We’ve officially hit the point where not even the Bruins themselves could have seen this one coming.
Back on TD Garden ice after three full days off, the Bruins banked yet another two points away by the night’s end, this time by way of a 4-1 final over the visiting Flyers. It was the team’s 10th win in as many tries at home this season, and improved the team to 15-2-0 on the year overall.
“17 games, 15 wins, that’s crazy,” said David Krejci.
How 'bout that fight. 💪
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 18, 2022
And that finish. 👌 @Pavel_Zacha | #DK46 pic.twitter.com/jDHoGFkw6n“I actually I won 16 in a row in Columbus, so that’s a record almost. And actually my first year in the league, I think we didn’t lose [or] we had an overtime loss or something like that for the first 18 games in Ottawa,” Nick Foligno remarked. “But this feels different, I will say that. Just the depth, the focus.
“I said we’re confident but not cocky group. You know, I think sometimes your habits really slip when you go through that. I know in Columbus, it kind of did. We were just winning and it was like some games we didn’t deserve to win but when you’re on a roll and feeling good, you just catch lightning in a bottle. Here, it’s a little different. It’s different ways of winning every night, different guys stepping up, and a different attitude.”
In addition to some stellar goaltending from Linus Ullmark out of the gate, the B’s latest triumph kicked off with a goal from an officially hot Tomas Nosek, as the Czech pivot capitalized on a sweet sequence with Pavel Zacha and Nick Foligno that left No. 92 staring at a wide-open cage.
Nosek’s celebration said it all, and his teammates were just as pumped.
“I was so pumped because he had a great celly, too, and it’s exciting when our line’s contributing like that,” Foligno said. “That’s a great sign for this team, too, right? So we take a lot of pride in that. And I think just mentally for him, I know it’s been a long time for him to score and it’s not maybe his expectation, but as players you’re proud and you want to [score].”
“I’m not going to lie, it feels pretty good to be able to produce something and help the team in other ways than just defensively,” Nosek admitted.
The four-game point streak ties the longest of Nosek’s career, with his last four-game run coming back in 2021 and as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights.
But in a night that truly broke the Bruins’ way in the third period with three goals, it was Krejci who led the way, with two goals on two shots in 17:16 of time on ice.
The two-goal night put an end to what was a three-game pointless spell, and could very well be the thing that gets Krejci back to his point-producing ways, with just one assist in his last six outings prior to tonight.
“Hopefully, but it’s not what I’m focusing on,” Krejci said of this being a breakout game.
In goal, Ullmark was excellent early, in the middle, and late for yet another victory.
Ullmark bails out Grz pic.twitter.com/Bv6sXykMdF
— Mr. Tenkrat (@PeterTenkrat) November 18, 2022On the board with saves on 22 saves on 23 shots faced, Ullmark is now 12-1-0 on the year, and has a league-leading .937 save percentage and 1.89 goals against average.
Nov 17, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) makes a stick save as defenseman Tony DeAngelo (77) tries to keep Bruins left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) from the rebound. (Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports)
On the backend, Anton Stralman returned to the ice for his first game action since Nov. 3 in New York.
Skating on the left side of Boston’s third pairing opposite Brandon Carlo, the right-shot Stralman finished Thursday’s contest with two shots and three hits in 15:51 of time on ice.
“Usually people who are intelligent and can skate well can play their off side as defensemen,” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said. “He was pretty dangerous on that side in the offensive zone.”
With Stralman in action, Jakub Zboril sat as a healthy scratch on the backend, while Craig Smith was the healthy scratch up front for the second game in a row.
As noted, Boston’s victory pushed the team to 10-0-0 at home this year. They are the fifth team in NHL history to begin the season with 10 wins in their first 10 home games of the season.
The Bruins will return to action Saturday night at home against the Blackhawks.
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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. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter:Â @_TyAnderson.