More than a few smart hockey people felt the Bruins would be OK if they could just keep their head above the waves to start the season while their injured players recuperated and got back in the lineup.
But instead of simply treading water, the B’s are positively freestylin’ right now.
In a game that had the hint of a scheduled “L” to it before it started – the second half of a back-to-back, without David Krejci (upper body) and Brad Marchand (predetermined night off following hip surgery) – the B’s exploded for a three-goal second period to crush the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 at Nationwide Arena on Friday.
The victory put the finishing touches on the B’s October portion of their schedule at 8-1, the best nine-game start the franchise has ever enjoyed.
“There were a lot of people who were counting us out from the start of the summer obviously with some big names not being in the mix (the B’s are still waiting on No.1 defenseman Charlie McAvoy to get back) but, yeah, historic. Especially with a team like Boston, it’s pretty cool to be a part of,” said Jake DeBrusk told NESN. “But I think it’s just everyone buying in. You look at how many goalscorers we’ve got (15 and counting) and a lot of guys contributing. It’s a lot of fun to be around the rink right now and this is another statement win for us.”
Linus Ullmark improved to 6-0 with a 30-save shutout, his first of the season. When the B’s have been less than perfect, as they were in the first period on Friday, Ullmark has been there to hide the blemishes, as Jeremy Swayman was on Thursday against Detroit.
“It’s unreal how comfortable I am standing behind the bench,” said coach Jim Montgomery. “We’re giving up odd-man rushes and there are guys open on the backdoor and you’re not even worried because you expect our goalies to make saves.”
Unlike the the first time they played a second half of a back-to-back last week in Ottawa, the B’s were ready from the drop of the puck, playing on their toes and taking a 1-0 lead in the first.
That’s not to say they didn’t need good goaltending. Ullmark was excellent in the first, especially on a Columbus power play, making a handful of Grade A saves. Ullmark made 12 stops in all in the first.
And shortly after the B’s killed off the Columbus advantage, the B’s took their first lead at 8:43. From behind the Columbus net, David Pastrnak sent a pass out high that went off Pavel Zacha and Taylor Hall to Matt Grzelcyk at the left point. Grzelcyk took the down to the circle, threw one pump fake and then beat Elvis Merzlikins through a crowd and to the glove side. It was the defenseman’s first goal of the season but fourth point in the fifth game since returning from shoulder surgery.
The B’s then took a 2-0 lead on their first shorthanded goal of the season. Charlie Coyle knocked Johnny Gaudreau and headed out on what looked like a 2-on-1 with Pavel Zacha. When Columbus got back to mitigate the odd-man situation, Coyle cut from the right wing through the slot and then beat Merzlikins to the shortside with a backhander, his third goal of the season and second in as many games.
The B’s stretched it to 3-0 at 15:07 on another unassisted goal. DeBrusk, who has had an excellent start to the season, blocked a shot from rookie Kent Johnson out high in the Boston zone and took off on a breakaway, beating Merzlikins on a snap shot over the glove.
They weren’t done, as the B’s delivered the dagger with a last-minute goal. With 27 seconds left in the period, Pastrnak – who had been all over the ice without anything to show for it on the scoresheet – collected an aerial feed from Patrice Bergeron in the neutral zone and made a deliberate rush up the left wing. Using defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov as a screen, Pastrnak wristed a shot through the D-man’s legs to beat Merzlikins shortside for his seventh of the season. That would be it for Merzlikins, who gave way to Daniil Tarasov.
Meanwhile, the B’s did a much better of keeping pucks off Ullmark, who saw only seven shots to the 15 that the B’s pelted Merzlikins with.
In the third, the B’s didn’t give the Jackets much until a late power play, during which Ullmark flashed his glove a couple of times to preserve his shutout. All things considered, it was an impressive performance.
“I don’t think a lot of people expected us to have the record we have now, but it don’t matter, ” said Coyle. “We know what’s in here, the guys we have and the guys that can fill in and take on responsibility. It’s a great sign for a team with a few key guys out. Yeah, we’re happy, but we want to keep pushing here. We’re never satisfied. This doesn’t get us in the playoffs, it doesn’t give us a championship. It’s a good start, yeah, but we’ve got to keep pushing and playing the right way. That’s why we’re having success.”…
Montgomery said Krejci is “day-to-day” with his upper body injury but that more will be known on Saturday when some imaging is done.
Meanwhile, Red Wings’ forward Michael Rasmussen was suspended two games for the “reckless” high-stick of Krejci in the second period on the play in which the centerman, though it’s not clear whether it was the high-stick or the original check that injured Krejci.
