Takeaways: Bruins stay undefeated following well-rounded effort in L.A.

Bruins

Right here’s what we discovered as Boston continued its excellent begin to the centennial season.

Boston Bruins proper wing David Pastrnak (88) celebrates with defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) after scoring throughout the first interval of an NHL hockey sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Kings Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Picture/Ashley Landis) AP

Within the second sport of their West Coast swing, the Boston Bruins discovered themselves with out Jake DeBrusk as a result of team-sanctioned self-discipline.

Nonetheless, they acquired contributions from their whole lineup and took down a prime opponent within the Western Convention.

David Pastrnak continued his season-opening scoring streak, notching his fifth tally by means of 4 video games. Final season’s 61-goal scorer ripped residence a deadly snipe previous Kings’ netminder Cam Talbot on the person benefit at 13:10 of the primary interval. 

The Kings battled again to even issues up within the second interval. Former Harvard standout Alex Laferriere ripped residence his first NHL aim on a partial breakaway after sneaking previous Brandon Carlo. 

The Bruins weathered Los Angeles’ second-period push. Then they went into takeoff mode within the second half of the center body.

After Trent Frederic’s energetic combat with Andreas Englund, the Bruins put two tallies behind Talbot in simply 48 seconds. 

Morgan Geekie put residence a rebound for his first aim as a Bruin, and Brad Marchand rapidly adopted up by burying an opportunity within the slot to pad Boston’s lead. 

The Bruins put forth a conservative defensive effort within the third interval but nonetheless cashed in some insurance coverage within the waning minutes. Pastrnak related with Marchand on a bang-bang passing play with 2:12 left in regulation.

“I actually preferred [our effort,]” Jim Montgomery advised NESN’s Andy Brickley following Saturday’s 4-2 win. “We performed with emotion, and we dug in in quite a lot of other ways. Whether or not it was physicality, whether or not it was talent, effort or execution, I like the best way we dug in. We’re beginning to see our id come out.”

Right here’s what we discovered as Boston continued its excellent begin to the centennial season.

The Bruins lastly turned in a whole group effort

From the highest down, the Bruins acquired contributions from all areas of their lineup. The facility play delivered, the penalty kill remained excellent, and so they acquired depth contributions.

“We had a mentality to play behind the online tonight and grind them down low,” Geekie advised NESN’s Adam Pellerin. “We did a superb job of that and getting out to the purpose. Our D bought photographs by means of and good issues occurred.”

The tangible outcomes have been clear for depth items like Geekie and Derek Forbort, and efforts like Frederic’s didn’t go neglected.

Persevering with his stable begin to the season, the third-year winger offered the Bruins with a momentum shift at a pivotal juncture. Frederic took on Englund in a vicious tilt that left each side bloodied after the actual fact. 

Frederic’s spark instantly ignited Boston’s bench as they potted two targets in fast succession that finally propelled them previous the Kings. 

“They’re a superb group over there,” Geekie mentioned to NESN’s Adam Pellerin. “We stepped up for certain and confirmed that we are able to play with anybody.”

Swayman and the penalty kill held down the fort

Simply 4 video games into the younger season, the Bruins have relied closely on their stellar goaltending tandem. Such a method has proved efficient, although, as final season’s Jenning’s Trophy-winners have held type following final season’s dominant run. 

Swayman held down the fort for Boston throughout LA’s extra dominant runs throughout the opening halves of the primary and second intervals. The 24-year-old netminder stopped 32 of 34 photographs confronted in his second begin of the season. 

Boston’s penalty kill delivered one more stellar outing on Saturday evening, solely breaking within the waning minutes with the sport properly in hand. The Black and Gold killed 5 of LA’s six-man benefits, with their hardest stretch approaching a 5-on-3 scenario within the first amid the Kings’ relentless push for the sport’s first tally.

“I like the best way [Assistant] coach [Joe] Sacco will get them to essentially hone in on the main points,” Montgomery mentioned to Brickley. “We take away essentially the most harmful passing lanes and we let our goaltender see the robust facet shot, which permits them to make saves. Our goaltenders have been nice all yr.”

From blocked photographs to well timed saves, the Bruins proceed to impress in shorthanded conditions. However Charlie Coyle additionally caught Swayman’s eye after the sport for his slick puck possession work throughout one other busy evening on the penalty kill.

“[Coyle’s] the toughest employee on the group, you’ll be able to’t steal the puck from him,” Swayman advised reporters. “I really like when he will get the puck as a result of he’s bought among the greatest stick dealing with expertise on this league and clearly separation from different our bodies. He’s a work-horse and it reveals. I’m so comfortable when he’s on the ice throughout a penalty kill.”

Earlier than Carl Grundstrom’s late energy play tally, the Bruins killed off the primary 19 energy performs.

Marchand leads the best way

The captain did because the captain ought to do. 

Marchand was all around the ice Saturday evening, figuring in on three of Boston’s 4 targets. Outdoors of his two targets, Marchand arrange Pastrnak completely for the sport’s opening aim. 

Boston’s captain placed on a puck retrieval clinic, receiving the rimmed puck off the apron whereas shielding it from Kings’ ahead Trevor Lewis. Marchand fed Pastrnak cross-ice, and the Czech sniper made no mistake. 

Marchand led the best way for the Bruins of their detail-oriented victory as they delivered an early-season assertion win. 

“Guys have jobs,” Geekie mentioned to Pellerin. “They aren’t afraid to do the correct factor on a regular basis. … We’re gonna attempt to construct that and produce it again tomorrow.”


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