BOSTON — The Boston Bruins have laid multiple eggs. There was the 6-4 season-opening loss to the Florida Panthers. The 2-0 fumblefest against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 8-2 embarrassment against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 4-0 snoozer against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“We expected more from ourselves early on for sure,” said Brad Marchand following Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Calgary Flames. “We expected better results and our team to come out of the gate harder than we have. But it is what it is. We didn’t. You can’t dwell on it.”
The Bruins are 7-7-1. Their latest win might signal traction.
Three reasons:
1. Marchand was noticeable. It was fitting that the underperforming captain pushed his team to a 4-3 overtime win on Thursday over the Flames with the deciding goal.
THE OT KING 👑 pic.twitter.com/eCZUC60Sky
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 8, 2024
“It’s just textbook,” Charlie Coyle said. “Another day for Brad Marchand, finishing a game like that and coming up big when the big moments come. He creates those big moments. That’s why he’s our leader.”
The Bruins were up 3-1 at the start of the third. On his first shift, Marchand was called for roughing Martin Pospisil. Yegor Sharangovich tipped MacKenzie Weegar’s shot past Joonas Korpisalo to make it 3-2.
“Obviously a bad penalty to take. Bad time of the game,” said Marchand. “Start of the period usually dictates, in a position like that, how your team’s going to play throughout the period. That’s just a bad penalty to take. Definitely tried to redeem myself. Doesn’t make up for it. But it’s good to have those two points.”
Marchand is still looking for his first five-on-five goal. He had some looks while playing with Elias Lindholm and Justin Brazeau. The No. 2 left wing landed a season-high eight shots on goal. He also rocketed a second-period shot off the post.
Marchand looked more like himself, instinctive and relentless.
“When you’re thinking in this league, it just slows you down,” said Marchand. “You have to play instinctively and be able to play fast. It’s just something we haven’t been doing a great job of. But lately we’ve been better five-on-five.”
To that end, the Bruins’ three five-on-five goals were the most they’ve scored since Oct. 14.
2. Better up-front chemistry. For whatever reason, Lindholm and David Pastrnak were oil and water. So on Thursday, coach Jim Montgomery moved Pavel Zacha from left wing to center on the No. 1 line.
It’s where Zacha played most of last season. He is a natural center, free to use his speed and hockey sense to make plays. In the second period, after Pastrnak got him the puck off the wall, an in-stride Zacha snapped the puck past Dustin Wolf to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead. It was Zacha’s first five-on-five goal of 2024-25.
It may not have been a coincidence that Pastrnak looked sharper than he’s been. The No. 1 right wing assisted on Hampus Lindholm’s first-period goal by feeding the defenseman a slot-line pass. Pastrnak, benched in the third period during his previous TD Garden appearance, played a season-high 23:32.
Tyler Johnson, signed to a one-year, $775,000 contract on Monday, was the No. 1 left wing. Johnson had one shot in 15:45 of play.
“I’m not going to change anything right now,” said Montgomery. “They played really well. I thought that line was our best offensive line.”
Elias Lindholm looked comfortable with Marchand. During overtime, Lindholm forced the Rasmus Andersson turnover that led to Marchand’s winner.
3. Hampus Lindholm made an offensive difference. Lindholm scored his third goal of the year Thursday. It equals his season output from last year. It’s a good bet Lindholm will improve upon that number with the way he’s pushing the pace in the offensive zone.
“I thought Hampus was really skating,” said Montgomery. “I thought he was on his toes tonight. The really good thing, when Hampus is playing really well — that goal is a perfect example — he’s moving his feet in the neutral zone, he’s moving it north, he’s jumping into the offensive zone to support the play. That way, it’s easier for defensemen to be uncovered.”
So far, Lindholm has been the Bruins’ best two-way defenseman. Charlie McAvoy may have more offensive skill. But Lindholm has shown a knack for making himself available for scoring chances in dangerous ice. Pastrnak did the hard work of pulling up on the right side, confusing the Flames in coverage and giving time for Lindholm to jump up. But Lindholm finished it off with a slick forehand-to-backhand maneuver to beat Wolf in the first period.
“I feel really good about my game,” said the second-pair defenseman. “It’s nice to get put out there in situations to succeed. It makes it fun for me. I feel that reward. Obviously getting a goal is always a good feeling.”
(Photo: Bob DeChiara / Imagn Images)
