The Bruins didn’t waste any time setting the tone on Thursday night at TD Garden. In a furious 54-second stretch during the first period, they lit the lamp three times - a lightning-quick outburst that ultimately paved the way for a gritty 4-3 win over the Golden Knights.
David Pastrnak was right in the middle of the action, as he so often is. The Bruins’ star winger tallied a goal and added two assists, continuing to drive the offense with the kind of poise and precision that’s become his trademark. Whether he’s finishing chances or creating them, Pastrnak’s fingerprints were all over this one.
And while the offense stole the headlines early, it was Joonas Korpisalo who helped close the door late. The veteran netminder turned aside 30 shots, standing tall as Vegas pushed hard in the final frames. His composure under pressure gave Boston the stability it needed to hold on for the win.
This victory marks the Bruins’ ninth in their last 12 games (9-2-1), a stretch that’s kept them firmly planted in the Eastern Conference’s wild-card chase. With a 29-20-2 record, they’re four points ahead of where they stood at this point last season - a sign of growth for a team that’s been battling to find consistency.
The Bruins are showing signs of a team that’s learning how to win in different ways. On this night, it was the early offensive explosion that made the difference. But zoom out, and you see a team that’s starting to put together the kind of complete efforts that matter most when the playoff race tightens.
As the calendar inches closer to the spring, the Bruins are giving their fans something to believe in - and if they keep stringing together performances like this, they’ll be a team no one wants to face come April.