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Ovechkin Nets #891 vs Bruins

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Washington’s Alex Ovechkin scored his 891st career goal to move within four of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record, helping the Washington Capitals defeat the host Boston Bruins 4-3 on Tuesday night.

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Washington scored twice in both the first and third periods en route to breaking a three-game skid (0-2-1). Goals from Nic Dowd and Ovechkin gave the Capitals a 2-0 lead. Boston came back to tie before Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson scored in the third.

David Pastrnak scored twice, Morgan Geekie had two assists and Vinni Lettieri also found the net for Boston, which has lost nine straight (0-8-1).

With Washington up 1-0, Ovechkin scored on the power play with 4:17 left in the first. John Carlson’s initial shot from the high slot took a deflection off the skate of Strome in front and right to Ovechkin, who settled the puck and scored it into an open side of the net.

 

Bruins Top Flyers in 2OT

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Pavel Zacha scored his second overtime game-winning goal in three games to propel the Boston Bruins past the visiting Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on Saturday afternoon. The game was the first of a day-night, hockey-basketball doubleheader at TD Garden.

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After Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman (23 saves) stopped a Joel Farabee breakaway to extend the extra session, David Pastrnak curled around the net and fed Zacha for the back-door finish to decide the game at the 2:49 mark.

Trent Frederic posted his second multi-goal effort of the season before Brad Marchand’s tying goal for Boston, which has won four straight.

Matvei Michkov gave Philadelphia a 2-0 lead in the first period, becoming the first NHL rookie to reach the double-digit goal plateau this season.

Cam York also scored, Travis Sanheim had two assists and Aleksei Kolosov made 27 stops for Philadelphia, which has lost back-to-back games (0-1-1) following a 4-0-1 run.

Marchand found the tying goal with 5:22 left in regulation, going five-hole on Kolosov after corralling a Justin Brazeau pass down the wall to even the score at 3-3.

The game reached overtime despite Boston earning three power plays in the third period — all after Frederic scored for a second time at the 5:18 mark, netting the deflection of a Charlie Coyle shot in the slot.

The Bruins had a 31-26 advantage in shots.

Michkov buried two of Philadelphia’s first six shots, opening the scoring with a power-play goal at 7:24 of the first. After Emil Andrae had his straight-on try blocked, Sean Couturier directed a loose puck to Michkov for a drive from the right circle.

The Flyers took a 2-0 lead when Sanheim fired a perfect cross-ice pass off the wall and right to Michkov, who charged down the wing and right to the top of the crease to bury the puck into an open side of Swayman’s net.

After Kolosov made a sliding pad save on Morgan Geekie, Boston continued to put pressure on during the power play and got within 2-1 on Frederic’s rebound tally at 5:26 of the middle frame. Mason Lohrei triggered the point shot that led to the goal.

York reestablished Philadelphia’s two-goal lead with 4:31 left in the second, taking Sanheim’s low-to-high feed and beating Swayman with a wrist shot from the top of the right dot.

–Field Level Media

Flyers Blank Bruins, 2-0

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Samuel Ersson made 23 saves en route to his first shutout of the season as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the host Boston Bruins 2-0 on Tuesday. Tyson Foerster netted the game-winning goal in the second period, and Joel Farabee added a last-minute empty-netter.

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The Flyers have won two of their last three games since a six-game losing streak (0-5-1).

Emil Andrae had the primary assist on Foerster’s game-opening goal. It was the 22-year-old Swedish defenseman’s first career point in his sixth NHL game, his second contest this season.

Joonas Korpisalo made 17 saves for the Bruins, who have won just one of their past four (0-3-1). That span includes a pair of shutout losses.

Prior to Tuesday, the Bruins had earned at least a point in 20 consecutive home games vs. the Flyers since March 17, 2012.

The Bruins had a 24-19 shot advantage but finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Just three of their shots came in the third period.

Foerster broke the scoreless deadlock 5:32 into the second. Andrae slipped a pass from the half-wall through traffic and right to Foerster between the circles, where a straight-on wrist shot beat Korpisalo.

The Bruins had a prime scoring opportunity before the game was six minutes old but were unable to convert on 1:37 of five-on-three time.

On the other end, Korpisalo made a big save on Garnet Hathaway, who shot off a two-on-one break with Scott Laughton out of the penalty box.

One of Ersson’s best saves of the opening period came with 5:21 left when a crisp passing sequence resulted in Elias Lindholm getting a point-blank chance at the left post.

Ersson did not see a shot on goal on either of Boston’s last two power plays, including attempts in both the second and third frames.

The opening minutes of the third saw 19-year-old Flyers star Matvei Michkov attempt a lacrosse-style goal, only to be thwarted by Korpisalo, while Ersson pounced on a loose puck that Brad Marchand threw on from behind the goal line during a short-handed sequence.

–Field Level Media

 

Pastrnak Comes Through for Bruins

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s David Pastrnak scored 1:54 into overtime as the Bruins beat the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on Saturday night in Game 7 of an Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

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Pastrnak raced up the right wing and scored off the carom of defenseman Hampus Lindholm’s lob off the corner boards, tucking a backhander between the left post and the skate of Toronto goaltender Ilya Samsonov (29 saves).

Lindholm finished with a goal and an assist, tallying Boston’s only marker in regulation just 1:21 after Toronto’s William Nylander opened the scoring at 9:01 of the third period.

Jeremy Swayman made 30 saves for Boston, which has now won seven consecutive playoff series against Toronto dating back to 1969 and will meet the Florida Panthers in the second round.

Game 1 of the Bruins’ next series is set for Monday night in Sunrise, Fla.

Samsonov got the start since Joseph Woll did not dress due to an undisclosed injury sustained in Game 6. Nearly midway through the third, Toronto scored the go-ahead goal off an in-zone sequence. After Boston defenseman Brandon Carlo slipped and lost the puck in the corner, Auston Matthews — who returned from a two-game absence (illness) — picked it up and dished it to an open Nylander for him to deposit into the back of the net.

The hosts wasted little time responding. Justin Brazeau’s backhand from the bottom of the right circle deflected over the net, but Lindholm got the puck on the opposite wing and flicked it in off the right post.

Boston combined for just three first-period shots in Games 5 and 6, but it got off to a much better start on Saturday, outshooting the Maple Leafs 11-9 through the first 20 minutes of action.

However, Toronto picked up the pace in the second, recording 12 shots to the Bruins’ seven.

Following a scoreless Boston power play, Toronto’s first and only man advantage — stemming from a Charlie Coyle cross-check at 4:36 of the second — resulted in strong pressure. The Bruins completed the kill, with Tyler Bertuzzi putting a shot on goal just as the power play was coming to an end.

Another key Swayman save came on Connor Dewar’s short-handed breakaway with 8:35 left in the period.

–Field Level Media

Bruins Name Montgomery Coach

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Bruins named Jim Montgomery as the 29th head coach in team history.

“The Boston Bruins are pleased to introduce Jim Montgomery as the next head coach of the Boston Bruins and welcome Jim, his wife, Emily, and his children, JP, Colin, Ava and Olivia, to the city of Boston,” said Bruins GM Don Sweeney. “Jim has a winning history, and throughout the interview process he conveyed his ability to connect with all types of players while also demanding that his teams play with structure. We are excited for Jim to begin to make his imprint on our team.”

Montgomery will be officially introduced in a press conference with CEO Charlie Jacobs, President Cam Neely and Sweeney at TD Garden during the week of July 11.

Montgomery, 53, served as an assistant coach for the St. Louis Blues from 2020-22. Prior to his time in St. Louis, Montgomery served as head coach of the Dallas Stars from 2018-2020. Montgomery led the Dallas Stars to a 43-32-7 record in 2018-19, leading the team to its first playoff appearance in three years.

Before being hired as the head coach in Dallas, Montgomery served as the head coach for the University of Denver from 2013-17, where he led the Pioneers to the NCAA tournament in each of his five seasons, including two Frozen Four appearances (2016, 2017) and a National Championship victory (2017). Montgomery was also named the NCAA Coach of the Year in 2017.

Prior to his time with the Pioneers, he served as the head coach for the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints from 2010-13.

In his first year at the helm, he led the Fighting Saints to win the 2011 USHL championship. He would go on to lead the team to another Clark Cup win in 2013.

Prior to his time in the USHL, the Montréal, Quebec, native spent time as an assistant coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2006-10) and Notre Dame (2005-06).

Montgomery spent 14 seasons as a forward in the NHL and AHL from 1993-2005. Montgomery skated in 122 NHL games for five different teams, (St. Louis Blues, Montréal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars) tallying 10 goals and 25 assists for 35 points and 82 penalty minutes.

Montgomery also appeared in 451 AHL games for the Hershey Bears, Philadelphia Phantoms, Kentucky Thoroughblades, and Utah Grizzlies, amassing 165 goals, 328 assists, 490 points, 674 penalty minutes, and a plus-84 rating.

Prior to making the jump to professional hockey, Montgomery played four seasons at the University of Maine from 1989-93. In 1993, Montgomery captained the Black Bears team that set the NCAA record for wins in a season with 42. Maine went on to win the NCAA championship behind Montgomery’s efforts as the team’s leading scorer, including his hat trick in the third period of the 1993 Championship game to help seal victory.

Bruins Extend Lindolm Contract

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Bruins agreed to terms on an eight-year contract extension with defenseman Hampus Lindholm, said Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney in a statement. The deal will call for an annual cap hit of $6,500,000.

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Lindholm, 28, was acquired by the Bruins on March 19 along with  Kodie Curran in exchange for defensemen Urho Vaakanainen and John Moore, a 2022 first-round draft pick, a 2023 second-round draft pick and a 2024 second-round draft pick.

As part of the deal, the Anaheim Ducks retained 50-percent of Lindholm’s salary.

The 6-foot-4, 216-pound defenseman has tallied five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 61 games for the Anaheim this season. The Helsingborg, Sweden native has appeared in 582 NHL games with Anaheim, totaling 57 goals and 165 assists for 222 points.

Lindholm was originally selected by Anaheim in the first round (6th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

 

NHL Upholds Marchand Suspension

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release and Statement) – National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the six-game suspension that was assessed to Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand by the Department of Player Safety for roughing and high-sticking Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry during their game in Boston on Feb. 8.

Bettman heard Marchand’s appeal of the original decision, assessed Feb. 9, at a hearing on Feb. 16.

The incidents occurred at 19:35 of the third period. Marchand was assessed a minor penalty for roughing as well as a match penalty.

“In reaching my conclusions I have given careful consideration to Mr. Marchand’s testimony concerning his efforts to control his emotions in order to excel as an impact player who plays aggressively, but within the rules. I believe that he has already made significant strides towards achieving this goal. Unfortunately, however, Mr. Marchand’s behavior and lack of judgment in respect of these incidents did not meet acceptable NHL standards. He created a distraction which reflected poorly on himself, on his team and on the League as a whole, and as such, I find he also deserves the penalty he received. Having said that, I encourage Mr. Marchand to reflect on this experience and to use it positively in furtherance of his efforts to refine and improve his on-ice image and game for everyone’s benefit,” said Bettman in his statement.

Rask Back for Bruins’ Win vs Islanders

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BOSTON – Taylor Hall scored his first goal for Boston and goaltender Tuukka Rask stopped 22 shots to earn his 300th career victory — and his first since February — as the Bruins dominated the New York Islanders and won 4-1 on Thursday night.

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Rask had played just once since March 7 because of a back injury. His teammates gave him an easy one, outshooting the Islanders 45-23 — including a 23-7 first period — and getting two goals from Brad Marchand and one from Craig Smith to win their second straight game.

Travis Zajac scored his first goal for New York, and Islanders goalkeeper Semyon Varlamov made 41 saves. The Islanders had won five of their previous six games. They trail the first-place Washington Capitals by two points in the East Division.

Boston, which won the NHL Presidents Trophy as the league’s No. 1 team during the pandemic-shortened season of 2020, solidified its hold on the fourth and final playoff berth in the East, but are only four points ahead of the fifth-place New York Rangers.

The Islanders and Bruins meet again in Boston tonight.