The Boston Bruins mounted a thrilling comeback to secure a 5-4 shootout victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night, with Charlie Coyle and David Pastrnak scoring decisive goals in the shootout.
Boston’s regulation goals came from Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, Nick Ritchie, and Matt Grzelcyk. The Bruins rallied late in the third period, scoring twice in the final 9:38 to erase a two-goal deficit. Jaroslav Halak was solid in net, making 31 saves.
“Sometimes it’s not going to be pretty, and you’re going to make mistakes, but it shows the character that we have,” Coyle said after the game. “Every point is crucial from here on out.”
For the Devils, Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac, Miles Wood, and Michael McLeod found the back of the net, extending their strong season record against Boston to 4-0-2. Mackenzie Blackwood, who had a stellar 40-save shutout in their previous matchup, made an impressive 44 saves in this game. Ryan Murray contributed with two assists.
The Devils seemed poised for another victory against the Bruins until McAvoy cut the lead to 4-3 with 9:38 remaining in the third, followed by Grzelcyk’s tying goal with just 4 minutes left on the clock.
“That’s the hallmark of our team,” Marchand said. “When we’re aggressive on the puck and keep the pressure on, we’re tough to beat. We really took control in the third period.”
Coyle and Pastrnak executed slick moves in the shootout to get past Blackwood, sealing the win for Boston. The Devils, who controlled much of the overtime play, especially during a power play following a slashing penalty on McAvoy, couldn’t capitalize.
“That’s the disappointing part,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff remarked. “It’s frustrating and disappointing that our power play hasn’t been able to clinch these games.”
New Jersey remains winless in shootouts this season, falling to 0-4.
“The shootout is a highly skilled part of the game,” Ruff noted. “Not only haven’t we scored enough to win a shootout, but we haven’t been able to stop them either.”
The Devils initially led 2-1 after the first period, with Wood opening the scoring just 1:28 into the game. He capitalized on a pass from P.K. Subban, who intercepted a clearing attempt and slipped a wrist shot past Halak.
Ritchie quickly responded for Boston, tying the game four minutes later with a shot from the right circle that Blackwood mishandled, allowing it to trickle into the net.
New Jersey extended their lead to 3-1 early in the second period when Zajac redirected a shot from Jesper Bratt past Halak. Although the Bruins cut the lead to 3-2 with a power-play goal from Marchand, Palmieri answered back just 1:18 later, intercepting a clearing pass and beating Halak with a forehand shot.
Tempers flared after New Jersey went up 4-2, leading to scrums and altercations after the whistles.
Return of Key Players
Brad Marchand returned to the Bruins lineup after missing the previous two games due to COVID protocol, which he revealed was a “false positive.” Marchand, who leads the team with 13 goals and 23 assists, said the situation was “odd, but many teams are going through it.”
Additionally, defenseman Brandon Carlo played for the first time since suffering a concussion on March 5 from a hit by Washington’s Tom Wilson, which led to a seven-game suspension for Wilson.
“The first few days were tough,” Carlo shared. “My vision was blurry, especially in my right eye. Once that cleared up, I knew I just needed time to recover.”
Game Notes
Boston’s Sean Kuraly and Jake DeBrusk remain in COVID-19 protocol. Ritchie’s goal was the first 5-on-5 goal the Bruins scored against New Jersey this season. During the second period, Marchand and Bratt engaged in a brief skirmish behind the Devils’ net, earning roughing penalties.
Up Next
- The Devils will host the Washington Capitals on Friday night, starting a two-game home series. The Bruins will face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, the first of two consecutive games in Boston.
