After suffering a demoralizing 6-2 loss to the Blue Jackets on Friday, the Bruins demonstrated a remarkable resurgence, silencing Columbus with a resounding 4-0 shutout victory on Saturday, December 28th, at TD Garden. This performance provided a much-needed boost of confidence. Jeremy Swayman was a brick wall in the net, turning aside all 18 shots he faced to secure his second shutout of the season and the 14th of his career. Justin Brazeau, Morgan Geekie, David Pastrnak, and Cole Koepke each scored for the Bruins to help grab this excellent victory. It had been an unfortunate loss for the Blue Jackets, especially after collecting two straight wins, one of those being the victory on Friday against Boston. The Bruins will be heading back out on the road for a three-game road trip, starting with the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, December 31st, and the Blue Jackets host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.
Boston Bruins Lineup:
Marchand – Lindholm – Coyle
Geekie – Zacha – Pastrnak
Brazeau – Frederic – Lysell
Koepke – Kastelic – McLaughlin
Zadorov – McAvoy
Wotherspoon – Carlo
Lohrei – Peeke
Swayman
Korpisalo
Columbus Blue Jackets Lineup:
Voronkov – Monahan – Marchenko
van Riemsdyk – Fantilli – Aston-Reese
Johnson – Sillinger – Olivier
Pyyhtia – Kuraly
Werenski – Fabbro
Mateychuk – Provorov
Christiansen – Severson
Johnson
Tarasov
Merzilkins
Justin Brazeau opened the scoring early, picking up his eighth goal of the season and putting the Bruins in the lead 1-0 at 17:31 when he knocked in the rebound of a point shot by Brandon Carlo. After getting the puck out of the Bruins’ zone, Fabian Lysell had it behind the Blue Jackets net, sending it out to Brazeau, who passed it off to Mason Lohrei. Lohrei gave it to Carlo, and before it could have been cleared away by Mikael Pyyhtia, Brazeau bumped it in at the left post past Daniil Tarasov.
Increasing Boston’s lead with, yet again, another early tally, Morgan Geekie made it a 2-0 lead for the Bruins with 13:31 on the clock in the middle frame. Damon Severson had blindly cleared the puck into the slot from the corner, Geekie struck from the top of the left circle glove side on a wrist shot for his eighth of the season and his second in the past five games. David Pastrnak made it 3-0 for Boston, ending a goal drought and picking up his 13th goal of the season. Following a turnover by Columbus, he scored on a breakaway with 11:42 remaining in the second.
Cole Koepke struck to push it to 4-0 at 13:54 of the third when he beat Daniil Tarasov from the top of the right circle blocker side after he picked up a loose puck back in the neutral zone, and drove into the Blue Jackets zone for the 4-0 final.
Jeremy Swayman on what this win says about the Bruins’ ability, the importance of bouncing back from a loss, and what it’s like for a goaltender when David Pastrnak comes in like that: “I think just sticking it to our identity, and knowing that if we take care of one side of the ice, the other side will take care of itself. He (Joe Sacco) gave us a great game plan, and it worked for us, so I’m excited to keep building and move forward,” – “It’s really important. I think the way we did it was the most exciting part of it. It was just a full 60 minutes, and that’s exactly what we’ve been hoping for and wanted to do. So, I’m really pleased with the way we put it. …A lot of hopes and prayers. He’s an elite goal-scorer, and it’s just the way he is deceptive with his hips, and his hands, and it’s a good feeling to be on his team. So, it’s awesome to see him have a success and I know he’s going to continue that.”
Fabian Lysell on the win/his NHL debut, his speed/forecheck, and if it’s been a focal point: “It’s crazy how fast things can happen, you know, I woke up this morning, didn’t think of this, and you get a call, and then you’re up there. So, it’s just unbelievable, and definitely special for me, my family, and everybody that’s helped me along the way,” – “It’s always about building my game, I guess. Like you said on the forecheck, putting it down when I’m supposed to, challenge when I can, play smart, and that’s something I’m going to try to continue building on.”
David Pastrnak on the Bruins’ performance and what he’s thinking while going on a breakaway: “I think we controlled. We had a good 60-minute game, and that’s how we play, you know, we kept playing on our toes. We didn’t sit back. We had that one shift I talked about, but you kill that shift and then you’ll be able to score… It’s good to see everybody contributing. Those goals are much-needed, and will be much more needed down the road,” – “First thing you think about is – you’re hoping that the defensemen aren’t going to catch you, right? Then it depends if you are under pressure or not, if you have a lot of time, then you just kind of pick your move while going… When I break away, I definitely have about 5 to 10 thoughts within 2 seconds.”
Notes:
– Morgan Geekie had a two-point night, picking up both a goal and an assist.
– Fabian Lysell made his NHL debut and was plus-1 in 11:32 of ice time.
– The Bruins are 5-1-1 in their past seven games.
– Brad Marchand’s 11-game point streak had been put to an end.
– Mason Lohrei was plus-4, also picking up an assist.
– In his first start since the 5th of December, Daniil Tarasov made a total of 24 saves for Columbus.
– Kirill Marchenko’s seven-game point streak had been put to an end.
Season 4. Episode 14. West Coast Road Trip. – Bruins Benders Podcast
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