BSJ Game Report: Bruins 6, Blackhawks 1 - Bruins dominate Chicago, improve to 11-0 at TD Garden

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 6-1 win over the Blackhawks, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Bruins dominate Chicago, tie NHL record for consecutive home wins to open season: Count the lowly Chicago Blackhawks as the latest team to get steamrolled on Causeway Street. 

The Bruins continued their dominant reign on home ice Saturday, defeating the Blackhawks, 6-1, to improve their record to 11-0-0 at TD Garden. With that victory, the Bruins have tied the 2021-22 Panthers and the 1963-64 Blackhawks for the longest home winning streak to begin a season. The Bruins have posted some video-game numbers so far at the Garden this season — trailing for a whopping 9:34 of combined ice time through those 11 home contests. 

But Saturday’s victory was a particularly dominant thrashing doled out by Boston — with Chicago generating next to nothing at 5v5 play and Petr Mrazek routinely getting fed to the wolves in the Blackhawks' own zone. 

In total, there was 51:02 of 5v5 ice time logged in Saturday’s matchup. And during that extended stretch of ice time, the Bruins held some absurd advantages in:

Shot attempts: 61-28
Shots on goal: 35-15
Scoring chances: 39-14
High-danger scoring chances: 13-3

The Bruins have occasionally had to rely on third-period surges and stout goaltending to secure some of these two-point nights as of late. But Saturday was an example of how dominant this club can be when it’s clicking in all three zones (and facing a very bad opponent). 

Swayman steady in return: Talk about an ideal re-entry into the NHL game. Back in Boston’s net for the first time since Nov. 1, Jeremy Swayman was solid against the few threats that Chicago managed to generate in Boston’s end of the ice — finishing with 17 saves in the victory. He certainly wasn't tested in terms of turning aside Grade-A chances — but all the Bruins are looking for at this stage of Swayman’s return from injury is a poised, steady game. The 23-year-old netminder checked off those boxes on Saturday. 

FOUR UP

Charlie McAvoy: Hampus Lindholm has warranted plenty of praise this season for his dominant performances at the top of the depth chart, but McAvoy still anchors this D corps — and the B’s alternate captain was a horse against Chicago. During his 20:52 of ice time, McAvoy recorded four assists and landed six shots on goal. And, for good measure, Lindholm logged 23:36 of ice time as well. 

Patrice Bergeron: Given the way that the Bruins were completely dissecting Chicago in their own end, it seemed inevitable that Bergeron was going to finish the night with his 1,000th career point. Instead, the B’s captain is going to have to settle for 999 and try to hit the millennium mark on Monday against Tampa. Another dominant two-way showing from Boston’s 1C in this one.

Brad Marchand: A vintage performance from Marchand against a team that was regularly weak on the puck in Chicago. Along with his three assists, Marchand made life miserable for Chicago by holding onto the puck and extending O-zone possessions. 

David Pastrnak: After only lighting the lamp once in his past six games (he still had seven points during that “slump”), Pastrnak was cooking again in the O-zone against Chicago — finishing with two tallies in 19:54 of ice time. 

ONE DOWN

Chicago Blackhawks: Thank goodness this Blackhawks team decided to try and retool on the fly last offseason instead of blowing things up years ago. Just a dreadful roster. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

LOOSE PUCKS

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will now head to Florida for a two-game road trip, starting with a matchup against the Lightning on Monday night. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.