By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter/X @TCalauttis
The Boston Bruins got back into the win column yesterday night when they grinded out a 2-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jeremy Swayman was the star of the show, stopping 34 of 35 shots and backstopping the Black and Gold to a victory.
The Bruins ended the game victorious, but things certainly didn’t start that way. A mere 42 seconds into the game, Erik Karlsson gathered a puck at the point and snapped a wrister through three layers of traffic to beat Swayman for the game’s opening goal.
Marco Sturm and Boston’s coaching staff made a questionable decision to challenge the tally for goaltender interference. The call on the ice stood, and the Bruins were forced to kill a delay-of-game minor right off the bat.
Boston finished the night four for four on penalty kills and has been flawless in that department since the Olympic pause. Hampus Lindholm credited the goaltending and coaching staff as being the difference.
“We did (make) some, a few changes, and Kells (Chris Kelly) is coming in with some good energy and helping us out, putting us in a good spot to succeed,” said Boston’s assistant captain of the recent PK success. “It obviously helps when you have Swayman and Korpi playing the way they have been playing…I think we’ve been doing a good job frustrating teams.”
The early kill seemed to give the Bruins a boost, as they went on to dominate the rest of the first period. At even strength, they out-attempted Pittsburgh 28-11, outshot them 11-4, and out-chanced them 14-4. That dominance paid off just over five minutes into the opening frame when Boston was able to tie the game.
The trio of Michael Eyssimont, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Fraser Minten combined for some impressive board play, which resulted in the game’s first goal. Eyssimont shoveled a puck to Khusnutdinov, who snapped a puck past Penguins’ goaltender Stuart Skinner to knot the game at one.
The tie lasted for only 50 seconds before the second line got in on the scoring. Pavel Zacha won a board battle and tapped a puck to Casey Mittelstadt, who sent a gorgeous cross-ice pass to Nikita Zadorov at the top of the opposite circle. Zadorov was able to step into a wrister, and the rebound ping-ponged back to Mittelstadt for an open-net tap-in.
“Yeah, I mean, I think it probably wasn’t the prettiest hockey we’ve played all year,” said Mittelstadt following the victory. “But, you know, you could tell the fight and the want to win was there, and guys sacrificing themselves and winning battles and Sway making big saves. So yeah, it’s fun to be a part of a team that’s putting their body on the line and doing whatever it takes.”
Mittelstadt’s goal at the six-minute mark of the first was the final tally of the game, and all the insurance Swayman needed to shut the door on the Pens. Boston’s goaltender was able to lock down his crease throughout the remainder of the game, making 33 saves in a row (and 28 over the course of the second and third periods) to carry his squad to victory.
“In Philly, unfortunately, we didn’t get him the win, but he was excellent,” said head coach Marco Sturm of his goalie’s prior outing. “But the way he played today was, I think, even better…he was the reason why we won this game today.”
The Bruins still have a firm hold on the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. They’ll travel to Nashville Thursday night to take on the Predators in their last contest before Friday’s trade deadline.
Game Notes
- The Bruins are 28-0-3 when leading after two periods this season.
- Since Thanksgiving, Marat Khusnutdinov has 10-11-21 in 35 games.
- With his 13th goal on the season, Mittelstadt is now just two away from the career-high he set in 2022-23.
- Charlie McAvoy led all Bruins skaters last night with 26:13 of ice time.
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