By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
On Tuesday night, the Boston Bruins bounced back from Sunday’s loss to the New York Rangers with a 4-2 victory at TD Garden over the Washington Capitals. The Bruins got goals from Riley Tufte, Fabian Lysell, Patrick Brown, and Justin Brazeau. Joonas Korpisalo and Michael DiPietro split time between the pipes.
With spots in the opening night lineup up for grabs, several players stood out in the win. Here are four takeaways from yesterday’s game.
Joonas Korpisalo Starts off Strong
With Jeremy Swayman’s contract status uncertain, the focus has shifted to the Bruins’ under-contract Goaltenders. Joonas Korpisalo made a strong first impression with a solid performance in the net.
While Korpisalo only faced seven shots in 29:39 of work, he stopped everything he faced. The Pori, Finland native, looked calm and confident, with controlled movements in the crease and solid rebound control. Korpisalo stopped two high-danger shots and finished with 0.80 Goals Saved Above Expected.
On a night where several players put together quality performances, Korpisalo’s effort was enough to earn him First Star honors. Whether or not he can continue this strong play remains to be seen, although this was a very encouraging sign.
Fabian Lysell Bounces Back
After a quiet night against the Rangers, Fabian Lysell needed to up his game. “He needs to do a little more than he’s done if he wants to make the Bruins,” said Bruins Head Coach Jim Montgomery pregame.
Lysell answered the coach’s challenge with perhaps his best game in a Bruins uniform. The Goteborg, Sweden, native scored his first goal of the preseason with a power play snipe over Hunter Shepard’s right shoulder. Lysell also drew two penalties and played well in all three zones, backchecking hard, tying up sticks, and getting in shooting and passing lanes. This improved effort did not go unnoticed among the Bruins’ brass.
“I was really happy with his growth from game one to game two,” Added Montgomery postgame. Lysell’s all-situation ice time of 17:35 was second amongst Bruin forwards, behind only linemate Riley Tufte.
Riley Tufte Impresses
In August, I wrote about Tufte and how he could be a potential late-bloomer at the National Hockey League level. So far, the Minnesota native has put together a strong training camp, and last night was no exception. Tufte scored the opening goal after a solid shift in the offensive zone, repeatedly cycling the puck alongside linemates Fabian Lysell and Jaxon Nelson.
In 12:16 of even-strength ice time, Tufte was on the ice for two high-danger chances, with an Expected Goals for Percentage of 71.78%. While he faces an abundance of fourth-line competition, Tufte showcased his game well against the Capitals.
Matt Poitras Looks Solid in Return to Action
Tuesday’s contest was Poitras’ first NHL game since he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in January. Many wondered how the 20-year-old would look after a long recovery, with speculation that time in the American Hockey League may be best for the young forward.
Poitras showed that he would make it challenging for the Bruins’ management to keep him off the roster. Despite not registering a point, Poitras made himself noticeable. Having bulked up to 189 pounds, he won several board battles throughout the contest and showed excellent puck possession skills.
Playing on the right wing alongside Brett Harrison and Trent Frederic, Poitras showed his versatility and could fit into Jim Montgomery’s opening night lineup in various ways. Whether at center or on the wing, the Ajax, Ontario native showed he possesses an NHL tool kit.
The Bruins will be back in action Thursday night at Madison Square Garden for a rematch against the Rangers. The game will be broadcast on NESN and NESN 360. A link to the Bruins’ Preseason schedule can be found here.
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