Last week, the Boston Bruins found themselves getting back on the right track to success. They went 2-0-1 last week, earning five very needed points. Those five points helped the Black and Gold get into a three-way tie for second place in the Atlantic Division (with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings). Currently, the Bruins are edging out the Red Wings for the final Division playoff spot.
The Bruins played to their strengths often, but not enough to lock up any game in regulation. All three games ended up needing more than the standard sixty minutes. They got edged out by the Maple Leafs, but found a way to beat the Buffalo Sabres twice. One of the Bruins even earned himself a footnote in the Black and Gold history books in the process.
Here are Causeway Crowd’s Three Stars of the Week.
3- Ryan Spooner
Ryan Spooner was pretty busy for the Bruins last week. He was over 50% in the face off circle, had eleven shots on goal, and still remains perfect in the shootout this season. The 24-year old forward has finally shaken off the ups and downs and has become a consistent center for the Black and Gold.
From Matt Pueschel: Ryan Spooner, who returned to center the Bruins’ third line and stabilized the lineup in the process. He banged in his own rebound hustling in front of the net for his 11th goal against the Sabres Thursday and then won the game with the only goal in the shootout. He’s now 3 for 3 on the season, helping the B’s improve to 4-1 in the shootout from a dismal 4-10 last year. Spooner also had 11 shots over the week’s three games and was solid on face-offs, while generating consistent scoring chances with his speed.
The Bruins 19-year old phenom has been looking good since his rehab stint in the AHL. He had an assist on Saturday, and came close to getting a goal of his own in the home game against the Sabres. He’s coming around to the style of play that Claude Julien wants from him, and his confidence has surely increased since World Juniors.
From Matt: David Pastrnak, who put up three assists while creating buzz around the net with his quickness and creativity and nearly netting a few goals of his own. He forced a key turnover and fed Loui Ericksson with a nice fake shot/pass for an easy tap-in goal in the B’s 2-1 overtime win against Buffalo Saturday night and is providing the David Krejci line with a consistent scoring threat as he has worked his way back from injury.
From Brandon: With three points in three games, David Pastrnak showed the offensive potential that the Bruins know he is capable of. While David Pastrnak my not be finishing games due to coach Claude Julien’s desire to finish games with more defensively-accountable players, Pastrnak is certainly making a case for himself to earn more consistent ice time late in games.
Brad Marchand earned himself another sentence in the history book of the Boston Bruins. In the first time in the 92-year history of the franchise, a Boston Bruins player was awarded a penalty shot in overtime. The Bruins just happened to get lucky that the ref was feeling generous, and that the player that was awarded it has the hottest hands on the team right now. Marchand has put away (for the most part) his poor choices, and has focused on winning games for Boston. Nine goals in nine games. If that’s not worthy of top billing, I’m not sure what is.
From Brandon: Four goals in one week (across three games). Whether it be on in regulation, in overtime, or even on a penalty shot, Brad Marchand has come through in the clutch for the Bruins as of late. With nine goals in his last nine games as well as 10 points in his last 10 games, it’s no wonder that Brad Marchand tops the Bruins for first star of the week honors.
From Matt: First star of the week easily goes to Brad Marchand, who had four goals in the Bruins’ three games – including two in mighty fashion. He had the third period game-tying goal in the B’s 3-2 shootout win in Buffalo Thursday night with a highlight reel end to end rush that included a between the legs move by a defender and a backhand finish past the goaltender, and then capped the week off with a beautiful 2-1 game-winning penalty shot goal against the Sabres in Boston Saturday after stealing a pass in overtime and driving in alone to draw the penalty. He had two goals earlier in the week in the Bruins’ lone loss, 4-3 in OT to Toronto.