ahead when Jeremy Swayman didn’t see his point shot through a forest of sticks and legs.
And that’s when Justin Brazeau entered the chat. The recently signed winger (signed to a 2way deal yesterday and played his first NHL game today) got his first goal on (I believe) his first NHL shot on net. Boqvist carried the puck behind the DAL net and found Brazeau for the quick one-timer from the slot. In describing his game, Brazeau said he was “big and liked to go to the front of the net”. The B’s will take that all day. Brazeau is no stranger to the scoresheet as he put up a line of 61-52-113 in 68GP in his last year in the OHL and somehow didn’t get drafted? Struggling to crack the TOR lineup hopefully will benefit the Bruins as he gets used to the NHL game. Either way, great first game from Brazeau.
In the 3rd, the Stars pulled ahead again when Esa Lindell scored off a 3:2 rush (that’s the decision making lapses I was referring to earlier) and was this going to be another kick in the nuts on the homestand? It sure looked that way as time was winding down in the final frame. With less than 2mins to play in regulation and with Swayman on the bench, the B’s tied it back up in spectacular fashion. Marchand worked the puck up the RW to Charlie McAvoy at the point. McAvoy skated down the slot until he was challenged and waited for old friend Tyler Seguin to put his stick in the shooting lane before sliding the puck to David Pastrnak at the LW dot. Pasta made no mistake as he attempted to put his one-timer through the DAL net. Tie game.
In the OT, DAL got the better chances, but neither team had grade A bids. DAL def had the time of possession edge, but that doesn’t matter at the end of the day. We were on to the shootout!
Boston opted to shoot first and it went down like this:
BOS Charlie Coyle – ❌
DAL Jason Robertson – ✔️
BOS David Pastrnak – ❌
DAL Tyler Seguin – ❌
BOS Brad Marchand – ✔️ (if this was able to be live-bet I would have bet the mortgage on it)
DAL Wyatt Johnson – ❌
BOS Jake DeBrusk – ❌
DAL Roope Hintz – ❌
BOS James van Riemsdyk – ❌
DAL Joe Pavelski – ❌
BOS Kevin Shattenkirk – ❌
DAL Thomas Harley – ❌
BOS Trent Frederic – ❌
DAL Mason Marchment – ❌ (great poke check by Swayman)
BOS Jesper Boqvist – ❌
DAL Sam Steel – ❌
BOS Charlie McAvoy – ✔️ (he’s not called Chuckie Bright Lights for nothing)
And with the Stars last gasp, it was old friend Craig Smith – ❌
It’s been far too long… Time for The Huggy Bears TM
The Bruins head out to Oil Country to start their West Coast swing. So I’ll leave you with some sights and sounds from Marchand’s celebration.
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