Bs Kick Off Season With 4-3 Win Over Preds
The Bs kicked the 2017-18 season off with an entertaining, impressive 4-3 win over the Western Conference champion Nashville Predators last night at North Station. Jake DeBrusk and Charlie McAvoy each scored their first NHL goals as David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand notched their first on the year to pace the offense.
Though the Bruins almost gagged away a 4-1 lead after Marchy’s ENG (so sorry to you puck line bettors), the win was impressive because a) the team was without both Patrice Bergeron (day-to-day) and David Backes (out 3-4 weeks for diverticulitis, poor guy) and, b) four of its 18 skaters were rookies. The Bs came out ready to play and Pasta’s power-play blast gave them their first lead of the season 8:37 into the first.
Viktor Arvidsson tied it for the Preds 11 minutes later but the rookies’ tallies in the second made it 3-1 and Marchy’s ENG seemingly put a bow on things with 2:53 left. But Nashville would not go quietly as Scott Hartnell and Filip Forsberg cut it to a one-goal lead with 35 seconds left and sphincters tightened. But the Bs kept them at bay and pocketed their first two points of the year.
It was a pretty good start to the year even with the less than ideal final few minutes. The Bruins will have all weekend to rest up for their next tilt, a Monday matinee at home vs. the Colorado Avalanche, who knocked off the Rags 4-2 last night at MSG.
A few more buds for your season opening bowl…
*Noel Acciari left the game in the first after blocking a shot, giving Cassidy 11 forwards for most of the game.
*Anders Bjork didn’t look out of place in his first NHL game and assisted on DeBrusk’s goal. He played 16:14 and 2:14 of that was on the power play. He skated on Spooner’s right wing with Marchand on the opposite side but will be with Bergy as soon as he returns to the line-up.
*David Krejci tied a career-high with three assists. That’s a good sign for the Bs to have their 1A center getting right into things offensively after a couple of so-so seasons lately thanks in large part to injuries. When healthy, Krejci is an elite player (see: 2011 and 2013 playoffs). He and Pasta could each have monster years.
*Great scene after DeBrusk scored his first NHL goal as his proud pops shed a couple tears of utter joy. Louie was a tough bastard when he played.