After suffering their first defeat under interim coach Joe Sacco, the Boston Bruins quickly recovered against the New York Islanders on Wednesday night.
As the Bruins traveled once more, this time to the Big Apple, Boston had shown indications of turning the page after Sacco took over as manager and got back to his previous level of play. The hero of Saturday night’s triumph, Brad Marchand, put on the hero’s cap early on by giving Boston a 2-0 lead with two goals in the opening nine minutes of play.
The challenge, though, was holding onto the advantage during a 6-3 triumph over New York.
The Islanders found their much-needed equalizer twice, leaving the Bruins to look for a game-winning goal and a defense that could hold New York at bay. Marchand led the first period, and Morgan Geekie gave Boston a 3-2 lead in the second, placing the team in a familiar situation to cope with the fallout from its own mistakes.
However, the Bruins had a raucous third-period reaction ready.
In Detroit, Sacco, Marchand, and the rest of the Boston locker room felt the same way—that things were beginning to change. Naturally, the only way to demonstrate it would be to perform and find oneself in a difficult situation at UBS Arena. In third period, Pavel Zacha showed his mettle by scoring a game-winning goal and providing insurance.
Zacha, taking a cue from Marchand’s first period performance, scored twice in the third period, three minutes apart, to restore Boston’s multi-score lead. This demonstrated that the Bruins have what it takes to win the season and that the Islanders are, in fact, the NHL’s worst third-period team.
Ahead of the centennial celebration, the Penguins coach considers the Bruins’ longevity.
BOSTON — Mike Sullivan, the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, holds a special position in Boston Bruins history.
In addition to playing with the Bruins, Sullivan was the team’s head coach when he retired from hockey, just like Terry O’Reilly and Mike Millbury before him. Prior to returning as the top bench coach from 2003–06, Sullivan only wore the Black and Gold throughout the 1997–98 season. Sullivan was with the Bruins throughout the 2004–05 NHL lockout, meaning he was officially their coach for two seasons.
For any hockey-loving child growing up in the Boston area, which Sullivan was as a native of Marshfield, Massachusetts, those positions are the ultimate goal. And as the Bruins prepare to commemorate their centennial game against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, he has a lot of respect for the Original Six franchise.
“They are a fantastic company. Their past is so illustrious. Before the Bruins play the Penguins at TD Garden on Friday, Sullivan stated, “They are a part of the fabric of the community here in Boston.” “Being a part of it during my time here as a coach and a player was an honor. The Bruins have an amazing impact on the neighborhood, the city, and the region, in my opinion. I believe that everyone who has been fortunate enough to take part in that feels obligated to give back.
With the help of some of the previous players, they have established a particular history here, and the logo always exudes pride. And I believe you feel that as a player, and you definitely feel that as a coach. They are a fantastic company. They have, in my opinion, done a fantastic job remaining competitive and relevant year after year. They are constantly present.
After being fired by the Bruins, Sullivan had to wait almost ten years to find another coaching position. However, the 56-year-old undoubtedly made the most of his Penguins tenure.
Currently in his tenth season with the Penguins, he has a 383-231-81 record and won back-to-back Stanley Cups in his first two seasons with Pittsburgh.
