Recap: Marchand scores twice in Bruins’ 5-2 win over Devils

After blowing a 3-2 lead in the third period two nights prior, the Boston Bruins bounced back with a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

In the matinee action, all three members of the first line had two points as Brad Marchand scored twice, Patrice Bergeron had a goal and an assist and David Pastrnak collected two assists in the victory to move the Bruins to 7-5-0.

Erik Haula scored his first as a Bruin and Jake DeBrusk added an empty-netter. Charlie McAvoy had three assists as Jeremy Swayman made 27 saves.

1st period

Having been snakebitten all year to start, Haula finally found the back of the net off the rush to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead late in the first.

Not your typical set up for a 3 on 2, but it worked. Haula picked up the rebound and beat Jonathan Bernier five-hole for his first of the season.

2nd period

The top power play unit continues to hum, as Marchand was able to put a shot on net through traffic that beat Bernier.

Marchand’s currently on a six-game point streak with his season total now up to 18 in 12 games.

However, the trend continues of allowing goals right away after scoring them. Just 28 seconds later, rookie Dawson Mercer got the Devils on the board.

Bad neutral zone turnover by Curtis Lazar leads the odd man rush the other way and Tomas Nosek fails to pick up Mercer as the third man in. Credit to Jesper Bratt and Andreas Johnsson for a well-executed passing play, but Nosek has to be better on the back check.

The 2-1 game lasted just two minutes as Marchand potted his second of the game to give the Bruins another two-goal lead.

A great stop on one end by Swayman and the Bruins come back the other way and capitalize. Marchand makes a nice feed to Pastrnak that I think he intended for Bergeron. But nonetheless, Pastrnak gets it, puts it on net and Marchand crashes in for the rebound.

It looked the Bruins would be taking a two-goal lead into the final period, but alas, the Devils had other ideas.

Boston fails to get the puck out multiple times, it comes out in the slot to Mercer who makes a really heads up play to slide it to Bratt back door for the one-timer. Only 36 seconds left in the period and suddenly it’s a 3-2 game heading into the final intermission.

3rd period

The Bruins were able to double up the lead agains thanks to Bergeron cleaning up a loose puck in the crease halfway through the third.

Bergeron is on a five-game point streak with 10 points (six goals) in that span. And people said age was catching up to him.

The Bruins’ defense did not crumble this time in the final 20! DeBrusk added an empty-net goal and the Bruins walked away with the 5-2 win.

Notes:

• The first line is absolutely buzzing right now. I mentioned the point streaks for Bergeron and Marchand but Pastrnak has a nice little four-game point streak going with multi-point efforts in the last three. They are the most dangerous line in hockey
• I’m sorry is that … secondary scoring???? Bruins finally get some goals out of a line that is not the first with Haula’s opening tally. Hopefully this is not a one-and-done type ordeal with both Haula and the depth scoring
• Three assists for McAvoy, six blocked shots and he’s looking better and better. Very much worth the extension
• Swayman again looked really good in net. Both goalies have played solid and I expect the rotation to continue
• Anton Blidh stood out today. Collected his first of the season on the Haula goal, added three blocked shots and got bumped up to the third line by the second period. Not sure who will be the odd man out tomorrow with Oskar Steen sliding in, but based on today, it shouldn’t be Blidh
• That said, the man he replaced? DeBrusk, who despite the goal, did not impress today. Couple of bad games by 74. He’s certainly not the only one struggling in the bottom-six, but the inconsistency out of him is frustrating
• For New Jersey, they have a potential stud in Dawson Mercer. Fifth goal of the season for the rookie and he’s up to 10 points. Really like his game

Boston has a quick turnaround with a game against the Montreal Canadiens tomorrow. They welcome their rival, who currently sit at 4-10-2. I don’t care that it’s on a back-to-back, take care of business tomorrow against an inferior team.