A four-game road trip turned into a three-game trip for the Boston Bruins after today’s game with the Buffalo Sabres was postponed as the Bruins put four more players into the league’s COVID-19 protocols. Thursday night, Sean Kuraly was the first Boston player put on the list.
Despite having today’s game postponed, the road trip could be considered a success for the Black and Gold as they won the final two games after dropping the first one. Let’s take a look back at the week that was for the Bruins.
Monday at Pittsburgh Penguins
Things started out well for the Bruins’ but ended poorly. Matt Grzelcyk opened the scoring with a power play goal, but that would be it for the B’s as the Pens scored the final four goals for a 4-1 victory.
Pittsburgh’s two goals in the first period, scored by Evan Rodrigues and Sidney Crosby, following Grzelcyk’s goal were of the soft variety against Jaroslav Halak, but Boston had trouble solving Pens goalie Tristian Jarry, who turned back 42 of the 43 shots the Bruins had. Another night, another goalie that stones and the B’s.
Tuesday at Pittsburgh Penguins
In a back-to-back set on a rare back-to-back night, the Bruins got tremendous goaltending from rookie Dan Vladar, who made 34 saves, in his first career NHL start in a 2-1 Boston victory.
For the second straight game, the Bruins opened the scoring in the opening period on the power play when David Pastrnak got behind the Pens defense and beat Casey DeSmith between the pads. Rookie Trent Frederic scored his fourth goal of the season seven minutes into the third period to break a 1-1 tie and secure the two points for Boston.
Thursday at Buffalo Sabres
For the first time since Feb. 11 and 13, the Bruins won their second consecutive game with a 4-1 win against the last-place Sabres.
Boston got goals from Greg McKegg, Jake DeBrusk, Craig Smith, and Pastrnak to back the 23-save effort of Halak. David Krejci collected three assists and his 700th career point as a Bruin in the game. The only shot to beat Halak was a wrist shot from Kyle Okposo in the second period with Buffalo shorthanded when he shot deflected off the stick of Grzelcyk and under the crossbar.
Now the Bruins will sit and wait to see how long they will in quarantine. Hopefully no more players or personal have to be placed on the league protocols list and they can resume activities by Wednesday. Fingers crossed.