BSJ Game Report: Bruins 5, Wild 2 - Boston gets contributions from top to bottom in complete effort

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 5-2 win at the Minnesota Wild, with BSJ insight and analysis…

BOX SCORE 

HEADLINES

Bruins return to winning ways: David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron each had a goal and an assist, and the Bruins won, 5-2, over the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday.

David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk each scored for Boston (52-11-5), and Brad Marchand had three assists. Linus Ullmark made 29 saves.

Old friend Marcus Johansson had a goal and an assist for the Wild (39-22-8), who had a franchise-record 14-game point streak (11-0-3) coming into the game. Oskar Sundqvist scored, and Filip Gustavsson made 33 saves.

Johansson got the scoring started on an odd-man rush 9:45 in. Brandon Carlo got caught up ice, and a miscue between him and Hampus Lindholm led to a 2-on-0 for Johansson and Matt Boldy right in front of Ullmark. 

Matt Dumba nearly made it 2-0 shortly after, but the Bruins successfully challenged for offside. 

DeBrusk evened it up with 1:22 left in the first, streaking down the high slot off the bench and picking the top right corner. 

Pastrnak made it 2-1 with Boston’s first power play goal in a week as his wrist shot found a way through Gustavsson with 11:17 left in the second. Boldy thought he tied it moments later, but the Bruins successfully challenged for offside again. 

Boston took advantage of the good fortune when Krejci made it 3-1 when his backdoor pass to Charlie McAvoy at the far post went in off Johansson’s stick. 

Sundqvist cut it to 3-2 with a power play goal in the third, but Bergeron buried a one-timer from Marchand in the slot to restore the Bruins’ two-goal cushion. Trent Frederic’s empty-net goal with 1:57 left sealed the 5-3 final.

FOUR UP

Mathew Myers and Sean Andrake: The Bruins’ video coaches were on it today, making big calls to challenge for offside on the two almost goals for Minnesota. The first was an obvious offside call, but the second was a good bit of quick judgment on their part, as Boldy’s pass at the blue line put the Wild off, if even slightly. Good calls.

The power play: Boston’s power play has started to gain traction in the last two games. The puck movement and motion away from the puck have been sharper. Pastrnak especially has been better at moving into open areas and being more selective with his shots, which paid off on his goal as he faked the one-timer before finding a better shooting lane. 

The Coyle line: It was the Bruins’ best line. Tyler Bertuzzi led all Bruins’ skaters with an individual Corsi-for of 78.26 percent at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick, and Charlie Coyle (75) and Frederic (69.6) were right behind him. Boston generated three high-danger scoring chances to none with Coyle, Bertuzzi and Frederic on the ice at even strength. Coyle and Frederic got rewarded at the end with Frederic’s empty netter, thanks to Coyle’s forechecking pressure.

The Bergeron line: The top trio was a menace on the forecheck for Minnesota, creating both of its goals from dogged pursuit of the puck in the offensive zone. They were sharp with their sticks below the goal line to keep pucks alive, and Bergeron and DeBrusk each found open space in the slot to bury their chances. Both of the top line’s goals came at 5-on-5

TWO DOWN

Defense in transition: Boston started strong, but the first period wound up becoming a track meet with the Bruins and Wild trading chances on the rush. It’s part of the nature of the beast with the Bruins’ defense so active in the offense, but Minnesota found odd-man opportunities a little too easily. It cost Boston on Johansson’s goal and nearly did on Boldy’s disallowed goal. 

Net-front defense: Both of Minnesota’s tallies came right around the crease as well as the two waved-off goals. It’s part of where the Bruins will miss a guy like Derek Forbort, depending on how long he is out. Johansson and Boldy found open areas on the second disallowed goal, and Sundvist was lost at the far post on his power play strike. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

Krejci benefited from a fortuitous deflection, but what a display of puck protection and passing by the Czech line on his goal. 

LOOSE PUCKS

Ullmark suited up in his 200th career game. Marchand and Bergeron have now factored in on a goal together 408 times, passing Phil Esposito and Ken Hodge for the most in franchise history.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins are back at it in Buffalo on Sunday. Puck-drop is set for 1 p.m. ET against the Sabres tomorrow at the KeyBank Center.