By: Michael Rudd | Follow me on Twitter @Bosmike808.
This game was the first real test for the Bruins this season. Yes, Washington was a playoff team last year, but without Tom Wilson and Nick Backstrom, they aren’t the same team. The Panthers are the reigning President’s Trophy winners and made a huge trade by adding Matthew Tkachuk to an already-loaded forward group. Maybe the Bruins and Jake Debrusk used a little birthday magic to secure the win.
First Period
This game got off to a fast start, with the Bruins jumping ahead just 21 seconds in. Debrusk deflected a pass back to the point and turned on the jets blowing by Gustav Forsling. After that, he sniped it past Sergei Bobrovsky and the Birthday boy had the Bruins up one.
Five minutes in, and the Bruins were in control, outshooting Florida 5-1. Unfortunately, sloppy puck possession would lead to Ullmark having to bail his team out on more than one occasion. Halfway through the period, the Bruins would be forced to kill 23 seconds of five on three. Debrusk would have a shorthanded chance stuffed by Bobrovsky for the first Bruins shot in seven minutes. The Bruins would finish the kill and end the period, finally able to regain the offensive momentum. At the end of the first, it’s 1-0 Boston.
Second Period
The Bruins would start the second with a 52-second powerplay which was killed off. Debrusk would continue to be an offensive focal point, but he couldn’t capitalize on an errant Bobrovsky pass. Florida would tie the score at one as Sam Bennett drove the net behind the defense. The Calgary connection took advantage of the Bruins getting caught puck-watching. With 9:34 left in the period, tempers would flare, but it would end in matching calls and the teams staying five on five. A few minutes later, Ullmark would make the save of the game on Sam Reinhart. A deflection off of Trent Frederick’s skate left Sam in alone, and Ullmark robbed him with the glove. On the very next shift, Patrice Bergeron put the Bruins back on top 2-1 with this beauty.
Arron Ekblad would leave the game after this play and not return, leaving Florida with just four defensemen. Florida would try to answer, even getting a power play with five minutes to go, but the defense and Linus stood tall. We head to the third with Boston up 2-1.
Third Period
The Panthers would open the third with a sense of urgency, especially from its fourth line. The Bruin’s top two lines would answer back, drawing a penalty. As the penalty expires, David Pastrnak receives a pass entering the offensive zone. He then danced around Marc Staal before tucking the puck under Bobrovsky, making it 3-1 Boston.
David Krejci and Taylor Hall would have a two-on-one rush smothered by Bobrovsky, and the Bruins would be back in control. With 7:29 left, the Coyle line would get in on the scoring with a behind-the-net wrap-around goal from Trent Frederick.
Just 27 seconds later, Florida would answer back, making it a two-goal game once again. A Gustav Forsling point shot deflected off a Bruin defender in front and into the net. With six minutes to go, Boston would take a penalty. A minute later, Florida pulled their goalie to make it a six-on-four powerplay. Both Lindholm and Pastrnak would hit posts but be unable to score on the empty net. After two failed clearing attempts by the Bruin’s third pair, Florida cuts the lead to one with 1:37 left in the game. Once again, a point shot bouncing through traffic finds the net.
Fortunately for the Bruins, the birthday boy had one final trick up his sleeve. With just over a minute left, Debrusk would fire a turn-around shot from his blue line into the empty net, sealing the 5-3 victory and Boston’s 3-0 start. For this writer, the three stars of the night go to Debrusk, Ullmark, and Bergeron. The defensive depth was tested, but Florida was also dealing with their own depth issues as well. A solid win over a good team is on to Ottawa tomorrow night for a divisional clash with the up-and-coming team. Until next time stay safe out there, and let’s go, Bruins.
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