BSJ Game Report: Bruins 3, Predators 2 - JVR, penalty kill help Boston grind to win over Nashville

Everything you need to know, in quickie form, from the Bruins’ 3-2 win over the Predators, with BSJ insight and analysis…

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

JVR scores twice as Bruins pick up second win: James van Riemsdyk picked up his first two goals as a Bruin – both on the power play, including the eventual game-winning goal – as Boston took down the Nashville Predators, 3-2 at TD Garden on Saturday. David Pastrnak also scored on a penalty shot, and Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves in his first start of the season. Colton Sissons scored twice for the Preds, and Juuse Saros made 29 saves.

B’s overcome slew of penalties: The officials and scorekeepers were busy in this one as Boston and Nashville combined for 12 penalties on the night (seven for Boston, five for Nashville). The Bruins were perfect on the penalty kill, going 7-for-7 and snuffing out a double-minor and a brief 5-on-3 in the second period. 

FOUR UP

James van Riemsdyk: Headlined what was a much better night for the power play, doing exactly what the Bruins were looking for when they signed him – producing around the net. Caught a nice break when his pass to the slot banked in off a defender, but flashed some incredible hand-eye under duress to tip in his second. So far, he still looks really effective in front of the net. He didn't play a ton at 5v5 (only 7:28) due to all the penalties, but was effective when he got his looks. Bruins had big advantages in shot attempts (8-3), scoring chances (5-0) and expected goals (81.41 percent) with JVR, Pavel Zacha and Pastrnak on at 5v5. 

Penalty kill: The penalty kill was rather busy in this one, but nevertheless, it was a strong showing from the man-down units. The kill of the double minor in the second period was textbook as the B’s drained clock in Nashville’s end. Thought the Johnny Beecher-Jake DeBrusk combo was particularly effective, thanks to their speed and length. Charlie McAvoy (3) and Brandon Carlo (2) ate pucks on the PK as the B’s combined to block nine shots when down 5-on-4. Carlo (7:21) spent nearly half of his 18:00 of ice time on the penalty kill, and Beecher (4:23; 12:22) and Derek Forbort (6:10; 17:19) played over a third of their ice time on the PK. Forbort even pulled the puck off the line in a scramble around Swayman in the second period.

Bottom six: Both the third and fourth line continue to be really effective options for the Bruins. The Trent Frederic-Matt Poitras-Morgan Geekie line was again a strong driver of possession at 5v5, and they had a great look in the first period that nearly saw Poitras pick up his first goal. The youngster had a terrific backcheck in the third to help save a goal, too. Milan Lucic, Beecher and Jakub Lauko were strong on the forecheck again, and they continue to get chances. Matter of time until they break through. 

Jeremy Swayman: Swayman was busy early and often, considering how often the Bruins were on their heels defensively and killing penalties, and he was strong when they needed him most. He vastly outplayed his 4.27 expected goals-against (via Natural Stat Trick) and stopped nine of 10 high-danger shots and 10 of 11 medium-danger shots. Of his 34 saves, 12 came on the penalty kill (4-for-4, high-danger). 

THREE DOWN

Discipline: The officials had their fair share of ticky-tack calls (at what point is it still hockey if you're just trading power plays all night?), but the Bruins also put themselves in a rough spot with poor stick positioning with some high-sticking and hooking calls. McAvoy's holding the stick call wasn't egregious, but it'll be called every time if the officials see it. Just need to be smarter. When you're killing that much, it disrupts the flow of the rest of the lineup. 

Marchand-Coyle-DeBrusk: This line has been fighting it a little bit so far in the early going. The Bruins were out-attempted 10-6 and out-chanced 6-4 (2-3, high-dager) in the 7:49 the trio was on the ice at 5v5. They also held the worst expected goals ratio (39.09 percent) of any Bruins line at 5v5, too. A big part of it might be their usage, being deployed as a bit of a shutdown line so far. They were on for four defensive zone draws as a line – the most of any line (DeBrusk was on for five, tied for the most of any skater) – five in the neutral zone and three in the attacking end. 

Sluggish starts: The Bruins had a strong edge in shot attempts at 5v5 after the first period, but Nashville had a 15-11 advantage in actual shots on goal. It was the second straight game that the B's started slow and gave up the first goal, failing to generate a ton in Grade-A ice in the early going, save for a scoring chance for Poitras and one for Kevin Shattenkirk, which allowed Nashville to turn the other way quickly and open the scoring.  

PLAY OF THE GAME 

Was there any doubt Pastrnak was going to bury this penalty shot? He can score in so many ways. Deceived Saros by seemingly flashing deke before slinging a bullet to the top-right corner. Really pretty finish. Jim Montgomery compared it to Luis Tiant's pitching. 

NOTABLE

It was the first time Nashville had scored on Swayman after three games and 72 shots, ending his shutout streak against them at 122:47, according to 98.5 The Sports Hub's Ty Anderson. 

Pastrnak had four individual scoring chances (two high-danger) at 5v5, and Poitras had three (all high-danger). 

UP NEXT

The Bruins will be back at it on Thursday when they kick off a four-game road trip, including with a three-game west coast swing, which begins in San Jose. Puck drop against the Sharks is set for 10:30 p.m. ET.