Bruins Beat: Bruins on the Road Again

Boston’s 14-game history-making home ice win streak is over, following the Bruins’ 4-3 shootout loss to former Bs head coach Bruce Cassidy and his Vegas Golden Knights on Monday. The locals managed to come back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game and advance to a shootout, while displaying the confidence and character that has them presently in second place overall in the National Hockey League standings. Second only to the Metropolitan Division leading New Jersey Devils who lead by two points (43-41), having played two more games than the Bruins (26-24). To be noted is the fact that the Devils have 21 wins – Bruins 20, but in percentage-wise wins, Boston has the better numbers (.854 compared to New Jersey’s .827). Both teams are playing well, as each presently show a record of 8-1-1 for their last ten games.

There was plenty of emotion involved for the Bruins, having to face Cassidy, their recently deposed head coach, and also for Cassidy, having to come to Boston, be in the visitor’s dressing room, and what was probably a long walk for Bruce…to the visitor’s bench. While he was probably not happy to see his Knights blow a three-goal lead, he had to be elated that his team left Boston with the two points, courtesy of former Bruin Reilly Smith’s game-winning overtime goal.

All that is history, as the Bruins headed out on the road for a three-game road trip that began last night (Wednesday), with the locals being hosted by the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. Coming into that game, Colorado was playing mediocre hockey (5-5-0 last 10 games), and probably still feeling the effects of last Saturday’s 5-1 pounding by Boston on TD Garden ice. Colorado was expected to be missing their superstar forward Nathan McKinnon due to an injury suffered on Monday. McKinnon who leads the Avalanche with 34 points, is expected to be out several weeks due to an upper-body injury. The Bruins have played well on the road, having posted six wins in their nine road games coming into Wednesday’s contest. Friday night (9:30pm) will have the Arizona Coyotes providing the opposition. At press time Arizona has only seven wins in their first 23 games, playing at a snail’s pace of 1-6-3 for their last ten games. They are currently tied for last place in the Central Division with the Chicago Blackhawks. Things should turn very interesting, very quickly, as Sunday night’s game (8:00pm) will be a ‘revenge’ match, as the Bruins will take their talents to Vegas, to face Cassidy’s Vegas Golden Knights, for the second time in less than a week. Following their three-game road trip, Boston returns to TD Garden ice for the next five games, to begin a home stand that will include visits from the New York Islanders (Tuesday at 7:00pm), and the Los Angeles Kings (Thursday at 7:00pm). Rounding out the home stand will be stops in Boston from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, and the Winnipeg Jets.

David Pastrnak continues to lead the Bruins in scoring with 35 points in 24 games, including 17 goals and 18 assists. The balanced scoring which has helped the offense immensely, shows 11 players, who as of Wednesday night had double-digit points to show. Also, strength in goal with Linus Ullmark stats showing an impressive record of 14-1-0-0, a goals-against-average of 1.93 – and a .936 save percentage. Jeremy Swayman has also contributed with the workload, posting numbers of 5-2-0-1, 2.63 goals-against, plus a .899 save percentage. Boston fans will be looking forward to the team returning home to possibly see the locals start another home ice winning streak.

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