By: Chad Jones | Follow me on Twitter/X @ShutUpChadJones
The Boston Bruins went into Detroit for a Saturday night nationally televised game and earned two important points in a 4-2 victory over the Red Wings. Boston’s record improved to 39-23-8 in the insanely competitive Eastern Conference.
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First Period
The Bruins dictated play for the first half of the opening frame. The Black and Gold were generating looks and quality zone time, but could not beat Detroit netminder John Gibson. The Bruins outshot the Red Wings 6-0 over the first 12 minutes.
However, two ill-advised offensive zone penalties by Boston helped Detroit find their rhythm. But Jeremy Swayman stood strong in the blue paint for the Bruins. He showed terrific lateral movement on multiple key saves, including late in the session with the Red Wings on the power play.
As the closing seconds ticked down, J.T. Compher and Detroit celebrated as if the forward had batted home a rebound on the power play. But slow-motion replay showed the puck fluttered across the goal line mere milliseconds after the period horn sounded.
The Bruins and Red Wings went into the first intermission with no goals on the scoreboard. Both goalies appeared to be dialed in for the night.
Second Period
Detroit struck first in this one. Early in the period on the power play, Andrew Copp settled the puck right to the left of Swayman near the goal line. He then made a slick backdoor feed through Charlie McAcoy to Lucas Raymond, who buried the attempt through the gaping cage. Swayman had no chance to slide over.
But soon after the goal, the Bruins got a golden opportunity. Back-to-back Detroit minors gifted Boston a five-on-three for 1:53. And the Bruins went to work. David Pastrnak and McAovy played catch to set up a one-timer. As McAvoy fed the winger from the blue line, Pastrnak promptly blasted home the equalizer from the left faceoff circle to knot the game at 1-1.
But the two power play scores would be the lone goals of the middle frame. Both goaltenders were dialed in, especially at even strength. The physicality was noticeable from both squads, and the intensity was palpable at Little Caesars Arena.
Third Period
Detroit had a hop in their skate at the start of the period. They dictated play and eventually made Boston pay for their laxidasical start to the session.
Just past four minutes into the period, Alex DeBrincat rifled a shot from above the left faceoff circle. Traffic in front of Swayman caused the Boston netminder to lose the puck momentarily as it whizzed right past his glove and in to give Detroit a 2-1 lead early in the frame.
But the Bruins would not go away. Mason Lohrei made a great play to keep the puck in the Red Wings’ zone. Morgan Geekie then fed a pass to Elias Lindholm, who squeezed an attempt past a sliding Gibson from the left faceoff circle. It was a much-needed tally from Elias Lindholm, who had not scored since March 7th.
On an ensuing power play for Detroit, Swayman flashed some leather with two phenomenal glove saves. And Boston took that momentum into their play at even strength. Nikita Zadorov was gliding into the offensive zone and fired a wrist shot past Gibson to give the Bruins their first lead of the game at the contest’s halfway point. Swayman made spectacular saves during the sequence in which Gibson allowed two stoppable goals.
Detroit was keeping Boston’s first line in their own zone for an extended period of time, but again Swayman stepped up by stoning Emmitt Finnie on a net drive and snuffed out any rebound opportunity as well. He was coming up massive between the pipes for the Bruins.
With over two minutes remaining, the Red Wings pulled Gibson. But a battle for the puck was won by McAvoy, who fed Pastrnak. Pastrnak sprung Marat Khushutdinov, who then buried the empty net from the neutral zone to give Boston the all-important two-goal lead. The Bruins salted away the rest of the game to come up with their biggest win of the year.
Closing Thoughts
Boston showed resilience coming back from behind to tie the game twice and produced two key goals in the third period. Morgan Geekie finished with three helpers, and the finishing touches came from Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, and Zadorov, but the best player for Boston was between the pipes. Outright brilliance from Swayman, who stopped 41 of 43 shots, was the difference in this bout. He put together his best and most impressive performance of the season.
The Bruins earned their first road victory in regulation since mid-January. Boston broke their points tie with Detroit to give them 86 points with 12 games left in the season. It can be seen as a four-point swing with Boston grabbing the regulation win and jumping into the first wild card slot in the Eastern Conference.
The Bruins will be back home for a single game, hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. If you want to see the Black and Gold in person at TD Garden or on the road before the season ends, consider using this official StubHub Ticket-affiliated link here for the most competitive concert and sporting event tickets in the North American region.
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