BSJ Game Report: Bruins 3, Devils 0 - Bruins, Rask take care of business on home ice

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 3-0 win over the Devils in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis…

Box Score 

HEADLINES

B’s take care of business

The Bruins didn’t let a disheartening loss to the Avalanche on Thursday carry over into their home opener on Saturday, as the B’s completely bullied a Devils team that, well, should be bullied by a team of Boston’s caliber. 

While metrics such as shots on goal (32-31 in favor of Boston) might have indicated a much closer match, the Bruins put the game out of reach in short order on Saturday — with both Brad Marchand and Joakim Nordstrom lighting the lamp within the first 12 minutes to give Boston a lead that it would not relinquish. 

Even as New Jersey continued to pepper Tuukka Rask in net, the Devils’ struggles on special teams prevented them from generating consistent, quality chances in the O-zone. Boston only potted one power-play goal (from Patrice Bergeron) on three chances, but generated eight shot attempts, four shots on goal and two high-danger looks during that 4:23 of 5v4 TOI. 

Meanwhile, a Devils’ man advantage that entered the game with an 0-for-11 conversation rate didn’t get much of a reprieve from Boston's PK unit, as New Jersey went 0-for-4 at TD Garden with one high-danger scoring chance over eight minutes.

Add in a shutout showing from Rask in net, and you couldn’t ask for a better start for the B’s back on home ice.

Second line making strides

Even if they didn’t land on the scoresheet during 5v5 play, it was a much better showing from the second line of David Krejci, Jake DeBrusk and Karson Kuhlman on Saturday night. 



After a sluggish start in which Krejci and DeBrusk only generated one high-danger scoring chance in their first 36:07 of 5v5 TOI together this season, the second line swarmed Cory Schneider in net on Saturday, with Boston generating 14 shot attempts, 11 shots on goal and four high-danger scoring chances over 10:43 of 5v5 TOI. 

With DeBrusk finally getting on the scoresheet with the primary assist on Bergeron’s power-play strike, perhaps this is the push that this top-six unit needs to finally snap out of its scoring slump.

FOUR UP

Brad Marchand: Whether it be lighting the lamp for the fourth straight game or playing keep-away on the penalty kill, Marchand did it all for the Bruins on Saturday night. The winger also assisted on Bergeron’s power-play tally in the closing seconds of the second period — giving Marchand 300 career assists. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1183159545209769987

Tuukka Rask: Boston might have been in control for most of the night, but a number of sloppy sequences led to seven high-danger scoring chances for the Devils. Rask was up to the task, however, stopping all 31 shots that came his way in the shutout victory. Rask became the fourth different goaltender in B’s franchise history to record a shutout in a home opener and first since Gilles Gilbert accomplished the feat back on Oct. 11, 1979. 

Kuraly Line: A game removed from shutting down Colorado’s MacKinnon line, Boston’s fourth line once again made its mark on Saturday, as Joakim Nordstrom cashed in on a quality look down low after Sean Kuraly recovered a loose puck in the slot and funneled it into the crease. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1183162355053662208

Penalty kill: The Devils’ power play is brutal, but Boston routinely made a habit of playing keep-away in New Jersey’s zone whenever it was on the man advantage. Boston’s PK is now operating at a 78.6% success rate — still plenty of room for improvement. 

ONE DOWN

Brandon Carlo: Bit of a shaky night for Carlo, who was out on the ice for 12 Devils scoring chances in 18:55 of 5v5 ice time. Playing the puck also continues to be a bit of a work in progress for the blueliner. 

https://twitter.com/emarinofsky/status/1183175740935856128

PLAY OF THE GAME

It might not be a goal, but man — look at this sequence from Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron on the penalty kill. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1183176271930503168

PARTING THOUGHTS

https://twitter.com/NHLBlinn/status/1183190417124270083

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will continue their opening homestand on Monday with a matinee matchup against the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks are one of the early surprises in the NHL this season with a record of 4-1-0 — due in large part to the efforts of John Gibson in net. The Anaheim goalie is 3-1-0 on the year with a .961 save percentage.