We all knew the Boston Bruins’ perfect home record would end at some point. It’s ok; you can admit it. 41-0 on TD Garden Ice was a pipe dream, and the Bruins finally picked up their first home loss on Monday night at the hands of Bruce Cassidy and the Vegas Golden Knights.
Before I get into anything on the game, I would be remiss, not to mention, you know, Cassidy coming back. After being fired following the first round of the playoffs last season, he returned to TD Garden as coach of the Golden Knights. He received a video tribute and a loud ovation, causing him to tear up.
A standing ovation for Bruce Cassidy in his return to Boston. pic.twitter.com/Zm7CJLYBum
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 6, 2022
"“It’s a really nice gesture by the Bruins’ organization,” said Cassidy on the tribute. I appreciate it. I said all along that I have a tremendous amount of respect for them. I’m thankful they did it.”"
Ok, now onto the game. The first period went very poorly for the Bruins and very well for Cassidy and his Golden Knights. Paul Cotter got it going instantaneously, making it 1-0 just 1:36 into the game. Jonathan Marchessault scored unassisted later in the period, and it was 2-0 Vegas heading to the dressing room after 20 minutes.
The second period didn’t start very well either. Not even a minute into the period, it was already 3-0, thanks to Cotter’s second goal of the night. After that, Boston’s big guns started engineering a comeback. Brad Marchand was first, cutting the deficit to 3-1 at the 13:46 mark of the second. David Pastrnak followed with 25 seconds left in the period, making it 3-2 heading into the third period.
Given a power play early in the third, Taylor Hall sent TD Garden into bedlam with the game-tying goal, his ninth goal of the season 3:08 into the final period. No more goals came about despite some crazy end-to-ends and edge-of-your-seat chances that made Jack Edwards seemingly go insane.
No let up from 71. pic.twitter.com/h9TwwUIG0k
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 6, 2022
After no goals came about in five minutes of overtime, it was on to the shootout, thanks mainly to Logan Thompson standing on his head for the Golden Knights. None of Marchand, Pastrnak, Hall, Jake DeBrusk, or Charlie Coyle could convert for Boston, with Jeremy Swayman matching all the way, until former Bruin Reilly Smith ended it with a fifth-round goal.
As for the goaltending, I already mentioned Thompson standing on his head. He saved 40 of the 43 shots the Bruins had to keep Vegas alive all night long and eventually get the win. Swayman got the starting nod for the Bruins and had a 21-save night in the loss.
Current Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said the following after the game:
"“I am really proud of the group. I mean, this is a great group of players to coach. They never quit, they never stop playing, they never stop believing. Down 3-0, we did not start on time. That’s unfortunate. We got beat through the middle of the ice too often tonight – that usually does not happen to us.Reminded me of the game in Ottawa, but this time we found a way to get back in the game, get a point. Their goalie played really well, especially in the second and third period. Unfortunate the streak came to an end but we all knew it was going to come to an end at some point.”"
The Bruins’ next test is a big one, traveling to face the Colorado Avalanche on the road on Wednesday night, wrapping a quick set against them that started on Saturday night in Boston. Linus Ullmark is expected to start in goal.