Dec 14, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Boston Bruins ahead David Pastrnak (88) throughout a cease in play in opposition to the Vancouver Canucks within the third interval at Rogers Area. Necessary Credit score: Bob Frid-Imagn Photographs After a get-right recreation for each groups over the weekend, the Boston Bruins proceed their five-game Western Convention journey with a Tuesday night time contest in opposition to the Calgary Flames.
The Bruins shook off losses in Winnipeg and Seattle to start the highway swing with a significant victory on Saturday, defeating the Vancouver Canucks 5-1 for less than their fifth recreation this season scoring greater than 4 targets.
Interim coach Joe Sacco’s crew is hoping that it was a breakout recreation for star winger David Pastrnak, who netted a third-period objective after aiding on three of Boston’s first 4. He had scored a objective in solely two of the earlier 13 contests.
“Yeah, I am a objective scorer, however thus far I have not been this 12 months,” Pastrnak stated. “And we had been struggling on the facility play. It has been coming (over) the final three or 4 video games. It is for positive going to be higher.”
Although Pastrnak’s objective was not one, the Bruins have scored on the facility play in 4 of their final six video games following a four-game drought. The person-up objective got here from captain Brad Marchand, who’s on a six-game level streak.
Following a confidence-boosting outing, the Boston lineup has additionally gained a brand new weapon. Oliver Wahlstrom, a 24-year-old Maine native and former first-round draft choose, joined the crew for Monday’s observe in Calgary after being claimed off waivers from the New York Islanders.
Wahlstrom, who scored a career-high 13 targets in 2021-22, has performed not more than 27 video games within the final three NHL seasons. The Bruins imagine his recreation, together with a rocket of a shot, is usually a profit to the crew.
“(His shot is) deadly,” stated Bruins ahead Marc McLaughlin, who performed with Wahlstrom at Boston Faculty. “Everybody is aware of that. … The extra he can get that off and play his recreation that manner, I believe he’ll be nice.”
Sacco believes that Wahlstrom is happy to indicate what he can do with a brand new group.
“I believe he is it like a brand new alternative, similar to most gamers would,” Sacco stated.
Calgary has received two of its final three video games following a stretch of six losses in seven (1-4-2), together with a 3-0 shutout of the Florida Panthers on Saturday. The victory got here two nights after an 8-3 defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning to start a five-game homestand.
“It was the response we needed and wanted,” Flames captain Mikael Backlund stated.
Backlund scored his first objective in 15 video games and added an help whereas Nazem Kadri scored for a 3rd straight recreation, all supporting 23-year-old Dustin Wolf (32 saves) within the second shutout of his season and profession.
The Flames are 11-4-1 at dwelling, profitable 4 of these video games by way of shutout.
“Once we play that manner it exhibits on the ice what we will do,” ahead Connor Zary stated of the Flames’ final efficiency. “It does not matter who we’re taking part in and what the opposite crew is doing so long as we’re taking part in to our construction.”
Sharing the online with former Bruin Dan Vladar, Wolf entered Saturday on a private three-game skid, making a minimum of 22 saves however permitting 4 or extra targets in every.
Within the eyes of coach Ryan Huska, these outcomes had been extra a product of the crew’s play missing greater than the goaltender’s.
“For us, all people goes by means of a stretch or two like that, it is simply sticking with it and ensuring he is aware of we proceed to imagine in him,” Huska stated. “Even the video games the place we bought beat and he gave up some targets, I did not suppose he was poor. I simply did not suppose the sport was pretty much as good in entrance of him.”
–Discipline Degree Media
