Boston Bruins: 3 Stars of the Week
It was an up and down week for the Boston Bruins. On Monday, they were frustrated by New York Islanders’ goalie Semyon Varlamov who turned back all 26 Boston shots in a 1-0 Isles victory.
Thursday night in the Bruins home opener that the TD Garden, the Bruins entered the third period still searching for their first 5-on-5 goal of the season after failing to find the back of the net in their 11 periods of the seasons.
Boston unleashed 11 periods of frustration on the Philadelphia Flyers and goalie Carter Hart by blitzing the visitors with 22 shots on net in the final 20 minutes and scoring four goals in what turned out to a be 5-4 shootout victory of their East Division foes.
Saturday night, the Bruins completed the two-game sweep over the Flyers with a convincing 6-1 victory as they scored early and often against Hart. As the Bruins turn the page to a new week, let’s see who are the three stars of the week for the Black and Gold.
1. Patrice Bergeron
The new captain is settling nicely into his new role. It was a frustrating first three games, but Bergy has found the confines of the TD Garden to his liking after being away for 10 months.
After recording an assist in Thursday’s 5-4 shootout win over the Flyers, Bergy opened the scoring in Saturday’s 6-1 victory over Philly with a power play goal in the first period. In the third period, he set up Brad Marchand for a goal and then capped the scoring with 6:27 left in the game with his second power play goal of the night.
In the first two games at home, Bergeron has been was a shooting machine on the net and Hart. In the first game, Bergeron had eight shots on goal, and then Saturday night, he fired five more on the net, with two finding the back of the net.
2. Brad Marchand
Marchand played a role in the Bruins’ offense out break against the Flyers. After being kept off the scoresheet by Varlamov, who stopped all five of his shots Marchand’s chances Monday night, he unleashed his frustration at home on Hart.
Thursday night, Marchand set up Brandon Carlo for the go-ahead goal in the third period to give the Bruins a 4-3 lead. Marchand was held to two shots on net, but he spent 3:48 killing penalties and limiting Philadelphia to just two goals on five power play opportunities.
Saturday night, he scored two goals, assisted on one of Bergeron’s third-period power play goal and had five shots on net. His time-on-ice was down to 16:49 in the game Saturday night on 20 shifts and he was on the ice for just 44 seconds of the four minutes the Bruins were shorthanded.
He spent much of the night on the power play, as he had a 2:36 time-on-ice on the man advantage, but he had a hand in all three of the power play goals scored on Hart in four chances. Aside from his production, Marchy was his usual pest and frustrated the Flyers in both games.
3. Nick Ritchie
Hard to believe it, but one of the best Bruins early in the season has been Ritchie. On Monday, he recorded a team-high six shots on net against Varlamov on Long Island, but like his teammates, he was not able to solve the Russian-born goalie.
Thursday night, Ritchie scored his second power play goal of the season when he stuffed home a pass from Patrice Bergeron in the third period by Hart to tie the game at 3-3. Saturday night, Ritchie added two assists, one on Bergeron’s first-period power play goal and then on a third-period power play marker from Marchand.
dark. Next. Bruins Report Card: Grading the Offense vs. Philly
After struggling big time in his time with the Bruins following last season’s trade with the Anaheim Ducks both in the regular season and in the playoffs, Ritchie has been a pleasant surprise early on this season.