Las Vegas- The Boston Bruins came into Tuesday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights having gained a point in their last 13 games, including a streak of 6 straight wins. The game matched Jaroslav Halak 15-9-4 with a 2.35 GAA and .923 S% against Marc-Andre Fleury 29-18-4 with a 2.61 GAA and .908 S%.

The game started slow with both teams feeling each other out and neither team really able to gather any significant offensive zone time. That all changed with 11:17 in the first period when Jake DeBrusk, who was cutting down the middle of the ice received a tape to tape pass from David Krejci, put a spin move on Shea Theodore allowing him the space he needed to wrist one in putting the Bruins up 1-0. DeBrusk is playing white hot in the absence of the Bruins leading goal scorer, David Pastrnak. DeBrusk has now scored a goal in 5 straight games bringing his five game total to 10 points.

Reilly Smith got things going for the Golden Knights when he slammed home the rebound from Cody Eakin past Halak. The score would stay tied through the second period

The Bruins wasted no time getting to work in the third period of a tied game. Charlie McAvoy made a heads up pass coming through the neutral zone passing to Danton Heinen to enter the zone, McAvoy kept his legs turning backing the defense off allowing Heinen to hand the puck off to a wide open Brad Marchand who was sitting in the slot and did not miss with his slap shot. This put the bruins up 2-1 but it was apparent the lead would not last.

27 seconds later Nate Schmidt took a pass from Reilly Smith coming full speed through the neutral zone, was able to put a move on Charlie McAvoy cutting to the middle of the slot and sniping one past Halak high to the glove side tying the game up at 2 with 18:24 in the third. It should be noted this goal came against one of the best lines in hockey with Marchand, Bergeron, McAvoy and Chara all on for the global against.

Overtime did not disappoint, a lot of back and forth play with few stoppages. There was a soft penalty called against the Bruins 2:14 We saw posts get hit by William Karlsson and Brad Marchand, but the Bruins were able to kill the penalty and take the game to a shootout.

Vegas started the shootout with Halak denying Pirri. The Bruins sent their hottest scorer out for their first attempt and DeBrusk drove up the middle of the ice and flipped a wrist shot up and over Fluery’s blocker. Karlsson followed up with a goal for Vegas absolutely sniping a shot past Halak to tie the shootout up. Bergeron’s attempt was saved, and Vegas sent Tuch who’s attempt was also saved. Bruins sent Marchand out for the last attempt of the 3rd round but the attempt was saved. On to round 4 Vegas let Marchessault take their shot, which was saved, while Boston sent out Danton Heinen who’s attempt was also thwarted. Round 5 saw Vegas’s Theodore have his shot stopped, and Bruins Krug also get denied. Round 6 saw Lindberg miss his attempt, but much to the joy of the Bruins faithful Backes took a serpentine route into the zone, cutting from left to right and wristing the game winner over Fleury’s glove hand.

The win gives the Bruins their 7th in a row and pushes their point streak to 14 straight. That gives the Bruins 80 points on the season after 61 games played. They are 16 points behind Tampa Bay, 4 points ahead of Toronto who have only played 59 games. They are also 9 points ahead of Montreal who is in the first wild card spot, and 11 points ahead of Columbus who hold the second wild card spot. The playoffs certainly look inevitable at this point!

3 stars:

Jake DeBrusk

Reilly Smith

Jaroslav Halak

-Trent