JJ Peterka fitting in just fine with the Bruins

One of the major questions this offseason was just how well JJ Peterka would fit in with the Bruins.

Well, he answered that question in the season’s first game.

Peterka scored a beaut of a goal to open up a two-goal lead in the Bruins’ 3-0 win over the New York Rangers on Tuesday night. The goal was part of a three-goal assault that buried the Blueshirts in a little over a minute.

And that was a much-needed goal.

Peterka then followed up his Opening Night performance with late-game heroics on Friday, scoring the OT winner in Boston's comeback win over the Winnipeg Jets. That's two goals in two games, showing that he's really what the Bruins expected he would be from the get-go.

There’s so much to be said about newcomers scoring right away. It helps incoming stars get an 800-pound gorilla off their backs, allowing them to settle in right away.

The last thing a player like Peterka needs is to go multiple games without scoring, potentially trashing his confidence.

Thankfully, that’s not the case with Peterka. Getting on the scoresheet early in the season is a major sign that he’s fitting in just fine. And it’s the sort of situation that could set the tone for a highly successful season.

Bruins expecting big things from Peterka

It should have been no surprise why the Bruins targeted Peterka this past offseason. Beyond the evident German connection with head coach Marco Sturm, Peterka was the sort of player that just didn’t fit in well in Utah.

It’s actually been a tough go for the 24-year-old. He fled Buffalo amid discontent over the team’s direction a couple of seasons ago. The idea was that moving to the Mammoth would help the former second-round pick rekindle his game in a new environment.

Alas, that wasn’t really the case.

The Mammoth were willing to take the Bruins’ two first-round picks and call it a day with Peterka. And it led to another seemingly fresh start.

But this wasn’t any ordinary fresh start. Peterka landed in the type of environment which could be truly conducive to his success. A great coach like Sturm and an elite cast of characters like David Pastrnak have been highly influential.

And that’s why the Bruins are expecting big things from Peterka. His debut performance was indicative of that. Now, it’s just a matter of building on that success as the Bruins look to defy the odds again.

Most pundits aren’t too bullish on the Bruins. In fact, they’re one of those teams that could go either way. While the Bruins have the firepower to win the Atlantic Division, their season could go sideways in a hurry.

So far, there’s no indication that will be the case. As long as Jeremy Swayman does his thing and the Bruins get support for David Pastrnak, well, a guy like Peterka may just find himself excelling far beyond everyone’s expectations.

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