It Was A Great Night To Win A Hockey Game: Bruins Win Their Season Opener 3-2 In A SO

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A strong performance from Tuukka Rask and a SO winner from Brad Marchand later and the B's have officially secured their first two points of the season, a 3-2 win at The Rock in New Jersey. Let's break it down.

1st period:

The Bruins got a gift of a PP (Frederic's stick just died on it's own) early in the 1st period. It was a short lived advantage as Grzyleck got caught and took a slashing penalty on a good chance for Sharangovich. No dice for either teams.

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With 6 minutes left in the period McAvoy took an interference penalty on Sharangovich and the B's headed to the PK. Absolutely buried him. MACK TRUCK but for sure a penalty. B's killed it off no problem, no SOG for NJD.

Miles Wood headed off for goaltender interference with 2:58 left in the period and the B's went to work on the PP.

Brad Marchand opened the scoring on the man up thanks to a great feed from David Krejci.

1-0 Bruins after 1.

2nd period:

Sean Kuraly took a tripping penalty early in the 2nd. Sharangovich drawing penalties left and right. By far the Devils best player. Nice kill for the B's. 

Charlie McAvoy went off for a hook at 7:56, Devils starting generating some chances but the B's came up with the kill. With no preseason you're seeing a ton of penalties.

9:07 left in the 2nd and the Bruins once again found themselves on the power play (too many Devils on the ice). However, the Bruins couldn't take advantage. Solid kill from the Devils who started to find their game in the 2nd.

3rd period:

Chris Wagner drew a tripping penalty off a great offensive chance and the Bruins went on the PP for the fourth time. 

After a bad turnover from Sean Kuraly at the blue line seconds after the Bruins failed PP Miles Wood buried a breakaway goal to tie the game with 11:09 left in the 3rd. 1-1.

Seconds after the Devils tied the game, David Krejci took a sloppy holding penalty and the Bruins would find themselves on the PK. The sixth penalty taken by the B's tonight. Sixth!!! Devils certainly flipped the ice late in the 2nd and early in the 3rd. A minute into the kill and Miles Wood took a goaltender interference penalty (2nd time this game) and nullified the man up.

Nick Ritchie buried a feed from Brad Marchand late in the PP to give the Bruins the 2-1 lead.

The next shift the Devils answered right back, chaos in front of the net and the puck found its way in after going off a million bodies. Unfortunate bounce. 2-2.

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OT:

Both teams exchanged chances in OT but both goalies came up huge. Entire team owes Tuukka Rask a steak dinner after that OT.

SO:

Brad Marchand scores the lone SO goal and the Boston Bruins win their season opened 3-2! B's winning in a SO?

FINAL: Boston 3, New Jersey 2 (SO)

News, notes and quotes:

- The Bruins had a good start but couldn't finish. Jack Studnicka was replaced towards the end of regulation in favor for Charlie Coyle.

- Craig Smith was out with a LBI (tweaked something earlier this week, he's considered day to day), Anders Bjork slid into his spot on the 3rd line. Trent Frederic slid up to play on the 4th line. Both Bjork and Frederic had great games, hounding pucks, really liked what I saw from both of them.

- Brad Marchand opened the scoring on the PP in the 1st. Matt Grzelcyk looked solid running the 1st unit. Nick Ritchie would add another PP helper but the man advantage was anything but perfect. (2/5 on the man up tonight). 

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- Marchand scored the lone SO goal, the first shootout win for the B's since Feb. 2019.

- Far too many penalties committed by the B's tonight, and I think that's what happens when you go straight into a season without any preseason games. Game 1 wasn't gonna be perfect by any means. But 5 penalties tonight, sheesh. 

- Charlie McAvoy was an absolute mack truck tonight. Hitting everything in sight. You could argue he was the best player on the ice tonight for the B's. Played 25:33. All situations. I said it in my season preview but it's his D corps to run.

- Kevan Miller suited up for the first time since April 4th, 2019, and I have to give him credit, he looked solid. Certainly asserted himself in the 2nd period with a few big hits. Tough pinch on Miles Wood's goal, but I thought him and Jakub Zboril both played pretty well tonight. 

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- Wasn't a fan of how many times Tuukka Rask got hit tonight. I mean Miles Wood took not one but two goaltender interference penalties. But nevertheless Rask stood tall for the B's all game long, especially in OT and SO. Both goalies were great. Rask finished the game with 20 saves on 22 shots. 

- 1 apple for the Captain but boy was he dominant at the dot. 73%. 

B's are back at it against these same Devils on Saturday afternoon. 1 pm puck drop. But right now.. CUE THE MUSIC!

It was a great night to win a hockey game.