Final: Bruins 5, Wild 3 -- Depth proves important for Boston

Without the services of Brad Marchand, David Backes, David Krejci, Noel Acciari, Ryan Spooner, Adam McQuaid and Anton Khudobin, the Boston Bruins used their depth en route to a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Monday at TD Garden.

Boston hasn’t played with this much energy since its opening night victory against the Nashville Predators. On Monday, Jake DeBrusk, Frank Vatrano, Sean Kuraly and Torey Krug provided the offense. Tim Schaller added an empty-net goal. Every goal was the result of simply putting the puck on net.

The Bruins recalled defenseman Rob O'Gara and goalie Zane McIntyre (served as backup) from Providence and both were in the lineup.

Tuukka Rask entered the game 2-3-1 with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage  in six starts against the Wild. Minnesota's Devan Dubnyk was 2-5-0 with a 3.42 GAA and a .900 SP, including two shutouts in seven career starts against the Bruins.



Observations from the third period

On a night when special teams were important, the Bruins couldn't produce when needed. Boston allowed a shorthanded goal late as the Wild cuts their deficit to one with 4:04 remaining in regulation.

The Wild was awarded a penalty shot after Torey Krug dragged down the Wild's Mikael Granlund at center ice. The Bruins were on the power play when Granlund sprang loose with the puck, so Krug had no choice but to haul him down. Fortunately for the Bruins, Rask made the save to secure Boston's two-goal lead.

Oh, boy. Minnesota cuts its deficit to two goals, scoring at 1:33 of the period.

Alex Stalock has replaced Dubnyk to start the third period.

Observations from the second period

Bruins haven't played with this much energy since the first game of the season against Nashville.

Incredible puck possession skills by Patrice Bergeron, who leaves it for David Pastrnak, who leaves it for Torey Krug, who absolutely stepped into a one-timer and beat Dubnyk for a 4-1 lead.

Bruce Cassidy wanted secondary scoring and he's getting it tonight. Sean Kuraly gives the Bruins a 3-1 lead.

The Bruins are crashing and going north to south extremely well tonight.

Charlie McAvoy is getting really comfortable with his physical play at this level. He leveled the Wild's Tyler Ennis, who later in the period reciprocated and stunned McAvoy.

Observations from the first period

That was an action-packed period.

Remember those two saves by Rask on the Wild's Mike Reilly with just under five minutes remaining in the period.

It's good to see Matt Beleskey drop the gloves.

See what happens when you put the puck on net. Frank Vatrano was racing down the left side and the puck was rolling on him. He finally took a shot as the puck knuckled off the left post, hit Dubnyk and bounced in for Vatrano's first goal of the season to give Boston a 2-1 lead.

Jake DeBrusk scored his third goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1. It was an outstanding effort on his part to get the puck on net before it ricochetted off a defender and past Dubnyk. However, it was the effort by Bruins' Jordan Szwarz behind Boston's net to win a puck battle, move it to Zdeno Chara, who flipped it into the open area that allowed DeBrusk to win the footrace that resulted in the goal.

The Wild took advantage of a defensive breakdown by the Bruins as Minnesota gained a 1-0 lead on Nino  Niederreiter's goal at 4:53. Rask made the initial save but no one was there to defend Niederreiter as he pumped in the rebound. Rask is not to blame on that one. Kevan Miller didn't have his man.

Miller is wearing the 'A' in Marchand's absence.

Here are the projected line combinations and defensive pairings vs. the Wild

Forwards

Bjork-Bergeron-Pastrnak

Schaller-Kuraly-Heinen

DeBrusk-Szwarz-Vatrano

Beleskey-Nash-Czarnik

Defense

Chara-McAvoy

Krug-Carlo

O'Gara-Miller

Goalies

Rask

McIntyre