Before the game it was announced that Derek Forbort would be missing tonight's game and Ian Mitchell would be taking his place. Last night Milan Lucic took a puck off the foot on a Morgan Geekie goal so he too is out. Patrick Brown continues to be in the lineup to take Lucic's place with Jake DeBrusk returning. That's two guys down on the second night of a back to back, not good.
Way back in the 2003-04 season an 18 year old Patrice Bergeron made his NHL debut and was an instant sensation. By March, he was one of top contenders of the Calder Trophy. Know what else happened in March of that year? Tonight's hero was born. Boston's second round pick last year, 19 year old Matthew Poitras scored two goals tonight against the Anaheim Ducks and thanks to a brilliant performance by goalie Linus Ullmark, that was all the offense the Bruins would need. The game was deadlocked until the third period when Mason MacTavish tipped in a puck to put the Ducks up 1-0 with 15 minutes left. Have no fear because just over a minute later Poitras scored his first NHL goal with first Bruins assists by Ian Mitchell and Morgan Geekie. Four minutes later Poitras found the back of the net again thanks to Jake DeBrusk and Charlie McAvoy to put the Bruins on top. Anaheim pulled the goalie with three minutes left and Charlie Coyle found Brad Marchand for the empty net goal to ice it. The Bruins had won their fifth straight game to start the season and sweep the California triangle by beating the Ducks 3-1 at the Honda Center.
First career goal by Poitras
Things got off to an ominous start when 29 seconds into the first period, Brad Marchand was sent off for cross-checking old friend Urho Vaakanainen. The Bruins actually got the best chance when Jake DeBrusk got a wide open breakaway on the penalty kill and beat goalie John Gibson clean.....but off the post. Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark robbed Max Jones point blank on the Ducks' powerplay and the Ducks killed their own penalty when Brett Leason tripped Brandon Carlo at 2:19. Things looked bad when Matt Grzelcyk got lit up on a hit and had to go get cleaned up and the Bruins failed to score on the powerplay. 6 minutes into the first Ullmark had to stop both Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry from scoring. With 7:40 left in the period, Radko Gudas got called for high sticking Marchand but the Bruins failed to score on the powerplay. Gudas then got called for interference with 1:11 left but Marchand & David Pastrnak failed to score as the game was tied 0-0 going into the second.
The Bruins started the second period on the powerplay but failed to score. 3:41 into the period Ian Mitchell flipped the puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty and the Ducks went on the powerplay. Pavel Mintyukov blasted one off Ullmark and Linus had to stop Mason MacTavish on the rebound. 7 minutes into the first the Ducks got a 3 on 1 and Ullmark again stopped MacTavish. With 11:50 left in the period Charlie Coyle got into a chinwag with Max Jones and they both went off for roughing. With 7:03 left in the period Mitchell went off for tripping Zegras but 88 seconds later Terry interfered with Coyle to make it a 4 on 4. On the 4 on 4 Matthew Poitras found Kevin Shattenkirk alone in the slot but Gibson made the save. The Bruins failed to score on the powerplay but with 14 seconds left, Gibson made a good save to stop Pavel Zacha from scoring. After two it was still 0-0.
The Bruins wasted no time in the third period trying to get to Gibson when Hampus Lindholm passed to a wide open Morgan Geekie, but failed to put the puck in net. Ullmark had to make a great save on old friend Frank Vatrano and another one on Zegras within the first four minutes. Then disaster struck as Vatrano passed to Ryan Strome on a two on one with MacTavish. Ullmark stopped Strome's shot but MacTavish scored on the rebound to make it 1-0 Ducks with 15 minutes to go. The Bruins didn't wait long to get on the board themselves. With 13:31 left, Mitchell passed it to Geekie who threw it in front for Poitras to bang it home, tying the game. Then with 9:40 left, Charlie McAvoy passed to DeBrusk who threw it off Gibson. Poitras banged home the rebound and the Bruins had the lead 2-1. With four minutes left Ullmark made a good save off a Strome slapshot, then a minute later Ullmark robbed Gudas point blank. With the goalie pulled, Coyle found Marchand for the obligatory empty net goal to end this one with 2:34 left. Zegras got so mad he whacked Marchand with his stick with 1:01 remaining to put the Bruins on the powerplay. Bruins coach Jim Montgomery called off the dogs and just burned the final minute off the clock rather than try for a fourth goal. The game ended and the Bruins had won the game 3-1.
Goalie hug
Reaction:
That was far from the Bruins best game this season but their defense and goaltending hasn't missed a beat since last year. As long as Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman stay healthy they're going to be pretty tough to beat. Getting that type of effort by Poitras was clutch tonight when Pastrnak & Marchand were silenced for the most part. It would be completely unfair to expect Poitras to have a Calder type season but at the same time the Bruins lost a lot of offense in the off-season, hopefully Matthew can make up for some of it. Ullmark had a great game tonight, stopping 30 of 31 shots and they needed each and every save. Ironically the only one who was -1 tonight was Pastrnak, who was due for a low key game. Still, in a game without Lucic & Forbort and losing Trent Frederic to injury, a win is a win. The Bruins look to make it 6 wins in a row this coming Tuesday night and a road trip sweep when they travel to Chicago for an opening night rematch. The Bruins face Conor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks at 8:30 PM eastern time at the United Center.
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