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Boston Bruins

Matt Poitras scores two as Bruins down Ducks

By Ty Anderson
Oct 22, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Boston Bruins center Matthew Poitras (51) celebrates with teammates after scoring a game tying goal during the third period against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

The second intermission of Sunday’s showdown between the Bruins and Ducks at Anaheim’s Honda Center saw Boston prospect Matt Poitras officially cross the halfway point of his nine-game trial with the club.

And sure, the first half the 19-year-old’s NHL test run has come with its moments — both good and bad — when it comes to Poitras’ readiness for full-time NHL minutes.

But if the third period of Sunday’s 3-1 win for the Bruins is a sign of what’s to come, it’s only going to get harder for the Bruins to justify returning the skilled center to OHL Guelph.

  • Down 1-0 at the 5:05 mark of the third period after Anaheim’s Mason McTavish banged home a rebound through the Bruins’ Linus Ullmark, Poitras and the Bruins needed just 1:24 to respond, and did exactly that when Morgan Geekie hit a net-driving Poitras with a no-look backhand feed.

    With the monkey officially off his back with his first career goal on the board, Poitras waited just 3:51 to follow up with NHL goal No. 2, this time on a rebound putaway following a Jake DeBrusk shot on goal.

  • A pair of strikes from Poitras turned out to be all Ullmark needed in this contest, too, as the reigning Vezina Trophy winner was excellent once again, with 30 saves on 31 shots faced by the night’s end.

    Ullmark has now allowed just one goal in all three of his 2023-24 starts to date, and Sunday’s performance actually saw his season save percentage move up, from .958 to .962.

    Sunday also saw Brad Marchand score a goal for the third straight contest, as the first-year B’s captain found the back of the net for an empty-net goal that put this game to bed with 2:34 left in the third period.

  • Oct 22, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Max Jones (49) and Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (48) fight on the ice during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

    Oct 22, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Max Jones (49) and Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (48) fight on the ice during the second period at Honda Center. (Kiyoshi Mio/USA TODAY Sports)

  • On a lineup front, DeBrusk returned to the Black and Gold lineup after the Bruins held DeBrusk out of Saturday’s game in Los Angeles due to the 27-year-old arriving late to a team meeting.

    Milan Lucic, meanwhile, left Boston’s pregame warmup early and was a late scratch from this contest due to a lower-body injury. Lucic was clearly hobbled by a Derek Forbort shot that hit him in the leg Saturday night, but tried to give a go Sunday before the Bruins were forced to go with Patrick Brown in his place.

    With the win, the Bruins improved to 5-0-0 on the season. It’s the first time the Bruins have opened a season with five straight victories since a six-game winning streak to open the 1937-38 season.

Click here for 98.5 The Sports Hub’s complete coverage of the Bruins. 

Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. He has been covering the Bruins since 2010, and has been a member of the Boston chapter of the PHWA since 2013. Yell at him on Twitter/X: @_TyAnderson.

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