The Bruins left Anaheim with more than two points on Friday night. They left with a new wrinkle in the goaltending conversation.
Boston beat the Ducks 4-2 to stretch its winning streak to four games, and while David Pastrnak hit another impressive career milestone and Elias Lindholm scored the go-ahead goal, the night also belonged to Michael DiPietro. He earned his first NHL win with 25 saves, giving the Bruins another option to consider as they head into Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.
That wasn’t the start Boston wanted. Anaheim carried early momentum, and the Bruins were forced to play from behind after allowing two goals in the final minute of the opening period. The Ducks had the game tilted their way, and Boston needed someone to steady things before the night slipped away.
DiPietro did that part.
He held Anaheim in check long enough for the Bruins to settle in and claw back. That doesn’t change Jeremy Swayman’s place in the picture, but it does give Boston something useful: proof that it can get a competitive outing from another goalie when the situation calls for it. Over a long season, especially with back-to-backs and travel piling up, that matters.
The Bruins also got important production from a younger group that’s starting to leave a mark. Frederic Brunet scored his first NHL goal in the second period, trimming Anaheim’s lead to 2-1 and giving Boston a badly needed jolt. James Hagens had the assist on that one and later helped set up Matthew Poitras’ insurance goal.
That kind of support is going to matter for this team. Pastrnak and Lindholm will keep carrying big loads, but the Bruins are trying to build a winning identity while bringing younger players into meaningful moments. Friday was a good example of what that can look like when it clicks.
Brunet delivered when Boston needed a response. Hagens showed up on more than one scoring play.
Poitras helped close the door. Those are the kinds of contributions that can make a roster harder to play against.
There won’t be much time to enjoy it. Boston heads straight into Los Angeles on Saturday at 9 p.m.
ET, finishing a back-to-back in Southern California. That creates immediate questions about goaltending, lineup choices and energy.
It also gives the Bruins another test of the same thing they showed against Anaheim: how they handle adversity without much room to breathe. The 6-2-0 start is a strong one, and four straight wins have built momentum. Now the schedule starts asking different questions.
Against Anaheim, the power play answered in a big way, producing three of Boston’s four goals. That kind of output won’t be there every night. The Bruins will need five-on-five scoring, clean work defensively and enough goaltending to stay in games when things tighten up.
On Friday, DiPietro provided that last piece. And for Boston, that may have been just as valuable as anything else that happened in Anaheim.
In Other News...
Jake DeBrusk Trade Buzz Could Create A Bruins Problem Nearby
Jake DeBrusk has been in the rumor mill since the March trade deadline, and the chatter has only kept his name in circulation as the offseason takes shape. The former Bruins forward, now with the Vancouver Canucks, was recently listed by Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report as a player who could fit with a handful of clubs, a group that also includes the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota Wild.
From Bostons point of view, the most interesting part of the discussion may be what happens if DeBrusk lands in the Atlantic Division. Two of the teams mentioned are the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, which would put a familiar face back in the Bruins neighborhood even if there is no indication of a reunion in Boston. The Bruins are expected to keep an eye on where he ends up, but the more immediate concern could be seeing him again in a setting that keeps the rivalry a little too close for comfort. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Prospect Suddenly Faces A Concerning Boston College Setback
Boston College finally got a clean result, beating St. Cloud State 4-0 at home for its first win of the season, and Dean Letourneau helped make it look comfortable with an empty-net goal and an active night throughout. For Bruins fans tracking the Eagles closely, the game offered a useful reminder that there are still bright spots in the program even as the early-season roster has been tested.
Will Moore was not among them, however, as coach Greg Brown confirmed the injured forward missed his second consecutive game. Browns update points to a more cautious timeline than the Eagles would like, and it leaves Boston College waiting for a key piece to return while trying to build on a much-needed breakthrough. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Comeback Featured A Breakthrough Boston Fans Will Love
The Bruins 4-2 comeback win over the Anaheim Ducks had the kind of depth and late-game poise that can carry a team through the early part of a season. Boston got goals from Elias Lindholm and Matthew Poitras to close it out, while David Pastrnak again showed up in a big moment by tying the game and continuing to add to his already important place in the franchise record book.
One of the nights best signs for Boston came from the blue line, where Frederic Brunet made an impact in a way the Bruins have been waiting to see. For a team trying to stack wins and build momentum before meeting the Los Angeles Kings next, getting contributions from across the roster is the sort of development that matters just as much as the final score. [Read more 🡒]