Kalman: Bergeron Plays Hero, But Bruins Second Line Comes Close In Home-Opener Win
BOSTON (CBS) - Ho-hum, Bruins center Patrice Bergeron returned to the lineup after a three-game absence and scored the game-winning goal Thursday in the home opener at TD Garden.
Linemate Brad Marchand (of course) set up Bergeron with a pass from behind the net and Bergeron one-timed it from the high slot past goaltender Cory Schneider with 1:15 left for a 2-1 win against the New Jersey Devils – the Bruins' third win in four games to start the season.
It was the type of performance the Bruins have come to expect from Bergeron and Marchand, who scored the game-tying goal at 9:47 of the third period, 5:33 after the Devils had taken a 1-0 lead.
To no one's surprise, Bergeron seamlessly fit right back into the spot he relinquished during his injury absence to David Backes.
"Yeah, I thought I was maybe going to be the anchor there tonight," said Bergeron, who watched Backes, Marchand and David Pastrnak combine for 16 points in the first three games of the season. "They were amazing the first three games and I guess I was trying to come in and try to do the job as much as possible."
Bergeron did his job and Backes was finally able to do the job he was really signed on July 1 to do. Backes was acquired to either fill the right-wing spot next to David Krejci or center the third line. Toward the end of training camp, he was starting to get a feel for Krejci's right side and that's where Backes landed against the Devils with rookie Danton Heinen on the left side and Ryan Spooner, who was the left wing on that line the first three games, in the press box.
Although Bergeron's line earned the glory with the two goals, the Krejci line did almost as much work, without the results on the score sheet, to keep the Bruins within striking distance before winning. In fact, Backes had six shots on goal and 10 shot attempts total in his first game as Krejci's right-hand man. The line combined for eight shots on net.
This was the revelation that the Bruins might be due for better days – a second line that probably could've had a couple goals with a little luck and a little less Cory Schneider brilliance.
"I don't know how many shots I had today, but it felt like a lot and if I can make good on a couple of those I think we're cruising to a win rather than grinding one out," Backes said. "Krech and Heinen both made some great plays. I think we got in the offensive zone. Our shifts were a little long in the first, Claude was telling us. So we had to manage that, take shorter shifts in the second and third. But I think it was everything except the finish and I'll take responsibility for that."
Backes couldn't have had two better opportunities than the ones Schneider denied him on in the third period. One was set up by a saucer pass from Krejci. The other came on a scramble in front during a power play. Even though Backes didn't score, many of his shots created second-chance opportunities. And he was as physical as ever with seven hits and even a crash into the end wall at the end of a puck race.
"But the skill level there, it's enjoyable to play the wing," Backes said. "We just got to finish that extra 3 feet of getting it past the goalie and we're sitting pretty with a multiple-pronged attack here and that's what we're going to need."
Considering how the fourth line of Dominic Moore centering Tim Schaller and Noel Acciari has turned into a physical, responsible line, Backes' lineup might boast three productive prongs. And someday soon a line other than Marchand, Pastrnak and their center of the night will wear the heroes cape.
Matt Kalman covers the Bruins for CBSBoston.com and also contributes to NHL.com and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter @TheBruinsBlog.