St. Patrice returns as the Boston Bruins bully the Vancouver Canucks

It was party time on Causeway Street last night, as the Boston Bruins bullied the 2011 Stanley Cup runner up Vancouver Canucks in a 6-3 victory at the TD Garden on Hockey Fights Cancer night.

Boy, that sure was fun! After a stretch of mostly lackluster play since their opener against Nashville, the Boston Bruins made a statement with last night’s win. With the return of the best two-way center in the NHL in Patrice Bergeron, and the return of veteran forward David Backes, the team couldn’t help but stay out of the back of the net. Here are some takeaways from Thursday night’s action.

Saint Patrice

Playing in his 900th NHL game, center Patrice Bergeron came back from a lower body injury in a huge fashion. According to Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe, in the four goal first period, Bergeron was on the ice for 8:19 with two assists and four shots. For a team that has been lackluster offensively this season, his return is clearly a huge boost.

However, it’s not all roses on the Bergeron front. This answer to Joe Haggerty’s question sounds awfully reminiscent of last season.  If you recall, Bergeron played with a sports hernia, an injury that required surgery this offseason. The Bruins are off today, so look for #37 to possibly be a non-participant in practice for maintenance purposes.

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The Forward of Notre Dame

If you watched even a few minutes in the first or second period, you bore witness to an incredible display of skill from one of the best young skaters in the league. Forward Anders Bjork tallied two goals last night, featuring a hustle play with a tip to the back of the net and an absolute bomb of a slapshot off the rush.

It’s worth noting that I jumped up from my couch and screamed when he blasted that second one home. With Bjork and Charlie McAvoy on the same ice this year, expect the kids to be alright once the season really gets going.  Bjork, McAvoy, and fellow rookie Jake DeBrusk are all special talents, and will make a mark on the league quickly.  Not to further discuss the importance of Bergeron, but Bjork looked like a completely different player with him as a linemate.

Pasta, Pasta, Pasta

Don’t you hate when a professional athlete makes something look so easy? Czech forward David Pastrnak showed us every little bit of that 6 year, $40 million skill last night on a goal-of-the-year candidate.  Pastrnak made the Canucks’ defense, including long-time NHL blueliner Michael Del Zotto, look like Junior B level hockey players.

From easy coasting, to a toe drag, to five hole. Coast to coast, just like that. Go on Pasta, we’re not worthy. Clearly he was worth all of the money that he signed for this offseason. With Bergeron’s return, if Pastrnak can stay hot, the Bruins team that looked offensively feeble to start the season might be a thing of the past.

Brad “Twitter Fingers” Marchand

What did we do to deserve this guy? Twitter banter aside, forward Brad Marchand looked right at home with Bergeron back on his line. Marchand chipped in offensively in the stellar goal party with a rip passed goalie Anders Nilsson. Post-game, he had this to say about Backes and Bergeron coming back:

With all of the young guns firing away, expect a little less pressure on backup goalie Anton Khudobin, who is now the number one goaltender following a concussion to starter goalie Tuukka Rask.  With Tuukka’s injury absence being “indefinite,” the team will have to rally around Dobby if they want to continue the momentum.

Next: Cassidy Shuffles Defense

The Road Ahead

The boys in the Spoked-B are back in action Saturday night, against Boston University grad and Massachusetts’s own Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres. Watch for Patrice Bergeron’s status as game time approaches.  He may be a game time decision again based upon the response of his lower body injury.