Here are my talking points after a crucial two points picked up by the Bruins on Saturday night at TD Garden:
GOLD STAR: Chris Wagner has most definitely elevated his game over the last few weeks, and that continued on Thursday when he scored the first goal of the game for the Bruins. Then it was called back to due to goalie interference. And then he scored again midway through the first period again on an aggressive, puck-hunting shift for the fourth line that ended with Rasmus Dahlin coughing up the puck to Noel Acciari, and the B’s fourth-liner pushing the puck to Wagner all alone for a shot from the slot. Wagner could have probably even had a hat trick in the game if the first one had counted based on the six shots on net, two hits and energetic game he played in 14:26 of ice time. It was a fitting tribute to his grandfather, who passed away on Friday and inspired Wagner to elevate his game while honoring him.
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BLACK EYE: Rasmus Dahlin obviously has plenty of talent, but he wilted a bit under the pressure from the Bruins in a big game for both teams on Saturday night. He finished with a game-high five giveaways in his 20:02 of ice time, and one of them led directly to a Bruins goal as he fumbled away a puck to Noel Acciari in the high slot. Acciari took a poke at the puck and it slid right to a wide open Chris Wagner for Boston’s first goal of the game. That set the tone for the rest of the game, and certainly wasn’t the kind of big time play they were looking for from their No. 1 overall pick. Chalk it up as part of the learning experience for the talented young D-man.
TURNING POINT: The big turning point for the Bruins was not letting down after they had a goal wiped off the boards in the opening shift of the game. Sean Kuraly snapped off a puck at the Buffalo net that Linus Ullmark managed to stop, but then the goalie slid out of the crease and got tangled up with Kuraly as he slid past the net. Chris Wagner then hopped on the loose puck and snapped it into the vacant net for what should have been the first goal in the first shift of the game. It was ultimately called goalie interference and then confirmed as no goal when it was challenged by the B’s. But they didn’t falter or let that slow them down and instead just kept right on plugging until they eventually scored midway through the period.
HONORABLE MENTION: Close behind Wagner for player of the game was David Backes, who took full advantage of the chance to play on the second line with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk. He finished with five shots on net, seven shot attempts and a pair of hits in 14:26 of ice time, and scored the game-winning goal for the Bruins when he lasered a wrist shot over the glove hand of Linus Ullmark. While it remains to be seen how long Backes will stay in that spot and how consistently he can bring the good skating legs like he did on Saturday night, Backes’ first game merits more of a look at a place where perhaps the 34-year-old power forward can fortify things.
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BY THE NUMBERS: 5 – the number of giveaways for rookie defenseman and No. 1 overall pick Rasmus Dahlin in a bit of rough game as the pressure is getting turned in the second half of the season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "My grandfather passed away yesterday morning. This was a special game for me. Maybe he was watching out for me and making the puck follow me around...he was probably laughing after that first goal was disallowed." –Chris Wagner, on scoring the first goal for the B’s as a tribute to his late grandfather.
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