Definitely a much better effort this time around!

The Boston Bruins came into St. Louis honestly just looking for this road trip to end. Three post regulation losses in three games has been brutal physically and mentally on this team. Could the Black and Gold leave St. Louis not Black and Blue or would the Blues keep frowns on our faces?

First Period

The Bruins came out of the jump without a ton of energy but ended up with the first one! Brad Marchand slips into soft space right in front of Jordan Binnington, and he gets to roof one past the netminder in close, 1-0 Bruins!

And their other road trip nemesis of giving up retaliation goals quickly shows its head. Kevin Hayes rips a one-timer in the slot past Jeremy Swayman, it’s a 1-1 game.

Kevin Hayes technically had a second goal, but it was wiped out after a coach’s challenge for offsides! The Bruins video team keeps on winning.

Second Period

The Bruins would take the lead once again, as Jesper Boqvist found Charlie McAvoy crashing into the slot, and Chuckie would slide one through Binnington’s five hole, giving the B’s a 2-1 lead!

We giveth and we taketh away. The penalty kill gives up a goal as Jordan Kyroe slide the puck across to Jake Neighbours who tucks one through Swayman, 2-2.

Third Period

Brad Marchand decided to put the team on his back tonight! On a 5-on-3, David Pastrnak fed the captain with a strong pass, and the Rat King had a wide open one-timer on goal. 3-2!

And ill-timed penalties hurt once again. Scott Perunovich takes the shot from the top of the point and Oskar Sundqvist tips the puck in front, it’s 3-3.

Overtime

Yes, it happened…again. The Bruins’ nemesis all this road trip. This one would end a lot better! After some bobbling in possession at center ice (and possibly a tripping penalty on David Pastrnak but shhh we won’t talk about that), Charlie McAvoy grabs the puck, skates into a 2-on-1 with Pasta, and decides to take this one himself. Top corner, cookie jar, game, set, match, Bruins win, 4-3!

3 Stars

1. Charlie McAvoy
2. Brad Marchand
3. Bruins video coach Mat Myers

Game Notes

• With his first goal of the night, Brad Marchand scored his 900th career point. He becomes the fifth player in Bruins history to cross that threshold, joining Ray Bourque, Johnny Bucyk, Patrice Bergeron, and Phil Esposito. Congrats to the cap!
• Charlie McAvoy potted 2 goals and led the team with 27:40 time on ice tonight. He just continues to be a workhorse.

• Speaking of becoming a workhorse and earning his coach’s trust, look at that from Trent Frederic. This feels like the blossoming Don Sweeney and co. was yearning for from the first round pick.
• The Bruins video team came up with yet another successful challenge! Boston might have been down 2-1 early, but word came on high Kevin Hayes’ skates entered the zone before he attained possession of the puck and a goal was wiped off the board. The B’s honestly took a lot of momentum off of this and played like the better team most of the rest of the night.
• On not so great footing, the PK was…not effective tonight, just 1-for-3 in effectiveness. PK specialist Derek Forbort is sorely missed.
• Overall, the Bruins went 1-0-3 on the road trip, taking 5 out of a possible 8 points. It could be a lot worse, as demoralizing as the first three games were.
• Next up, the squad heads back home for a MLK day matinee against the New Jersey Devils. Be there! We will!