Following the morning gameday skate at the TD Garden on Thursday, Boston Bruins coach Marco Sturm dropped maybe one of the least surprising lineup decisions he'll make when it comes to his goaltending.
Coming off a four-game road trip that saw the Bruins go 3-0-1 and collect seven out of a possible eight points, which included a 3-2 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars in overtime on Tuesday night that Jeremy Swayman played in, Sturm announced that Michael DiPietro would get the start against the Nashville Predators.
What a night it turned into for a 27-year-old. DiPietro turned back all 28 shots Nashville fired at him for his first career NHL shutout in a 6-0 win on Hockey Fights Cancer Night at TD Garden. It was an extra special win for one reason for Boston's backup netminder.
Bruins goalie Michael DiPietro picks up emotional first career shutout
DiPietro was sharp from the beginning and made some big saves in the first period and early in the second before his teammates were able to pull away for a comfortable win. The win was even more special as DiPietro lost his mother, Becky, to cancer when he was 5 years old. He didn't mince words after the game about what the night meant to him.
“I was thinking about her all day. Her death anniversary is next week, and her birthday is the week after. So, it was a heavy day today,” DiPietro said, per Belle Fraser of BostonBruins.com. “I just wanted to get the win today for her and also for the team. This one, I think, meant a little bit more.”
Sometimes things are just bigger than sports, and for DiPietro, on Thursday night, it was an emotional night for someone who you can do nothing but root for. Acquired from the Vancouver Canucks along with defenseman Jonathan Myrenberg on Oct. 27, 2022, for former Boston prospect Jack Studnicka.
DiPietro has been stuck in the American Hockey League (AHL) since being acquired by the Providence Bruins. However, he has done his time in the minors and made the most of it. He won the Aldege 'Baz' Bastien Award as the AHL's Outstanding Goaltender in 2025 and 2026.
Those two seasons made it easier for Boston general manager Don Sweeney to trade Joonas Korpisalo to the New York Rangers to open a spot for DiPietro to be Swayman's backup. He has taken advantage of the opportunity, and even though it's just three games into his first full NHL season, he has picked up his first career win and shutout, all in less than a week. He capped it off with an emotional win for his late mother. Again, how can you do anything but root for him?
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