On Monday night, the Boston Bruins were looking to exact revenge on the very team that bounced them from the playoffs in the first round of the playoffs.
It took them taking them to overtime, but the Bruins were able to do it – giving the Panthers a taste of their own medicine, defeating them 3-2 in overtime on Monday night at the TD Garden in Boston.
Boston won courtesy of an overtime winner off the stick of Pavel Zacha that beat Florida goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky blocker side.
PAVS FOR TWO POINTS. pic.twitter.com/2T2s96492i
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 31, 2023
The other two goals were scored by Brad Marchand, and Charlie McAvoy. Netminder Linus Ullmark finished with 35 saves.
With the win, the Bruins improved their record to 8-0-1 and increased their point streak to nine games – the highest run in team history.
Here’s what we can take away from the game.
Takeaway #1 – It’s not all about David Pastrnak
This win last night proves that it’s not all about David Pastrnak. Pastrnak has been Boston’s leading scorer throughout the season, but last night’s game shows that it’s not all about him and that they have plenty of depth in scoring.
Sure, Marchand scored and that wasn’t exactly anything new, but the goal from McAvoy was a welcome surprise from a offensive-minded defenseman.
Pastrnak may be a big piece of this offense, but the fact that they were able to win a game without him – albeit in overtime – says a lot about how this team is built this year.
Takeaway #2 – This team is capable of comebacks, not just collapses
When the Bruins fell to the Ducks on Thursday last week, the talk was about how they collapsed and were unable to hold a two-goal lead after scoring three unanswered goals.
Instead, this week, we’re talking about a team that was down 2-1 and came back and defeated perhaps one of their biggest foes 3-2 in overtime. Maybe not as big as Montreal, but definitely a team that they don’t want to face – especially after last year’s playoff run.
Scoring may be at a premium at this time, but it’s early in the year, and it’s definitely not something to read into.
Takeaway #3 – Linus Ullmark isn’t all bad
Now, while I talked yesterday about how Jeremy Swayman was the talk of town in terms of goaltending, I have to admit Linus Ullmark isn’t too far off the mark.
In last night’s game, Ullmark faced 37 shots, and he stopped 35 of them. Still a pretty good marker for someone who is playing like he’s a backup in terms of the numbers, but not in terms of playing time.
Sure Swayman still has the upper hand when it comes to winning more, but Ullmark’s 35 save performance puts him right back in the conversation. Safe to say it’s good they’re both here.
What’s next for the Bruins?
The Bruins look to pick up their ninth win and points no. 18 and no. 19 when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, November 2. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.