Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 4-3 win over the Panthers in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis…
Box Score
HEADLINES
This Bruins team just doesn’t quit: For the second game in a row, Boston erased a two-goal deficit en route to a win, besting the Panthers, 4-3, to extend the team’s win streak to five in a row and push their point streak to 18 games. The manner in which Boston clinched their two points in the standings was a bit more dramatic on Thursday, however. For just the second time in franchise history, the Bruins overcame a deficit in the final minute and still managed to win in regulation — as Patrice Bergeron’s second goal of the night put Boston ahead for the first time all night with just seven seconds remaining on the clock.
What was largely a listless TD Garden for most of the evening was already buzzing in the seconds leading up to Bergeron’s rocket of a wrist shot — as Boston tied things up just 30 seconds earlier, with Matt Grzelcyk providing the equalizer with a one-time blast after the B’s pulled Tuukka Rask.
In what has been a ridiculous run that has seen Boston not drop a game in regulation since all the way back on Jan. 19, this game might take the cake — not only because of the manner in which the Bruins won, but due to the fact that they did it without three top-six options in David Pastrnak, Jake DeBrusk and Marcus Johansson all sidelined due to injuries. At this point, what else do you need to see from this Bruins club that could dispel the notion that this team is going to make some noise in the postseason? Tampa Bay looms large, yes, but these Bruins continue to prove again and again that they are never out of any fight.
B’s top-six takes another hit:
Already without Johansson for at least a week or two due to a lung contusion, Boston received more bad news just ahead of puck drop on Thursday, as a red-hot DeBrusk was scratched due to a nagging lower-body injury. The 22-year-old winger is considered day to day going forward. Without DeBrusk — who has lit the lamp eight times in his last 10 games — David Krejci’s line had considerably less punch against the Panthers, with Peter Cehlarik slotting in on the left wing and Karson Kuhlman earning another look in a top-six spot after getting called up on an emergency basis. Still, the result remained the same for the B’s — two points on the board and another dominant outing from Krejci, who scored in the second period and finished with six 5v5 scoring chances tonight.
For as resilient as Boston has been during this stretch, the club could certainly use some reinforcements right about now — with Cassidy noting postgame that he doesn't view DeBrusk’s ailment as anything long term, although a potential return date hasn’t been set in stone just yet.
FOUR UP
David Krejci: Even with a completely reshuffled cast of linemates, Krejci still produced in a top-six role, roofing a puck past Roberto Luongo at 10:29 in the second period. Give plenty of credit to Danton Heinen for jumpstarting the sequence after recovering a loose puck near the blue line and orchestrating a give-and-go with Krejci. Finishing with six 5v5 scoring chances in the win, it actually stood as the most compiled in a single game for Krejci since Dec. 31, 2013. Talk about a statement.
Patrice Bergeron: After not landing a shot on goal through the first two periods of play, Bergeron made the most of his first attempt of the night — beating Luongo with a wrister at 8:50 in the third for his second shorthanded goal in as many games for the veteran pivot. He followed up with some textbook heroics later in the stanza, lighting the lamp with just seven seconds to go to give Boston a lead that it would not relinquish.
Matt Grzelcyk: Grzelcyk picked a good time for his first goal since Nov. 8, going bar down on Luongo off of a one-time blast from the point. Another encouraging offensive showing from Boston’s secret weapon on the blue line,
“Yeah, I mean I watch the D shoot the puck at the end of practice, and I didn’t think he could raise it. I’ve been watching him for two years and bang! It’s bar down,” Bruce Cassidy said of Grzelcyk. “I tease him about that, obviously, but he’s that guy that would rather shoot for tips, rightfully so, and make a pass, but he’s shown he’s worked on his shot.”
Bruins pull Rask — and Matt Grzelcyk scores with 37 seconds left to tie things up. pic.twitter.com/Tb4HokihWq
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) March 8, 2019
A crazy point streak extended to 18 games for the @NHLBruins thanks to this @dunkindonuts NHL comeback. pic.twitter.com/GsNlUyvjkK
— NHL (@NHL) March 8, 2019
The Big Man's got ups.#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/wFEYYCkFao
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 8, 2019