The Boston Bruins played the first out of a four-game road trip on Friday night in Columbus against the Blue Jackets for the second game of a back-to-back. Boston went into the game rolling and looking to keep a four-game winning streak intact to stay atop the NHL standings. Linus Ullmark had the first game off but was in net for the second game after winning all of his starts this season.
The Bruins were in control for most of the game. Matt Grzelcyk started the scoring halfway through the first period to pick up his first goal of the season. Charlie Coyle forced a turnover in the defensive end and squeaked in a shorthanded goal at the start of the second period to make the score 2-0. Jake DeBrusk forced a turnover high in the defensive zone and sniped a shot over the goalie’s shoulder to score a breakaway goal to make it a 3-0 game in the last five minutes of the second. Then Patrice Bergeron sends a breakout pass to David Pastrnak for the Bruins 4th goal of the game and his 7th goal this year in the last minute of the second. The Bruins let off the gas a little in the third but was able to keep the scoreboard locked at 4-0.
Linus Ullmark picked up right where he left off shutting out the Blue Jackets in a 30-save performance. Ullmark continues his win streak which currently stands at 5 games and improves his save percentage to .936 with a 2.01 GA. Ullmark has been one of many bright spots at the start of the Bruins season, he is consistently been there when the Bruins have needed him. Good goaltending is a vital part of the team’s success and it seems like the Bruins have found a good pair of quality backstops.
The offense has been playing with a really aggressive pace and it is resulting in a lot of good scoring chances. Boston scored 4 different goal scorers Friday night. Boston has 17 players with at least one goal. David Pastrnak leads the team with 7. Tonight’s short-handed goal by Charlie Coyle was Boston’s first of the season. The powerplay looks like it might be finding some ways to get the puck in the net. It seems like the team as a whole has really elevated their game with the change of pace from a new coach. Boston is currently 1st in the league and looking to stay that way. They have been playing with a strictly business pace.
The Bruins travel to Pittsburgh for a matchup with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. Keep an eye out for David Krejci Injury news, Jim Montgomery said that Krejci is considered day-to-day and that the team will know more about the severity of his injury tomorrow.