Recap: Bruins extend winning streak to 3 with win over Devils

The year 2022 has been kind to the Boston Bruins and it continued on Tuesday night, with the Bruins defeating the New Jersey Devils 5-3 at the Garden.

Five different Bruins potted goals and Linus Ullmark made 23 saves as the Bruins improved to 17-10-2.

1st period

The Bruins got on the board early in this one, with Curtis Lazar tallying his third goal of the season less than three minutes into the contest.

Certainly one that Mackenzie Blackwood would want that (a common theme throughout the night) as he lets a fairly weak shot get through his legs.

The Bruins pressured the Devils, but just the Lazar goal in the first.

2nd period

Less than a minute into the period and the Devils got on the board early with a Nathan Bastian breakaway.

It’s a set face-off play where David Pastrnak comes up high to have three along the blue line, but the pass from Brandon Carlo is too slow and Bastian reads it perfectly.

The tie game would last just 20 seconds, as Oskar Steen potted his first NHL goal, one that he surely wouldn’t forget.

I’ve genuinely never seen a goal like that and I’m honestly not sure what the rule is on pucks on top of the net. But the whistle wasn’t blown and the puck was in the net.

The Bruins’ lead lasted less than two minutes with Tomas Tatar putting in a loose puck in front.

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1478536409615151108

Charlie McAvoy is good, but he can’t cover two Devils at once. While he’s got Jesper Bratt tied up, it’s Tatar behind him that backhands the puck past Ullmark.

The weird goals continued for Boston. At about the halfway part of the period, Trent Fredric threw a puck on net from behind the goal line, it banked off Blackwood and in.

Another one Blackwood would want back. A guy that in the past as killed the Bruins is the main reason why they’re ahead.

Bruins took a 3-2 lead into the final 20.

3rd period

The Bruins had a power play in the third and had some decent opportunities. But it was New Jersey that took advantage with Damon Severson coming right out of the box and getting a breakaway.

2/2 on breakaway on the night for the Devils. Exactly how you plan it with your player coming out of the penalty box and the game was tied again.

Pastrnak entered Tuesday’s game pointless in 2022 and not scoring a goal since Nov. 30. Well he picked a great time to break that scoreless streak.

Just under six minutes left and a great drive by Pasta to the net, stuck with it after the initial stop and got the second attempt past Blackwood.

Boston added a late goal with 23 seconds left when Carlo just threw a puck on net and it found its way past the Devils’ tender.

Puck luck certainly on Boston’s side in this one. Final score, 5-3.

Notes

• It’s pretty fun when the Bruins have secondary scoring, isn’t it? Bruce Cassidy said it perfectly after the game: “Our support people were excellent and one of our tops guys comes through when you need him. That’s a good formula.”
• So THIS is what it’s like to play a game with the puck luck all on one side? Fells good to be the beneficiary of it for once
• The discussion on Oskar Steen has picked up as of late and he comes out and scores his first NHL goal. Four points in five games this season. He’s making it impossible to keep him out of the lineup
• David Pastrnak needed that one. Badly. He’s looked a bit lost at times out there and he’s a big part of how far this team is going to go. He took over that play and created an opportunity all himself, starting from creating the turnover in the D-zone to driving the ent and finishing his own second chance. That’s the Pasta we’re used to
• Two games, two goals for Trent Frederic. The only member of the bruins with multiple goals in 2022
• Speaking on that, 15 goals, 14 different goal scorers in the last three games. And Brad Marchand isn’t even one of them
• Just the second time this season the Bruins have won three in a row.
• More shootouts at Bruins practice for Ullmark maybe? Outside of the two breakaways, he was solid again
• EXTREMELY tough night for Mackenzie Blackwood. At least three soft goals on his part. He’s going through a funk right now for NJ
• Jack Hughes is pretty fun to watch, even if it’s against your team. He’s so skilled and can create so much in the offensive zone

Winning streak – alive. Perfect record in 2022 – alive.

Boston has a chance to win four straight games on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild, a feat it hasn’t accomplished yet this season. The Wild are on a skid right now and starter Cam Talbot won’t be available.

The new year is treated the Bruins well.