Bruins Win First Game at Prospects Challenge in Buffalo

BostonBruins.com - Behind a two-goal showing from Luke Toporowski and the winner from Johnny Beecher in the third period, the Bruins defeated the Ottawa Senators, 5-4, in the opener of the Prospects Challenge on Friday afternoon at the LECOM Harborcenter. Here's how it went down:

Beecher Calls Game

Beecher is coming off a summer of slimming down, telling the media before leaving for Buffalo earlier this week that he feels his best at his current weight. "I lost 10-15 pounds," said Beecher. "I'm right down to about 215 right now where I was kind of around when I went to college. I'm definitely comfortable this way and I feel a lot better on the ice."
Beecher skated well in the opening game in Buffalo, grinding out the winning goal with just under three minutes left as he charged to the net. The 21-year-old's focus going into this season is making the most of every opportunity he is given, in pursuit of his ultimate goal, to make an NHL roster. "I'm here to make a NHL roster. That has been my dream since I was a little kid."

Toporowski Goes for Two

Toporowski, the 21-year-old from Bettendorf, Iowa, helped push the B's to a victory, scoring two goals when they needed it most. The B's fell behind Ottawa, 3-1, in the second period, but the deficit was cut to one when Toporowski potted a a rebound goal off a shot from Marc McLaughlin. He scored again in the third period to tie things, 4-4.
Toporowski signed a two year AHL contract with the Providence Bruins in June after having spent five seasons in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs and the Kamloops Blazers.
"In minor hockey, I knew I could shoot the puck," said Toporowski. "When I made the jump to juniors, maybe it wasn't there so my coaches really had me working on my shot in the summertime. I was always shooting pucks. It's working right now. But my teammates gave me the puck so I couldn't do it without them."

Lysell Doesn't Disappoint

Lysell had a beauty of a shorthanded goal towards the end of the second period, tying the game, 3-3, heading into the third. The 19-year-old stormed into the zone ripped a shot by the glove of the Ottawa goaltender from the left-wing circle. Playing in the Prospects Challenge is something Lysell has been looking forward to, telling the media before leaving for Buffalo, "it's definitely one of the best spots you can be in to learn and grow throughout the process here. I'm just trying to take it day by day. I'm looking forward to playing the rookie tournament this weekend."

McLaughlin Brings it to Buffalo

The B's played from behind, going down, 1-0, early in the first period, but McLaughlin responded quickly to knot the game. The Billerica native, who played 11 games with Boston last season, said during Bruins Development Camp this past July, that he would like to be a role model this coming season for some of the younger players, many of whom joined him again this weekend in Buffalo.
"The summer is great for fine tuning your individual skills," said the 23-year-old former Boston College captain. "I've been working on my poise with the puck and my skating and just improving everyday."
McLaughlin's work looked like it was paying off, as he earned himself a goal and an assist in this first game in Buffalo.