BSJ Game Report: Bruins 3, Devils 1 – Ullmark helps Boston bounce back to close out road trip

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 3-1 win on the road against the Devils, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE 

HEADLINES

Ullmark keeps Bruins in it for big finish: After Cam Talbot put on a clinic for Ottawa in their shootout win over Boston on Tuesday, it was the Bruins' turn for their goaltender to frustrate the other team as Linus Ullmark made 29 saves in Boston's 3-1 win over New Jersey. He was busy right away in this one, denying Miles Wood's breakaway less than three minutes into the game and seemingly setting the tone for most of the game for the Bruins.

Boston was sluggish to start, and it showed as New Jersey gave them fits with their speed off the rush and quick transitions up ice. 

After Ullmark continued to manage to keep the Devils off the board as the second period wore on, Trent Frederic put the Bruins up 1-0 off a drop pass from Hampus Lindholm after New Jersey had a defensive turnover of their own. 

Boston failed to capitalize on the momentum before Nico Hischier pulled the Devils even early in the third, but the Bruins finished strong, as they typically have this season, when Patrice Bergeron redirected Lindholm's shot with under five minutes remaining to make it 2-1. Boston was in control from there as former Devil Pavel Zacha's empty-netter made it 3-1. 

THREE UP

Linus Ullmark: Ullmark decided he wanted to get in on the fun after seeing what Jeremy Swayman and Talbot did in Ottawa last night. He kept the Bruins in it for most of the first half of the game, giving up the lone goal when the Devils had 3.48 expected goals, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Trent Frederic: Frederic atoned for a bad penalty last night that afforded the Senators the opportunity to open the scoring. He did his best to drag the sluggish Bruins into the fight early in the game when he dropped the gloves with Kevin Bahl. He was rewarded when he put Boston up 1-0 in the second period with a good snap shot off the left post and in. 

The top line: Bergeron did what he does, finding a way to come up big when the Bruins need it when he managed to get a stick on Lindholm’s shot for the game-winner. Meanwhile, Jake DeBrusk was once again one of Boston’s best forwards, and Brad Marchand quietly was too. The trio combined for a 56 percent share of shot attempts at 5-on-5. 

TWO DOWN

The Zacha-Krejci-Pastrnak line: For the second night in a row, Boston’s second line was ineffective. Their 5-on-5 numbers were not remotely flattering with a minus-16 shot attempt differential. With the Bruins struggling to produce coming out of the break, it’s crucial that this line snaps out of its funk. 

Puck management: The Bruins were not sharp in their own zone for most of the game, clearly looking like a team on the second half of a road back-to-back. Costly turnovers gave New Jersey a number of scoring opportunities in prime areas. Fortunately, Ullmark was there to bail them out for the most part, saving 10 of 11 high-danger scoring chances. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

Ullmark flashed the leather on Miles Wood's early breakaway, and proceeded to stand tall in some frantic sequences around his crease, including this in the second period. 

LOOSE PUCKS

Well, on the aforementioned topic of turnovers, Ullmark created his own challenge here.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will close out the 2022 calendar year when they host the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden for a New Year’s Eve matinee. Puck-drop is at 1 p.m.