On Saturday night, the Boston Bruins took on their second Original Six foe of the season in the Detroit Red Wings. It was their second home game of a three-game homestand, and first coming off an overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
The Bruins, however, flew past the Red Wings on Saturday night, defeating them by a score of 4-1, thanks to a three-point performance from David Pastrnak.
For Pastrnak, it was his 600th NHL game, and he was able to tally a goal on a penalty shot – his third penalty shot goal of his career, and second this season.
Yup, that’s some good stuff. pic.twitter.com/oOufmO5E3L
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 29, 2023
Pastrnak also deposited one into the empty net with just over two minutes to play in the second period on a slow dump in where he claimed he was “just trying to get off the ice”.
Here’s what we can take away from Saturday’s victory.
Takeaway #1 – This offense is picking right where it left off
Last year, with David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron the offense was a potent one, that’s for sure, but this offense is bordering on, if not already, elite. With both retired now, it’s time to look ahead and not behind and clearly Boston is not doing the latter.
Going into the first week of November, the Bruins hold the second-best goal differential in the league with a +14 differential. The only team better is the Vegas Golden Knights, who hold a +15 differential.
Boston is getting goals from all angles (literally) and it’s propelling them to wins throughout against both easy and harder opponents.
Takeaway #2 – Jeremy Swayman is getting the edge in goaltending discussion
Coming off a Vezina Trophy-winning season, you’d think that Linus Ullmark would be the talk of the town coming into this season.
However, Jeremy Swayman has turned heads and made people look his way so far. In four games, Swayman is the only one out of the duo who has recorded a shutout and has not lost a game. He has collected a 4-0 record with a 1.26 GAA, and .957 SV%.
The University of Maine netminder who has long since been touted as the future of goaltending for the Bruins even since before he signed his entry level contract is showing it this year. Whether he takes over fulltime remains to be seen, but just one month in, he has been impressive to say the least.
Takeaway #3 – Boston made it look easy this time against Detroit
Last season, Boston was 2-1 against Detroit, and its largest margin of victory was 5-1. Yes, it was early in the season like this season, but the Bruins also played them later in the season and it didn’t go as well.
The first one was a tight 3-2 victory, and the second was a 5-3 loss. Not pretty.
Yes, the victory was a smaller margin this time around to open the season series, but also came at a critical time where they needed a win against a divisional opponent to prove that it wasn’t a fluke to start the season.
What’s next for the Bruins?
Boston’s next game is tonight when they take on the Florida Panthers for the first time since the Cats dismissed the Bruins from the playoffs back in April.
Puck drop from the TD Garden is at 7:00 p.m.