Bruins explode for seven goals in win over Capitals
There’s making up for mistakes and there’s what Matt Grzelcyk did Monday night in Washington.
With the Bruins down by one after a miscommunication between Brandon Carlo and Linus Ullmark set Conor Sheary up for the game-opening score, Grzelcyk dug the Black and Gold’s hole twice as deep with a no-look dish right to Sheary in the slot for the second Capitals goal of the evening. The response? The first five-point night from a Boston defenseman in 28 years on the way to a 7-3 comeback win at Capital One Arena.
Matt Grzelcyk snaps one past Zach Fucale.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 11, 2022
Bruins lead, 3-2. pic.twitter.com/43XjjqH5jw
With points in all three periods, and five by the night’s end as previously noted, Grzelcyk became the first B’s defenseman to record five points in a single game since Ray Bourque in Jan. 1994.
Overall, he’s just the fifth defenseman in team history to reach that mark, joining a group that features Bobby Orr (10 times), Bourque (three times), and single five-point nights from Pat Egan and Glen Wesley.
“I’ve felt good about my game most of the year, but points were hard to come by,” Grzelcyk, who entered played with eight points on the year, said after the victory. “Everything just fell into place [tonight].”
But Grzelcyk’s historic night wouldn’t have gotten off the crowd without the help of a bloodied Brad Marchand, who came through with a delicious five-on-three dime to put the Bruins on the board and then scored the game-tying marker before the period’s end to give the B’s some serious life and demoralize the Capitals in a major way.
Hockey guy. pic.twitter.com/m8D86Xm0mK
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 11, 2022
“We know what he’s all about because we’ve seen it,” Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said of Marchand’s immediate return and impact on the game. “He’s a competitive guy when he puts the skates on.”
Brad Marchand (with a probably broken nose) ties the game, 2-2: pic.twitter.com/QZEc7Ecxcc
— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) January 11, 2022
The Bruins rode the Marchand momentum to four straight goals in the middle frame, and added a seventh one for good measure in the third period, to cruise to their second straight victory.
Linus Ullmark finished with 27 saves in net for his fourth straight win (and sixth victory in his last seven decisions), while the Boston penalty kill continued their strong run with a 2-for-2 night against a vaunted Washington power play.
Boston will return home for the start of a massive seven-game homestand at TD Garden.
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