Entering Sunday night’s outdoor game at Lake Tahoe, Nev. against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Boston Bruins knew that they would be shorthanded.
Defensemen Matt Grzelcyk, Jakub Zboril, and second-line center David Krejci were left behind in Boston injured. Then add a maintenance day for blueliner Kevan Miller and you can see why it could have been a possibility that the Black and Gold would struggle.
Sure, the Bruins first line was reunited, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak, and the trio did what they usually do, supply offense. Pastrnak had his second hat trick this season against the Flyers in a 7-3 Boston victory, but lost in the play of the top line is the contributions Boston got from some of their younger players.
Bruins get production and solid minutes from some of their youngster.
Defensemen Urho Vaakanainen made his season debut for the Bruins and what a season debut it was for the 22-year-old, who picked up an assist for his first career point. The 18th overall pick in the 2017 Entry Draft, Vaakanainen led the Bruins with 32 shifts and was third in time-on-ice at 23:28. With the Bruins missing some of their penalty-killing defensemen, he spent time in the PK for coach Bruce Cassidy.
He'll remember this one.@UVaakanainen gets the secondary assist on @pastrnak96's second of the night for his first career point!#NHLBruins | #NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/hvYZpcYGeg
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 22, 2021
Overall, it was an impressive first showing for Vaakanainen. He looked like he belonged as he was steady all night, not making any glaring mistakes, good on the puck and body all night.
Trent Fredric, who has played in all 16 games this season, scored his first NHL goal in the second period during a three-goal Bruins barrage in 99 seconds to break open a 3-2 game.
All smiles.#NHLBruins | #NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/p3WjFZqLRf
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 22, 2021
He took a pass from John Moore and his wrist shot from the right circle found its way past Philadelphia goalie Carter Hart for a 5-2 lead.
When Krejci went down with an injury in last Thursday’s loss to the New Jersey Devils, there were plenty of options for Cassidy. The obvious move was to slide Charlie Coyle to the second-line center spot, but as far as the bottom-six went, there were many choices.
Rookie Jack Studnicka was called up from the Providence Bruins prior to Boston departing west for Nevada. Cassidy, who had been using Studnicka as a wing to begin the season before he was injured, slid him to the third-line center spot and he quietly had a good night at his natural position.
He recorded an assist in the third period when he stopped a Flyers clearing attempt at the blue line and fed a pass from Pastrnak who one-timed home a slap shot to complete his hat trick. Studnicka finished with two shots on net, a plus-1, and he went 5-for-10 in faceoffs.
The Bruins broke a two-game losing streak with a victory outside against Philadelphia and their younger players played a part in Boston collecting its 11th win of the shortened season.