(Photo credit: Duane Burleson / AP Photo)

By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18

From 2013 to 2024, defenseman Nikita Zadorov played for five different teams in the National Hockey League. After playing for the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks in the 2023-24 season, Zadorov signed a six-year contract with the Boston Bruins. Throughout his NHL career, Zadorov has been known for his defense play due to his 6-foot-7 presence, but the Bruins were waiting for him to have his signature moment with the team. Last night against the Detroit Red Wings, Zadorov finally had his signature Bruins moment, and it wasn’t for his defense.

The Bruins found themselves tied at two with the Red Wings in the third period, in a pivotal game where both teams had 84 points and were holding a playoff position in the Eastern Conference. When the Bruins least expected Zadorov to score a go-ahead goal, he delivered by scoring a goal to put the team up 3-2 with 10:18 remaining in regulation.

The goal by Zadorov was just his second goal of the season, but it couldn’t have happened at a better time for the Bruins. Zadorov’s goal turned out to be the game-winning goal as the Bruins went on to win the game by a final score of 4-2. Zadorov’s goal helped Marat Khusnutdinov ice the game with an empty-net goal. The win helped the Bruins gain two huge points on the Red Wings and remain alive and well in the Eastern Conference playoff race with 86 points.

Zadorov may have been one of the last players some people would’ve projected to score not just a goal, but the game-winning goal against Red Wings goaltender John Gibson. Zadorov’s goal was his first since scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 16. It also marked Zadorov’s first game-winning goal since March 21, 2024, against the Montreal Canadiens, when he scored two goals in the game. After going five months without a goal, Zadorov switched up his offensive approach to score when he shot the puck against Gibson.

“I’ve been shooting high glove for a while now, decided to go blocker,” Zadorov said.

Zadorov’s season has been an important one for the Bruins. While two of Zadorov’s 19 points this season are goals, his presence on the ice has been crucial for the Bruins this season. Zadorov’s +19 rating is the third-highest among the Bruins roster, and second among all defensemen on the team, only behind Jonathan Aspirot. Zadorov’s 93 blocked shots and 165 hits are each the third-most on the Bruins roster, but his hit total leads all defensemen on the team. Bruins head coach Marco Sturm was smiling and chuckled when talking about Zadorov’s goal after the win.

“I think the whole bench was like ‘shoot,’ and he actually did it,” Sturm said. “So, good for him.”

Zadorov is nearing the end of his second season in Boston, but his Bruins tenure has been solid with an impressive +41 rating in 150 career games with the team. Moving forward, Zadorov will be relied on to continue to play defense. Now, with scoring his first goal since October, Zadorov is giving the Bruins an offensive boost and can help contribute more to the Bruins’ playoff push down the stretch.