Last week, the Boston Bruins won three games, mainly thanks to their top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak. While the top line produced to help the Bruins rally for each victory, Boston continues to search for secondary scoring.
Wednesday night, the Bruins returned from a five-day break after their games last weekend were postponed because the Buffalo Sabres placed their coach and a number of players on the league’s COVID-19 protocol list.
Trailing 1-0 in the second period, the Bruins were struggling to generate shots on net and still look to find some offense. Fortunately for them, they got some and got some from players that normally don’t find the back of the net to battle their way back for their fourth straight victory.
Wagner gets the Bruins on the board.
In last Friday’s 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, Chris Wagner worked his way into coach Bruce Cassidy’s doghouse. He took two penalties in the game, the first one cost the Bruins a power play, and the second cost the Bruins’ the game’s first goal.
Wagner punched Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk well behind the play at the end of the second period, drawing a roughing penalty. Philly capitalized o the man advantage early in the third period when van Riemsdyk tipped home a shot for a 1-0 lead.
Wednesday night, Wagner was killing a Boston penalty in the second period with the Bruins down a goal and made a great individual effort to even the score. Wagner poked the puck away from Rangers forward Artemi Panarin at the Boston blue line and broke in alone to beat New York goalie Alexander Georgiev to tie the game with the Bruins third shorthanded goal of the season.
Bjork gives the Bruins the lead in the third period.
It has been an up and down season for Anders Bjork. He has played on just about every line and just can’t seem to find a home. On the third line with Charlie Coyle and Jake DeBrusk Wednesday night, Bjork scored his first goal of the season midway through the third period.
DeBrusk was stationed behind the Rangers net with the puck, slid a pass to Bjork at the side of the net, and he was able to slide the puck between Georhiev’s legs for a 2-1 lead.
The Rangers tied the game two and a half minutes later, but the Bruins were able to win the game 36 seconds into overtime on a Marchand goal. With the win, the Bruins take over the sole position of first place in the East Division and they were able to do it in big part because of a pair of goals from two unlikely players.