With the Boston Bruins looking to improve to 2-0-0 on home ice Saturday against the Nashville Predators, they did just that, winning by a 3-2 score in a close game throughout. The penalty kill did a particularly strong job, killing off 14 minutes of penalties without allowing a goal.
There are plenty of players to thank for the win, including the penalty killers. Here are three studs and one dud from the win over the Predators Saturday night.
Stud: David Pastrnak
After starting his season with two goals against the Chicago Blackhawks, David Pastrnak had another good night against Nashville on Saturday. He had an assist on James van Riemsdyk’s game winning goal in the third period and also scored a goal on a penalty shot in the second period, the second penalty shot goal of his career.
Serving up a spaghetti snipe 🍝 pic.twitter.com/zvGYFUMLGh
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 15, 2023
Stud: James van Riemsdyk
In his second game with the team after being signed over the summer, van Riemsdyk had himself a night. He scored two goals, including the game winner in this one.
His first goal of the night came almost by accident, sending a puck off Juuse Saros and into the back of the net in the first period. His second goal was a deflection on a Charlie McAvoy one-timer to make it 3-2 Bruins. Both of them came on the power play as well, a good sign for van Riemsdyk and the team.
Stud: Jeremy Swayman
Making his first start of the season, Jeremy Swayman stood tall in net for the Bruins. He allowed one more goal than his batterymate Linus Ullmark did against Chicago, but he made some big saves. On the night, he stopped 33 of the 35 shots he saw, starting his season on the right foot.
Dud: Jakub Lauko
Making the opening night roster for the second year in a row, Lauko didn’t have the best game in the win. He had a -2 rating, four penalty minutes, one shot, and just 6:25 of ice time. It’s just one of those clunkers of a game, it happens from time to time. Hopefully Lauko comes back stronger against San Jose on Thursday.