Bruins Open Season on the Road. Take Six out of Eight Possible Points.

October 3rd: Dallas (2-1, Bruins Win)

Brett Ritchie scored against his old team just over one minute into the game.

Danton Heinen scored not even five minutes later.

Scary moments n the second period as the Stars’ Roman Polak went awkwardly, head first, into the boards. He then lay motionless on the ice for several long moments and was tended to by trainers and medical staff from both the Stars and Bruins. Dallas Emergency Medical Services transported Polak to the hospital for further evaluation and assessment.

Stars’ Roope Hintz scored a few moments after Polak left the arena.

Tuukka Rask with 28 saves and the Bruins WIN!

October 5th: Arizona (1-0, Bruins Win)

Bruins open season on the road. Stop number two – the Arizona desert.

Jaroslav Halak made 35 saves for the shutout. Coyotes home opener was not what they hoped.

Marchand scores the only goal of the game late in the first period, but many fans are still waiting for the Bruins’ first line to start performing at their typical elite level.

The Coyotes out-performed the Bruins in every statistic, except goals, yet the Bruins found a way to win.

October 8th: Las Vegas (4-3, Bruins Win)

Bruins open season on the road, Stop number 3 – The Vegas Strip.

The Vegas Golden Knights started the game with early goals by Mark Stone and Reilly Smith, but the Bruins answered with goals by David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand.

The Bruins scored two more in the second, with Marchand getting his second and Torey Krug finding twine for his first of the season.

Max Pacioretty lit the lamp for Vegas’ third goal of the game. Fortuately, the Golden Knights would not find another hole in Rask despite a flurry in front of the Bruins’ net to end the game.

Rask required assistance to leave the playing surface after the game, suffering from dehydration. Bruins’ Head Coach, Bruce Cassidy provided assurances in his post game interview that Rask was “…structurally sound.” (And a very loud, collective sigh of relief was heard throughout Bruins Nation!).

Overall, the Bruins and the Golden Knights were relatively evenly matched across all categories. This hockey fan would be thrilled if this game were to be the preview of this season’s Stanley Cup Final.

October 10th: Colorado (2-4, Bruins Lose)

Bruins open season on the road. Last stop – Colorado.

Despite what the scoreboard showed at the end of 60 minutes, this game could have gone either way. The Bruins had 2 goals overturned and the effects of the video review rule changes are being felt.

Pastrnak and Zdeno Chara scored in the first period, for the only goals that would count for the Bruins.

The Bruins outperformed Colorado in almost every category except goals, takeaways, and the power play. The Bruins were 0/1 on their power play, while the Avalanche faired a bit better at 1/2 on their power play.

What’s Important

The most important takeaway from the Bruins’ season opening road trip is that they took six out of eight possible points.

Just as important, is that the Bruins’ goaltending tandem of Rask and Halak appears to be dialed in and dominating.

The top line, Bergeron, Marchand and Pastrnak, is shaking off the rust after limited preseason play.

It appears that secondary scoring may not be the issue it was early last season. Hopefully Jake DeBrusk and Karson Kuhlman are able to continue finding ways to get the puck in the net. Heinen can have a breakout season. Ritchie has his first goal as a Bruin. Players not named Bergeron, Marchand, or Pastrnak just may surprise us all this season.

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