In Boston, the Bruins needed two third period goals from Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk to force extra time on Monday and then skills competition with the New Jersey Devils, before completing the rally with a 5-4 win on penalties.
“Those are the guys we rely on for offense,” Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy said of the defensemen. “They came through for us, but you know it was a real struggle at the other end. Our first touch tonight was probably as poor as it’s been all year, and it led to some goals-against.
“So it’s nice when you can learn lessons when you get two points. We were able to outscore our mistakes tonight. And good for [Grzelcyk] and Charlie, they’re the leaders of the back end right now. … Happy for them.”
Jaroslav Halak made 31 saves to get the win.
Miles Wood and Michael McLeod scored for the Devils to give them a 2-1 lead.
“I thought our puck play, which was pretty good through two periods, in the third period kind of let us down,” New Jersey head coach Lindy Ruff said. “We didn’t execute sometimes leaving the zone. Spent extra time with some plays late in the zone that if we make better plays, I think we’re going up ice, creating opportunities.”
Boston’s Nick Ritchie had scored after the Devils took a 1-0 lead on Wood’s goal.
Travis Zajac made it 3-1 with his 200th goal as a Devils skater.
“It just means I’ve played with some good players that made me look good,” Zajac said of the milestone. “It was nice to contribute. But other than that, you know it would’ve been nice to get the two points.”
Brad Marchand returned to the Boston lineup from COVID19 protocol nad cut into the Devils’ lead at 3-2.
“You saw in the third period, when we compete and work hard on pucks … and we play together, we’re a tough team to play,” Marchand said. “We completely took over that game. And we can do that for a full 60 (minutes). It’s just got to start somewhere. It started tonight, so we’ve got to keep that rolling.”
Kyle Palmieri restored the two-goal lead ahead of the rally in the third by Boston.
“Sometimes it’s not going to be pretty,” Boston’s Charlie Coyle said. “Sometimes we’re going to make mistakes. But it’s how you come back, and that shows our character in the third period there, to come back, pull that out, squeak the two points out like we did. We don’t want to do that every time, but we have that card. If that’s what it’s calling for, we play it. And everyone comes together and gets the job done. So that was huge by us.”
Mackenzie Blackwood made 44 saves in the loss.
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