GOLD STAR: David Pastrnak was flying from beginning to end with his best game of the season while scoring his first goal of the season. Pastrnak also had two assists along with a plus-1 rating in 19:26 of ice time and a number of offensive chances created through his skating, his playmaking and his work with linemates Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. This was, by far, their best night of the season as they combined for three of the team’s four goals, 12 shots on net and 24 shot attempts while completely getting on track offensively. It would appear that the rust is finally off the Perfection Line.
BLACK EYE: Tuukka Rask appeared to be injured at the very end of the game after holding things down in the third period to protect a one-goal lead. He stayed down in the crease for a few moments and then needed help getting off the ice. It appears to be nothing as Rask said to reporters following the game that it was just cramping amidst the Vegas heat after a busy game where he made 31 saves with a frenetic ending. Likewise, Matt Grzelcyk appeared to have suffered a left foot injury when he blocked a shot in the first period that forced him from the bench, but he also appears to be okay after returning in the second and third periods.
TURNING POINT: The Bruins faltered early in the game when a couple of defensive coverage mistakes led to the Golden Knights being up by a couple of goals. Then the Bruins' best players decided enough was enough and began scoring. By the end of the first period, scores from Pastrnak and Marchand evened things up and then the Bruins kicked it into offensive gear in the second period to put Vegas in the rear-view mirror. It was all about the first period, though, as the B’s pulled themselves off the mat, led by their best players.
HONORABLE MENTION: Rask fought through some cramping problems at the end of the third period to secure the win. Rask finished with 31 saves and was a rock in the third period as the desperate Golden Knights began throwing everything at the Boston net. He made just six saves as the Bruins defense stiffened in the third period as well, but it was a mad scramble at the very end with Rask once again playing midseason hockey just a few games into the season. Rask has struggled historically in October, but that doesn’t appear to be the case this season after back-to-back wins to start.
BY THE NUMBERS: 5 – The number of team-leading hits for Karson Kuhlman, who actually played pretty well when he was dropped into a bottom-six role as Bruce Cassidy switched around the lines.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We battled back. There was no panic. We just kept pushing. Our power play came through for us. At the end of the day, the third period was solid. We played the right way and I like the way we closed out the game.” –Bruce Cassidy, to NESN postgame about a solid effort for the Bruins after battling back from an early 2-0 deficit.
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.