With a big divisional game against Detroit looming on Saturday night, you could be forgiven for worrying that the Bruins might overlook a home game against a fading Winnipeg Jets team.
However, the B’s showed up and then some, jumping out to a 4-0 second period lead before eventually gliding to a 6-1 win at TD Garden.
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The B’s got goals from six different players, including Lukas Reichel, who scored on a fortuitous bounce in his Bruins debut.
Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves in the win, earning himself a First Star for his efforts.
After a scoreless start to the first period, David Pastrnak got the scoring started when he collected a loose puck out of mid-air and beat Connor Hellebuyck to make it 1-0 Bruins.
Hellebuyck was in the spotlight for the next Bruins goal, when he failed to collect a wraparound that ended up on Reichel’s stick for a chip-in to make it 2-0 Bruins.
Viktor Arvidsson was the beneficiary of a puck that ramped off a stick and looped up and behind Hellebuyck to make it 3-0 Bruins late in the second period.
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Pavel Zacha continued his hot streak with a laser to beat Hellebuyck and make it 4-0 Bruins in the third period.
Jonathan Toews got the Jets on the board with a nice tip-in goal on the power play to make it 4-1 Bruins just two minutes after Zacha’s goal.
Fraser Minten restored the four-goal lead off a great spinning pass from Pastrnak to make it 5-1 Bruins late in the third.
Jonathan Aspirot added insult to injury, beating Hellebuyck with a wicked shot to make it 6-1 Bruins.
And that was that! Bruins win, 6-1, sweeping the season series with Winnipeg.
Game notes
While the final score makes the entire game seem like a blowout, it’s worth noting that this was a 2-0 game until the last two minutes of the second period. Swayman played well for the Bruins, making 16 saves in the first two periods, including a highlight-reel stop.
Those second and third goals by the Bruins are the kind of weird goals that feel like your team doesn’t get them when they’re struggling but does when things are going OK. I think back to weird moments like the stick-snap in the game against Florida that went against the B’s, or Charlie McAvoy blowing an edge in OT against the Devils. Tonight, the bounces went the Bruins’ way, but they also deserve credit for building on the lead after those bounces.
David Pastrnak is up to 4G-4A-8PTS totals in his last five games, as he had a goal and an assist tonight. Countryman Pavel Zacha is right on his heels in that same stretch, with 4G-2A-6PTS totals.
Lukas Reichel is so new to the B’s that he doesn’t even have a photo on the NHL website. SOMEONE GET THE KID A CAMERA. While he benefited from Hellebuyck’s misplay, he showed good speed and instincts to get himself into he right spot to make a play.
All six Bruins goals were scored at even strength, as they came up empty in one power play opportunity.
While we’re all tired of hearing about “this is a big game,” this was a pretty big win for the Bruins given other results. Ottawa, Detroit, Columbus, and Philadelphia all won on Thursday night, meaning the B’s didn’t really gain much ground. Both the Bruins and Red Wings are now tied on points with Montreal, while Columbus and the Islanders are a point behind. The Isles actually fell out of the playoff picture based on a games-played tiebreaker with Columbus, so…it’s getting tight!
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The B’s will be back in action in Detroit on Saturday night, a primetime 8 PM Eastern start on ABC.