BSJ Game Report: Bruins 4, Blackhawks 3 - Pastrnak’s last-minute goal lifts Boston past Chicago

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 4-3 win over the Blackhawks, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES 

B’s start slow, flip script in last minute 

If the Bruins were looking for a palate cleanser in the aftermath of Monday’s disappointing overtime loss to the Kings, they found it in the cellar-dwelling Blackhawks — a defense-optional club that entered the night with a 21-29-8 record.

But through the first 25 minutes of play on Thursday night, the Bruins seemed more than happy to play down to their competition, with similarly soft defensive play allowing the Blackhawks’ big guns to beat Jeremy Swayman twice and take a 2-1 lead early in the second period. 

But after Brandon Hagel put the visitors ahead, Boston flipped the switch, eventually holding Chicago to just three shots on goal in the middle frame and taking a 3-2 lead off of goals from Jack Ahcan and David Pastrnak.

The B’s appeared to be on the right track when it comes to putting away an inferior opponent ... only to relinquish another goal to Hagel and get outshot by Chicago, 6-0, to start the final period of regulation.

But after coughing up a last-minute goal in three of their previous four games, the Bruins managed to flip the script against Chicago, with Pastrnak’s second goal of the evening giving Boston a 4-3 lead with just 17 seconds to go in regulation.

Far from pretty, but two points is two points. 

Jack Ahcan breaks through 

Pressed into the lineup following Matt Grzelcyk’s absence due to a nagging injury and subsequent illness, Jack Ahcan is trying to make the most of his latest shot up in the NHL ranks. 

It hasn’t exactly been a seamless transition for the 24-year-old blueliner, but Ahcan made the most of his opportunity on Thursday night — beating Kevin Lankinen with a clean snipe from the slot on the power play for his first career NHL goal.

It was an eventful evening down the other end of the sheet, with Ahcan hung out to dry on a 4-on-1 Chicago rush and later on the ice for Hagel’s first goal of the evening. Still, good to see the rookie stick with his game and play to his strengths during that second-period tally. 

THREE UP

David Pastrnak and Boston’s power play: The Bruins’ top sniper continues to roll. His 33rd goal of the season (and his second of the night) put Boston ahead for good — with Pastrnak now up to nine goals and 15 total points over his last 10 games. Good to see Boston’s power play also start to heat up a bit, with the B’s man-advantage going 2-for-3 on the evening. 

Jack Ahcan: Quite the way to score your first NHL goal. Just a great, heads-up, assertive play from the young defenseman to pinch down, keep the play alive and then bury his look after pickpocketing Riley Stillman in Grade-A ice. It was far from a perfect night from Ahcan, especially in the early going, but good to see him light the lamp. 

Charlie Coyle: After that brutal turnover on Monday night against the Kings, good to see Coyle bounce back with his 13th goal of the season at 4:12 in the opening period. Stick tap to Connor Clifton as well for activating off the blue line and generating the shot that led to the Grade-A rebound chance for Coyle. Coyle also had some good chances later in the game as that line started to string together some extended looks in the offensive zone.

TWO DOWN

Brandon Carlo: Just a brutal pinch from Carlo there in the first period, which led to a 4-on-1 rush opportunity for Chicago in short order. If the Bruins do have to go out and shore up this blue line with another top-four option ahead of the trade deadline, Carlo’s uneven play has played a big part in that thinking. Just needs to be better. 

Jeremy Swayman: Not Swayman’s best in this one. A few concerning trends from earlier this season — namely rebound control — sprouted back up in this one, especially on Hagel’s equalizer in the third period of play. Over his last two games, Swayman has a .857 save percentage.

PLAY OF THE GAME

LOOSE PUCKS

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will close out their three-game homestand on Saturday with a matchup against the Arizona Coyotes. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.