BOSTON — The Bruins wanted to have a greater effort of their house opener towards the Montreal Canadiens after dropping their first sport of the 2024-25 season. The Black and Gold scored 4 straight objectives and staved off a 3rd interval push to defeat their Authentic Six rivals 6-4 on Thursday night time.
“I assumed we gained much more battles, all three zones and play it sooner,” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery mentioned of the group’s effort. “I feel we are able to see the form of group we could be. We’ve received to develop into a greater checking group and perceive sport administration just a little bit higher. I didn’t suppose our sport administration was exemplary within the third, but it surely’s onerous to win on this league. We received our first win. We simply preserve constructing now.”
Boston received an offensive enhance from its fourth line of Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic and Cole Koepke. The trio tallied a mixed six factors with a pair of objectives from Kastelic and one other from Koepke.
“It was big. I feel Kastelic scored 45 or 48 objectives in junior hockey. So, it’s one thing he can do,” Montgomery mentioned. “It was simply good to see how onerous they went to the web. The Koepke aim, that’s Johnny Beecher taking it onerous to the web. And that first Kastelic aim, Koepke initially took the puck onerous to the web, which created that offensive zone time.”
Montgomery continued: “It’s one thing that we really feel with the pace and the dimensions of our group that we need to do extra of. It’s not straightforward to do, however that was an excellent signal of it.”
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“It feels actually good, I imply it simply feels good to contribute to the group’s success and getting on the rating sheet is at all times an excellent feeling,” Kastelic mentioned. “It was actually enjoyable taking part in with my (linemates) tonight. I feel we’re beginning to construct our video games collectively and get extra comfy with one another. It’s beginning to repay.”
The fourth line dimension — Beecher is 6-foot-3, 216 kilos, Kastelic stands at 6-foot-4, 226 kilos and Koepke isn’t any slouch at 6-foot-1, 204 kilos — is a gigantic benefit when they’re driving to the entrance of the web.
“I feel we play with quite a lot of pace and all of us received fairly good dimension,” Kastelic mentioned. “So, if we are able to get it to the web and trigger some chaos quite a lot of instances, good issues will occur. … I feel that we have been all on the identical web page and we have been taking the puck to the web. We’re taking part in with rather a lot pace and it’s a group that’s onerous to include and a group that’s taking part in on a back-to-back, we have been capable of capitalize on them. We received quite a lot of success tonight.”
Listed below are extra notes from Thursday’s Bruins-Canadiens sport:
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— The Bruins received loads of manufacturing from their offseason signings with 4 objectives and 6 assists. Elias Lindholm and Koepke every had a three-point night time with a aim and two assists a bit.
— Nikita Zadorov recorded two help, passing the 100-assist milestone within the win.
— Jeremy Swayman made his season debut after inking an eight-year extension Sunday. The Bruins goaltender made 20 saves within the win and even challenged Montreal ahead Nick Suzuki within the second interval after the Canadiens captain received too near the paint.
— Boston improved to 14-0-1 of their final 15 video games towards Montreal. The Authentic Six rivals met for the 761st time with the Bruins holding a 295-353-103-11 report. Boston improved to 176-142-56-7 lifetime towards Montreal at house with a 1,125-1,029 scoring benefit in these 381 contests.
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— The Bruins proceed their three-game homestand Saturday once they host the Los Angeles Kings in a matinee matchup. Puck drop from TD Backyard is scheduled for 1 p.m ET. You may watch the sport, plus an hour of pre- and postgame protection on NESN.
