By: Jack Studley | Follow me on Twitter/X @jackstudley13
On Thursday night, the Boston Bruins hosted the Anaheim Ducks at the TD Garden to avenge their five-game losing streak. The Bruins celebrated Hockey Fights Cancer night at the rink, illuminating the Garden in lavender throughout the night. Hampus Lindholm, who was a gametime decision, did not play due to his lower-body injury he sustained during the home opener. Joonas Korpisalo started in goal for the black and gold tonight, and made 23 saves on 29 shots. Petr Mrazek stopped 36 of 41 Bruin shots in the win.
The Ducks came into this game amid a five-game road trip; they traveled here from Nashville, and their next game is in Tampa on Saturday. The Bruins had a prime opportunity to right their recent wrongs and catch an Anaheim team during a tough travel stretch in their schedule. However, the Bruins did not tackle that opportunity; the losing streak extends to six, as the travel did not hinder the Ducks’ game.
First Period
The Bruins got the game started early on Thursday night. Shortly after a heartwarming ceremonial puck drop, the offense began. Pavel Zacha steered a shot right off Petr Mrazek’s pad two minutes into the game. The rebound fell right to Casey Mittelstadt, who put it home for his third goal of the season and his third point since serving as a healthy scratch on Sunday in Utah. Viktor Arvidsson picked up the secondary assist on the goal.
However, the Ducks tied the game with a Drew Helleson goal eight minutes into the first period. The remainder of the first period was tied 1-1, but both teams were generating offense and creating chances. The Bruins put 19 shots on Petr Mrazek in the first 20 minutes. Joonas Korpisalo stepped up for the Bruins in the first period, making 11 saves on 12 shots, including a flashy glove save on Pavel Mintyukov with eight minutes to go. The only infraction of the period was an Elias Lindholm minor penalty; the Ducks’ power play attempt was unsuccessful.
Second Period
Joonas Korpisalo continued his solid performance into the beginning of the second period. It took nine minutes for scoring to start in the next frame, but it did not stop once it started. David Pastrnak sat at the blue line as Morgan Geekie entered the zone. Pastrnak laid it off to Geekie, who fired it home, beating Petr Mrazek low. That was Geekie’s fourth of the season.
Former BC Eagle Cutter Gauthier scored to tie the game in the second period. Shortly after, Tanner Jeannot and Ross Johnston dropped the gloves and engaged in a great hockey fight. Both guys landed sizable hits on each other, but tired themselves out before one could get a takedown. The Ducks were not done on offense after the fight, as Jacob Trouba gave Anaheim its first lead of the night, squeezing a shot through Joonas Korpisalo.
The Bruins got the only powerplay opportunity of the second period and capitalized on it. Mason Lohrei collected a feed from Henri Jokiharju and got the puck on net, and through some traffic on its way, the puck got by Mrazek. Lohrei’s first goal of the season was also the 100th career point for Swedish-defenseman Henri Jokiharju.
The second period ended at a 3-3 tie. The Bruins added 13 shots in the second, and the Ducks added six.
Third Period
On a Viktor Arvidsson penalty, the Ducks’ power play converted on a chance a couple of minutes into the third, it would be the only fault from the Bruins penalty kill tonight. Mikael Granlund gave Anaheim its second lead of the night. Five minutes later, Sam Colangelo added to it, scoring right outside the crease to give Anaheim a two-goal lead with 12 minutes to go in regulation.
With just over five minutes to go and chasing two goals, the Boston Bruins got on the power play. David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy were finding each other for quick back and forth passes, and Pastrnak let one go from the point, making the Ducks lead only one. The Bruins power play was successful on Thursday night, it has connected seven times so far this season.
Shortly after that, Nikita Zadorov put the puck on his stick, and carried it the length of the ice. Zadorov dropped it to his left, and Morgan Geekie’s second of the game tied it up. Two goals in 25 seconds sent the TD Garden into a frenzy. That was Geekie’s fifth of the season, tying him with David Pastrnak for the team lead.
Two goals in 25 seconds was not enough, apparently. The Ducks added the eventual game-winning goal 30 seconds after thanks to Troy Terry. There were three goals in 55 seconds on Thursday night at the TD Garden; taking this game from 5-3 Anaheim, to 6-5 Anaheim. Mikael Granlund added an empty net goal at the end, his fifth point of the night, and that closed the game.
Final Thoughts
The Bruins had 41 shots on goal, a change from the past. 19 of those came in the first period, which is more than Boston had against Colorado last weekend. Five goals gives you the opportunity to win a lot of games, but it is extremely tough to win a game if you allow seven. Nikita Zadorov mentioned that “tomorrow is a new day,” and hopes to see the guys regroup and “look in the mirror.”
Marco Sturm showed frustration as well, using the word embarrassing. With a loss tonight, the Bruins have now lost their last six games. This streak started on October 13, on home ice against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The next chance for the Bruins to snap this streak is on Saturday, at home, when the Bruins wrap up the season series against Colorado.
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