After going 3-0-1 on an early early-season West Coast trip that saw them collect seven out of a possible eight points, the Boston Bruins came home for two games against the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks.
Boston avoided a letdown after a long road trip with a 6-0 win over the Predators on Thursday night. Forty-eight hours later, they completed a 10-day season sweep of the Sharks with a four-goal third-period explosion in a 6-4 victory. Now the Black and Gold will hit the road for two games against the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, then will visit former coach Jim Montgomery and the St. Louis Blues. Here are four winners and one loser from the short two-game homestand for Marco Sturm's club.
Winner: Casey Mittlestadt
You always want to get off to a good start in games, and that was the case for the Bruins in both games. Both times, Casey Mittlestadt scored both goals. Against Nashville, he sniped a wrist shot from the circle for a 1-0 lead off a pass from David Pastrnak. Then against San Jose, he poked home a loose puck in the crease. So far, Mittlestadt has been very good this season. We'll see if he can keep it up.
Loser: Nashville Predators
So, if there was ever a time for a team to steal a road win, it was last Thursday night at the TD Garden. The Bruins were coming off a lengthy road trip and playing their first home game in nearly two weeks. Instead of taking advantage of a team coming off a long road trip and overtime loss 48 hours before against the Dallas Stars, they rolled over and laid an egg in a 6-0 loss. Head coach Andrew Brunette was less than thrilled.
Winner: David Pastrnak
When a team comes home off a road trip, they need their top players to step up and set the tone. Captain David Pastrnak did that in both games. Against the Predators, he had two goals and two assists, including redirecting a shot in the second period. Against San Jose, he was whistled for a third-period penalty, but after his teammates killed it off, he stepped out of the penalty box and scored on a wrist shot on a 3-on-2 rush. Timely goals.
Winner: Charlie McAvoy
Since coming back into the lineup following his six-game suspension, Charlie McAvoy has been a big-time addition. In fact, the Black and Gold have not lost in regulation since McAvoy returned. Against Nashville, he picked up an assist on four of the six Boston goals. He had a nice shot-pass to Elias Lindholm on the power play in the first period for a 2-0 lead, then he had an assist when Pastrnak tipped his shot home in the second period.
Winner: Michael DiPietro
How can you not root for Michael DiPietro? He picked up his first career win on the trip against the Anaheim Ducks; then six nights later, he got the start against Nashville on Hockey Fights Cancer Night, and he picked up his first career shutout with 28 saves. He revealed after the game that he lost his mother to cancer at a young age. What a story.
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