One Big Takeaway From Bruins’ Gutsy Overtime Win Over Flames
BOSTON — The Boston Bruins really needed to turn the page and forget their shutout loss in Toronto on Tuesday when they hosted the Calgary Flames at TD Garden on Thursday.
The Bruins delivered with a gutsy 4-3 overtime victory over the Flames after surrendering a two-goal, third-period lead — moving to 7-7-1 on the season.
The Black and Gold got a spark from head coach Jim Montgomery’s latest shuffling of the forward lines.
The Bruins bench boss reunited David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha and gave newly signed Tyler Johnson the opportunity to skate on the second line with the two Czechia linemates. The move paid off, with Pastrnak and Zacha recording multiple points in the contest, and Boston held a 3-1 lead heading into the final 20 minutes of regulation.
Charlie Coyle was moved down to the third line with Cole Koepke and Matt Poitras flanked on his wings. The newly formed line gave the Bruins a 3-1 lead when Coyle connected with Koepke for the winger’s fourth goal of the season.
Two third-period unanswered goals from the Flames’ Yegor Sharangovich and Nazem Kadri tied the game and forced overtime.
Brad Marchand scored his 79th game-winning goal to seal the victory for Boston, ranking him third in franchise history, trailing only Johnny Bucyk and Patrice Bergeron.
The Bruins will look to build on the overtime win when they host former teammate Linus Ullmark and the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Puck drop from TD Garden is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and you can watch the game, plus an hour of pre- and postgame coverage on NESN.