Final: Bruins 1, Hockey Club 0 - Elias Lindholm scores only goal of game, Joonas Korpisalo picks up the shutout

In their first game without Jim Montgomery behind the bench, the Bruins defeat Utah 1-0 with Joonas Korpisalo picking up the shutout. In the game, Boston recorded over 30 shots on net, not taking advantage of the mistakes Utah made in this game.

In the first period, Boston went on the power play three times. However, they weren't able to get on the scoreboard. Despite no goals, their power play looked good during this period. They were able to maintain pressure within the offensive zone firing shots in all different areas of the ice, yet Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka shut the door making key saves to keep the game scoreless.

In the following period, the Bruins would finally score goal on the power play. Midway into the second period, Elias Lindholm tapped in the puck with chaos going on in front of the net resulting in the first and only goal of the game. 

Korpisalo was able to maintain the shutout the rest of the game. With a few minutes remaining in the third period, Utah pulled their goalie but would later end up with a penalty preventing them from getting the man advantage. They would pull their goalie again having only five skaters on the ice, and David Pastrnak scored an empty net goal that seemingly put the game away. However, the referees determined that Pastrnak played the puck on a high stick, taking away the empty net goal. The Bruins were able to kill the rest of Utah's offensive pressure giving them a 1-0 win.

While it wasn't the prettiest win, it is a step in the right direction for Boston. The Bruins power play looked better than in previous games, and the amount of shots on net they had showcases this. Boston definitely should've had more than one goal in this game. Overall, Utah recorded seven penalties which gave Boston 14 minutes of power play time. Utah had power play opportunities for themselves, but Boston along with strong goalie play from Korpisalo prevented the game from being tied up. As a backup goalie, Korpisalo has played great hockey, and this game gave Korpisalo his second shutout of the season. 

The Bruins will now head to Detroit to take on the Red Wings Saturday at 7 p.m.

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WHO: Bruins (8-9-3) vs Hockey Club (7-8-3)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden, Boston
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub

LIVE BOX SCORE

ROSTERS

PROJECTED LINES

Boston

Geekie - Zacha - Pastrnak

Marchand - E. Lindholm - Brazeau

Merkulov - Coyle - Frederic

Beecher - Kastelic - Koepke

Lohrei - McAvoy

Wotherspoon - Carlo

Zadorov - Peeke

Korpisalo

Swayman

Utah

Keller - Bjugstad - Guenther

Maccelli - Cooley - Crouse

Kerfoot- Hayton - Schmaltz

McBain - Stenlund - Carcone

Sergachev - Maatta

Valimaki - Kesselring

Cole - Lamoureux

Vejmelka

Stauber

PREGAME NOTES

The Bruins host the Utah HC tonight in the second of two games between these teams this season and the lone Utah visit to TD Garden this season.

The Bruins are 0-2-1 in their last three games with a 7-2 setback in Dallas in Nov. 14, a 3-2/OT setback vs. St. Louis on Nov. 16 and a 5-1 loss to Columbus on Nov. 18.

After a 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets Monday, the Bruins fired Jim Montgomery. Joe Sacco will take over as the interim head coach. Montgomery was hired ahead of the 2022-23 season and led the Bruins to a historic 65-win campaign. But the team struggled in the playoffs losing in the first round two years ago and the second round last year — both times to the Florida Panthers.

Firing Montgomery is the only staff change general manager Don Sweeney plans to make for now according to MassLive. “From a personnel standpoint, for the players themselves, they have to understand that they’re not where they need to be,” Sweeney said.