Bruins Cap Unusual Day with Victory Over Buffalo

BUFFALO - Bruce Cassidy and his coaching staff typically arrive at the rink quite early on game days to prepare. That was no different on Thursday morning as they got set for a tilt against the Buffalo Sabres.
But just as they settled in for a long day, they were told to return to the hotel upon word that one of the players - later revealed to be Sean Kuraly - would be entering into the NHL's health and safety protocols.
In a year filled with the unusual, the news turned Thursday into, perhaps, the strangest of them all.

The ripple effect included the cancellation of the B's customary pregame skate. The Sabres, meanwhile, were dealing with COVID issues of their own following a staffer entering the protocols and also scrapped their morning session, putting Thursday night's matchup in question.
But following further COVID testing and contact tracing, it was determined by mid-afternoon that the game would go on as scheduled.
The Bruins were glad it did as they overcame all of those obstacles behind four different goal scorers and a strong 23-save outing from Jaroslav Halak to claim a 4-1 victory over the Sabres for their second consecutive victory, the first time they have won two in a row in over a month.
"I don't think either team had a great first period," said Cassidy, whose club had last won two straight on Feb. 10 and 12 against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. "We certainly limited their opportunities, that was a good thing. I think we really got going after [Buffalo got the tying] shorty. It was a bit of a lucky deflection, but guys get dialed in, get back to playing our way.
"I think from that part on…that middle sort of second period, in the first 10-15 minutes, I thought we really took control of the game and played the right way and had the right sort of mentality and mindset of how we're going to win the game.
"That was encouraging to see. But, yeah, it was a long day for both teams in terms of, probably, preparation. I do think our guys handled it well. But they're a veteran group so they can get themselves ready."

McKegg Taps It In

Greg McKegg got the call to sub in for Kuraly as the B's fourth-line center and made an immediate impact, tipping home Matt Grzelcyk's wrist shot from the doorstep just 2:56 into the game to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. It was the veteran forward's first goal in Black & Gold.
"Just try to stay as ready as I could, obviously it's a weird year and you never know when your name is going to be called so just try to stay ready and wait for my opportunity," said McKegg. "I thought we had a good start and found our legs early and I think we just try to keep it simple for the most part and try to create some momentum for our side."

Krejci Gets 700

David Krejci picked up three assists, including a secondary helper on Jake DeBrusk's power-play tally midway through the second period - that gave Boston a 2-1 lead - for his 700th career point. The center became just the eighth player in Bruins history to reach that milestone, joining a legendary list that includes Ray Bourque, Johnny Bucyk, Phil Esposito, Rick Middleton, Patrice Bergeron, Bobby Orr, and Wayne Cashman.
"He's a great player he's able to slow it down, he's one of the smartest players I've played with as far as talking to me on the bench and the little plays that he sees out there…it's been impressive," said Craig Smith, who played on Krejci's right side and was the beneficiary of one of the pivot's helpers on his second-period tally.
Krejci's third and final assist of the day came on David Pastrnak's power-play goal at 4:44 of the third.

Smith Buries One

Smith ended a 10-game goal-less streak when he buried his fifth goal of the season with 1:24 remaining in the second period to extend Boston's lead to 3-1. The winger landed three shots on goal and rang another chance off the post in one of the stronger games of his inaugural campaign with the Black & Gold.
"I've just been concentrating on the process and the little small things, getting to the net, making sure that I'm taking my shots when I get them and get to get in the middle of the ice," said Smith. "It's a product of doing all those little things right. If you continue to do it, I've played long enough to know, you're going to get your chances and good things will come from that.
"Everybody's trying to do their part, trying to do their role and wanted to chip in and help out. The first line has carried us for most of the year and anytime we get a chance to chip one in and help out, it feels good."

Frederic Leaves Early

Trent Frederic left the game with a lower-body injury after playing just 5:28 and was termed questionable to return. After the game, Cassidy said that Frederic, who did not return to the game, was struck by a shot and the results of an X-ray came back negative.
"He wasn't feeling right after that," said Cassidy. "The X-ray was negative so that's a positive, but I think that's one we're gonna have to list as day-to-day for now and see how it goes."

Ahcan Makes Debut

For the second straight game, the Bruins had a player make his NHL debut as defenseman Jack Ahcan followed Oskar Steen by suiting up for his first game on Thursday night. The blue liner, who was filling in for the injured Jarred Tinordi on Boston's third pairing, landed three shots on goal - second among B's defensemen behind Matt Grzelcyk's six - and played 17:55.
"He was involved in the game, good and bad at times, but I like that. I like a player that is willing to be assertive. It's his first ever NHL game, guys are tentative. He wasn't. He's gonna have to learn guys are stronger and quicker, can strip you of pucks, different things. But I like the fact that he was ready to go offensively, knows what his strengths are, needs to be involved in the rush, needs to be active at the O-zone blue.
"I did not notice a lot without the puck going on, in terms of his battle so that will take a closer look but with the puck he certainly wants to impact the game. Like I said, I like that in a player. If that's his thing as a defenseman, he's gonna have to do that on a regular basis to stay here.
"And again, we'll work with him and he'll learn when to move it, when to hold onto it. Part of that will just be experience. But he fit in well, probably the right game for him to make his first start. They didn't stress us too much in our end, so that was helpful as well."