James van Riemsdyk scored his first two goals of the season, as the Boston Bruins improved to 2-0-0 with a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night at TD Garden.

Penalties were a big story in this game. The eventual game-winner from van Riemsdyk in the third period came on a Bruins power play, as Boston tightened up their discipline with no penalties in the final 20 after six in the first 40. Nashville, meanwhile, committed three penalties in the third.

The Predators pounced first, off the stick of longtime Pred Colton Sissons. Capitalizing on a too-low Bruins attack, Sissons rushed the other way against Derek Forbort on an island, and fired it short-side past Swayman to make it 1-0 Predators.

For the second game in a row to start the season, the Bruins went down and had to play from behind early.

The Bruins would answer the Sissons goal late in the first period, and in interesting fashion. van Riemsdyk looked to be trying to deflect the puck off a Predator and in, and it worked, as the puck went off the skate of a sprawling Dante Fabbro for the tying goal, making it 1-1.

The teams would head to the locker room for the first intermission tied 1-1, and also tied 5-5 in high-danger scoring chances. However, the Bruins held a strong 17-9 edge in shot attempts at five-on-five.

Penalties plagued the Bruins over the first two periods of the game, and especially so in the second period, with four more penalties plus a delayed call that led to a Predators goal. Before that, however, Pastrnak netted his third goal of the season to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead.

Pastrnak blew by Preds defenseman Ryan McDonagh for a scoring bid at the other end, then was awarded a penalty shot. He beat Nashville goalie Juuse Saros high, glove side for the goal.

• The Bruins’ lead would only last 2:08, as the Predators capitalized on a delayed tripping call on B’s defenseman Hampus Lindholm. It was Sissons again, as he tipped home a point shot by All-Star defenseman Roman Josi to tie the game back up at 2-2. That would be the score at the second intermission.

  Colton Sissons redirects Josi's slap shot into the back of the net for his second goal of the game!#Preds pic.twitter.com/81VpuNcIHC

  — Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 15, 2023

• The Bruins grabbed a power play early in the third period, as rookie Matt Poitras drew a high-sticking call after racing to beat an icing. It paid off.

  That was when van Riemsdyk scored his second of the game, as he tipped home a bomb from the point by Charlie McAvoy to make it 3-2 Bruins. They would hold that lead for the remainder of the game. Jeremy Swayman stopped 34 of 36 shots to earn his first win of the year.

  ✌️ FOR JVR pic.twitter.com/aTifaJLVkQ

  — Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 15, 2023

• Up Next: The Bruins are now off until next Thursday, Oct. 19, when they head out to San Jose to start a West Coast road trip against the Sharks.

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  Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

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