David Pastrnak delivered the finishing touch Monday night, and the Bruins needed every bit of it.
Boston beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in a shootout at TD Garden, improving to 11-4-1 after surviving a game that swung back and forth before Pastrnak ended it. Vegas fell to 9-5-2.
The Bruins got on the board first when James Hagens scored at 7:23 of the opening period, finishing a chance set up by Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. That goal stood as the only one of the first period, even though both teams had power-play chances.
Boston’s first came after Brett Howden was penalized for tripping at 7:34, and Vegas answered later when Charlie McAvoy was sent off for interference at 15:40. Neither side cashed in.
Boston added to the lead early in the second. Morgan Geekie scored on the power play at 3:23, with Pavel Zacha and Pastrnak collecting the assists. The Bruins were working with the man advantage after Braeden Bowman received a five-minute major for elbowing Matthew Poitras at 2:49, along with a 10-minute game misconduct.
Vegas answered before the period ended. Mark Stone scored on the power play at 14:58, trimming the Bruins’ lead to 2-1 after McAvoy was called for holding at 14:50. McAvoy then picked up a minor unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but Boston killed that off too and carried a one-goal edge into the third.
The Golden Knights tied it at 2 when Trevor Connelly scored at 7:23 of the third, with Noah Hanifin and Mitch Marner on the assist. From there, both teams came up empty through the rest of regulation and through overtime.
That sent the game to a shootout, where Pastrnak was the only player to score. His goal gave Boston the 3-2 win and capped a night that featured a little bit of everything: special teams swings, a third-period push from Vegas, and a final answer from the Bruins’ top scorer.
Boston now heads to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins on Thursday night. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on NESN.
In Other News...
Jack Eichel Returns For A Golden Knights Test That Means More
Mondays trip to Boston gives the Golden Knights a familiar backdrop and a little extra edge, with Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin both returning to the region where their hockey roots were formed. Vegas is set to face the Bruins in a matchup that carries more than the usual regular-season weight, simply because of who is on the ice and where the game is being played.
Eichels return has long been the bigger storyline whenever the Knights visit New England, but Hanifin adds another layer to the night as Vegas continues a road stretch that puts two of its players back in front of old friends, family and a crowd that knows their histories well. It is the kind of game that can feel bigger than the standings for a few hours, even if the real answer to how much it matters will only come once the puck drops. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Hutton Is Back In The NHL Spotlight Again
Ben Hutton is getting another crack at the NHL spotlight, this time with the New York Islanders after signing a professional tryout contract. For a veteran defenseman who has logged 575 games across multiple teams, it is another chance to show he can still help a club on the blue line and bring some of the stability that has kept him around the league for so long.
Huttons path includes a familiar connection for Golden Knights fans, since he was part of Vegas 2023 Stanley Cup run and has spent the last five seasons in that organization. He also comes in off a career year offensively, with six goals last season, but the tryout only opens the door and leaves him with work to do before anything more permanent is on the table. [Read more 🡒]
Adin Hill Is Not Vegas Biggest Problem Right Now
Adin Hill has done enough in net to keep the Golden Knights from making him the easy target after a rough stretch, even with a 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils adding to the frustration. The bigger issue has been elsewhere, with Vegas struggling to generate enough offense and clean up its puck management when games tighten up.
Hill has still given the club a chance in plenty of his starts, and the recent losses have not been driven by a collapse in goal. The Knights need more support in front of him, because the current problems are about execution and finishing, not a goaltender suddenly becoming the weak link. [Read more 🡒]