Here are my Talking Points from another dramatic Bruins win that had most of its thrills while most of us in Boston slept . . .
GOLD STAR: David Backes responded to the physicality that the Golden Knights were throwing at the Bruins during the game, and then he responded when he was a surprising choice deep in the shootout against Vegas. Backes scored on a straight wrist shot against Marc-Andre Fleury to secure Boston’s seventh win in a row, and responded to the challenge as perhaps an unlikely choice in the shootout. Backes also finished with five shot attempts, four hits and a blocked shot in 12:31 of ice time along with 3-of-4 face-off wins in a solid all-around game for the veteran. Backes got the winner in the sixth round of the shootout.
BLACK EYE: It was not a great night for Noel Acciari, who finished a minus-1 with just a couple of hits in 16:34 of ice time. Normally Acciari is more of a physical presence for the Bruins, but it wasn’t as much the case on Wednesday night with Chris Wagner and David Backes really bringing the physicality for the Black and Gold. In addition he just had a single shot on net and lost 5-of-7 draws in the face-off circle in an overall blah game for the fourth line energy player. All’s well that ends well obviously for a Bruins team that ended up taking the decision in the shootout, but the fourth liner has been better most nights this season
TURNING POINT: Credit Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy for going the unconventional route in the shootout and choosing David Backes after Marc-Andre Fleury had turned aside shot attempts from guys like Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. Most of the Bruins players were trying to attack MAF with a speedy attack that didn’t have much luck, and Backes seemed to change all of that up. He skated toward the net at his own pace and then snapped a wrist shot past Fleury for the game-winner to secure the two points for the Bruins.
BRUINS TRADE FOR CHARLIE COYLE
HONORABLE MENTION: So that’s goals in five straight games for Jake DeBrusk, who is very clearly feeling it confidence-wise right now. He took a David Krejci pass from the sideboards, spun off Shea Theodore in the slot and then roofed a shot past Fleury for his 19th goal of the season. DeBrusk is now one goal short of putting up 20 goals for the first time in his career, and has two shots on net in five-plus minutes of ice time while working pretty well together with his usual trigger man in Krejci and the hard-working Karson Kuhlman on the other wing. DeBrusk then scored again in the shootout with a nasty shot off the post, though his score was cancelled out when William Karlsson scored at the other end for Vegas.
BRUINS 3, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2 (SO)
BY THE NUMBERS: 12 – the number of consecutive games where the Bruins have points as they continue to roll and climb up in the playoff standings while heating up at the right time of year.
Boston Bruins
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It was one of those games where it’s getting around that time, and getting toward the trade deadline. So it’s time to pick it up.” –Jake DeBrusk to NBCSN, on the playoff vibe around a 3-2 shootout win over Vegas.
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