In Boston, Jake DeBrusk‘s second goal of the game blunted a Florida Panthers third period rally on Monday to give the Bruins a 5-3 win. The late strike was an empty netter.
DeBrusk returned to the Bruins lineup Monday after an injury over the weekend.
“I was thinking possibly [Tuesday at the Ottawa Senators], and then I got asked, ‘Why not tonight?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, why not tonight?'” DeBrusk said. “I always got the green light, so that’s why I was here. I surprised pretty much all the boys.”
Linus Ullmark made 37 saves for the Boston win.
“We’re lucky here, like we have some high-end hockey players,” coach Jim Montgomery said. “You score goals like they did tonight, those are difference-makers, and that’s what allows you to win games when you don’t have your best game. Those difference-makers make things happen.”
Sam Bennett, Colin White and Gustav Forsling were the Florida strikers.
“It wasn’t a smooth night by any means; it was a hard-fought game,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “If you’re going to go down in the game, you should go down swinging, and I think we did that. So, I was really, really impressed with them.”
Bennett tied the 1-1, in the second period after DeBrusk had scored the game’s first goal for a 1-0 lead to Boston. Debrusk’s goal came with just 21 seconds gone in the game.
Patrice Bergeron (middle frame) and David Pastrnak (third period) scored for a 3-1 lead for the Bruins
Boston advanced the lead to 4-1 off a strike from Trent Frederic in the third.
“I was shocked at how smart a player he [DeBrusk] is, and his ability to make plays,” Montgomery said. I knew he could score goals, I knew he could skate. I didn’t know he could make as many plays as he does, and I think his all-around game is continuing to develop.”
The Panthers tried to rally back with goals from Forsling and White for a 4-3 score.
“Anytime time you go over 50 percent [in points percentage] on the road, it’s nice,” White said. “It’s going to be nice to get back home now and play three games there.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves in the Panthers loss.
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