Final: Bruins 4, Flames 3 (SO) - Marchand, DeBrusk go back-to-back to win it

Three quick thoughts on the Bruins' 4-3 shootout victory over the Flames (it's late/early)

1. Jaroslav Halak was outstanding: The NHL didn't provide official numbers (what, is that site blocked in China?) and it doesn't even sound like they were available in the press box in China, but Halak had to have upwards of 40 saves in this one and several were from point-blank range. He did give up some juicy rebounds, but none hurt him. And it wasn't just Halak ... Tuukka Rask came on for spot duty midway through the third period and made three huge saves while Halak dealt with an equipment issue. We can already hear Boston sports talk radio going over their talking points for a goalie controversy in the third week of the season. Doesn't look like they're going to miss Anton Khudobin.

2. Brad Marchand was in midseason form, in a variety of ways: You have to love Marchy — if you're a Bruins fan. First off, with the Bruins facing the prospect of blowing a 3-0 lead while down 1-0 in the shootout with their final shot, Marchand rescued the team as he raced down and went five-hole to tie the game and set up Jake DeBrusk's game-winner on the next shot. Of course, Marchand celebrated by taunting the Flames' bench.

https://twitter.com/GradySas/status/1040900478257618945

But that's not all. Earlier, Marchand had intentional high stick Garnet Hathaway well after a play, and he likely took a dive on a third-period penalty. All in a night's work for Marchand, even in the preseason, even in China. Well, at least he didn't lick anybody. We think.

https://twitter.com/GradySas/status/1040892497512128513

3. Bruins were largely outplayed: The Bruins' younger and newer players (Travis Frederic, John Moore) all seemed to have their moments in this one — and Ryan Donato (goal) looked fantastic offensively — but the Flames were the much better team in this one outside of the Bruins' three-goal flourish in about four minutes of real time in the first period. It would have been 8-3 if it wasn't for Halak's heroics. Bruins gave up about twice as many shots as they had, committed about nine penalties and just looked very out of sync. Brad Marchand took a while to get going, David Pastrnak didn't do much, Charlie McAvoy was up and down, Brandon Carlo had a rough start ... Lot of room for improvement as the team moves onto Beijing. Hopefully their equipment arrives too.

Further details and highlight videos down below.

LIVE COVERAGE FROM BEDARD

5:41: Shootout results:

Tkachuk ... GOAL.
Donato ... saved.
Czarnik ... misses.
Pastrnak ... saved.
Jankowski ... misses.
Marchand ... GOAL. Fast five-hole shot.
Ryan ... saved.
DeBrusk ... GOAL.

Bruins win. Thaaaaaaa Bruins win.

Thank goodness that's over with.

5:40: I can't believe they're a) playing NHL in China, b) have OT in preseason, and c) have shootouts in the preseason. This is just dumb.

5:34: Huge save by Halak has Monahan walks right in.

5:29: Flames tie it with 46.4 seconds left on a one-timer by Giordano for his second, which gets under Halak's right arm. Pity. He's been outstanding tonight. GOAL: Bruins 3, Flames 3.

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet960/status/1040895867455102976

5:25: Another penalty to the Bruins ... actually two. Backes was called for B's seventh penalty (two for Flames) and another one was tacked onto the bench for a 5-on-3 with about 2 minutes left.

5:16: Rask snags a tough shot. ... Halak is good to go now and goes back into the net.

5:11: Marchand just high-sticked a Flames player on purpose after the play. That will go over well. Marchand will go to the box. Infraction came against Hathaway and it drew blood.

https://twitter.com/DevilsInsiders/status/1040891737122775040

5:09: Rask makes two big saves almost immediately.

5:06: Bruins can't cash in on a 5-on-3 ... didn't have any real good chances. Disappointing. ... Rask has entered the game for Halak, who left with an equipment issue.

4:50: Early in the third, Moore had his pocket picked coming out of the Bruins' zone. Pastrnak backchecked to help McAvoy on the 2-on-1 but Giordano slid in from behind and beat Halak. GOAL: Bruins 3, Flames 2.

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet960/status/1040885779885547522

4:18: Big right pad save by Halak.

4:11: Good shot by McAvoy from the high slot and Marchand was in perfect position for the rebound, but the net came off its moorings. That's happened a few times tonight.

4:08: Really like John Moore. Really good skater and seems to make good decisions with the pucks. I would assume he'll be paired with Krug ... or at least I'd like to see that over Carlo until he's a little bit more proven.

4:03: Thanks for all the great info, NHL Media.



3:59: A lot of rebounds for Halak.

3:46: Second period has started. Same netminders.

3:23: Flames finally breakthrough but the clock says 0.0. They let it stand. Pretty poor coverage from the Bruins on the PP. Carlo, McAvoy, JFK and Nordstrom allowed an easy pass to the middle of the of the B's PK box and Monahan didn't even shoot it quickly. Weird play to end the period.  GOAL: Bruins 3, Flames 1.

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet960/status/1040864705420513280

3:19: Too many men on the ice for the Bruins so the Flames are going on the power play for the third time.

BTW ... Gillies and Jankowski ... feel like I'm having a PC '15 championship reunion.

3:12: Cehlarik with a great backhanded saucer pass that Moore handles and rips past Gillies. GOAL: Bruins 3, Flames 0.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1040861611249074181

3:11: Another Flames turnover to a JFK-Donato 2-on-1 and Donato rips a shot short side. GOAL: Bruins 2, Flames 0.

https://twitter.com/mkmolnar/status/1040861602524876800

3:10: Halak comes back with another couple of nice saves. He's playing well.

3:09: Flames had a turnover coming out of their zone and Bakos feeds Frederic, who cashes in. GOAL: Bruins 1, Flames 0.

https://twitter.com/mkmolnar/status/1040861094271754240

3:05: Cehlarik goes to the box with a hook. Bruins being outshot 8-3. ... killed off.

2:59: Zboril was kind of a circus with a tough pinch and then he fell getting back, leading to a good chance for the Flames that went off the side of the net.

2:56: Bruins kill off the power play without any real good chances and as it expires, Marchand busts loose and sets up Cehlarik for a great chance from the left dot, but Gillies was better.

2:53: Studnicka to the sin bin.

2:52: Hey, new season, same Carlo losing the puck in his skates in his own zone.

2:51: After the Bruins got off to a slow start, Donato made a great poke check and had a great chance against Gillies. Saw Donato play a few times in Foxborough this summer. He looks much faster and aggressive.

2:47 a.m.: After a bunch of pomp and circumstance, they're about the start and Halak is in net for the Bruins. Gillies from Providence is in net for the Flames.

Who: Bruins vs. Calgary Flames
When: 2:30 a.m. ET
Where: Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center in Shenzhen, China
TV: NHL Network
Radio: 98.5-FM The SportsHub
Boxscore: NHL.com


BRUINS ROSTER

Forwards: David Backes, Martin Bakos, Peter Cehlarik, Jake DeBrusk, Ryan Donato, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, Trent Frederic, Colby Cave, Brad Marchand, Joakim Nordstrom, David Pastrnak, Jack Studnicka, Jordan Szwarz, Chris Wagner.

Defense: Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk, Charlie McAvoy, Kevan Miller, John Moore, Urho Vaakanainen, Jakub Zboril.

Goaltenders: Tuukka Rask, Jaroslav Halak.

Anticipated lines:

Marchand-Studnicka-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-JFK/Szwarz-Donato
Cehlarik-Frederic-Backes
Nordstrom/Cave-Wagner-Bakos

Defense

Moore-McAvoy
Grzelcyk-Miller
Vaakanainen/Zboril-Carlo

Goaltenders

Rask
Halak

FLAMES ROSTER

Forwards: Derek Ryan, Mikael Backlund, Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College), Anthony Peluso, James Neal, Matthew Tkachuk, Curtis Lazar, Garnet Hathaway (Kennebunkport, ME/Brown), Sean Monahan, Austin Czarnik, Elias Lindholm, Morgan Klimchuk, Michael Frolik, Mark Jankowski (Providence), Sam Bennett.

Defense: Rasmus Andersson, Mark Giordano, Dalton Prout, TJ Brodie, Travis Hamonic, Michael Stone, Noah Hanifin (Norwood/Boston College), Brett Kulak.

Goaltenders: Mike Smith, Jon Gillies (Concord, NH/Providence), Nick Schneider.

Flames notes: Former Bruins forward Austin Czarnik signed a two-year deal with the Flames in July. He finished third in the AHL scoring race last season, with 25 goals and 44 assists in 64 game for the Providence Bruins.