Charlie Coyle, David Pastrnak and Trent Frederic all scored en route to the Boston Bruins' 3-0 win at TD Garden Monday afternoon.
BOSTON – Jeremy Swayman’s 31-save shutout led the Boston Bruins to a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils Monday afternoon at TD Garden.
“Shutouts are a team shutout every night, and tonight was obviously a great example of that,” Swayman said Monday. “Guys filling lanes, blocking shots, making my life easy so I can see every puck and clear rebounds. It’s definitely a team accolade.”
Charlie Coyle, David Pastrnak and Trent Frederic all scored to secure the victory in the Bruins’ first game back on home ice after their four-game road trip. Despite the recent travel, Boston dominated a majority of the first period and carried that early energy throughout the matchup.
“Obviously that was a tough road trip being in three different time zones, but to come out in the first period and show a lot of jump and give it to them early and set the tone – it was good for us,” defenseman Parker Wotherspoon said Monday.
A nifty, net-front move from James van Riemsdyk on the power play momentarily put Boston up 1-0 at 7:37 of the first period, but the tally was soon overturned for offsides and the teams headed into the second tied 0-0.
Jan 15, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) keeps his eye on a loose puck in front during the second period against the New Jersey Devils at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY SportsCharlie Coyle gave the Bruins an actual 1-0 lead just 30 seconds into the middle frame while trailing behind linemates Brad Marchand and Pastrnak on the rush. Marchand dropped the puck to Coyle, who came into the zone with speed and backhanded it past Devils goaltender Nico Daws for his 15th goal of the season.
“Just try to put it on net quick, a backhand,” Coyle said Monday. “Those are tough to read for goalies I think. They’re tough to even aim, so you kind of just throw it and hopefully it finds the back of the net.”
A blast from Pastrnak stationed by the left face-off dot extended the Bruins’ lead at 3:22 of the third period while on the power play. Marchand picked up his second assist of the afternoon, passing the puck to Charlie McAvoy on the right side, who swung it over to Pastrnak for the one-timer. McAvoy’s apple marked his third point in two games after scoring twice against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
An extra-hustle, diving effort from Trent Frederic sealed the Bruins’ 3-0 win with an empty-net goal at 18:42 of the final stanza, and improved the team to a 26-8-9 record.
“It’s nice to see the maturation in our group. Last year was pretty easy – so many players had been through it,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said of his team’s ability to close out games. “And now we’re starting to I think see progress in those situations. Players being used to being in those moments and owning the moment.”
Swayman’s shutout came in his third consecutive start with goaltender partner Linus Ullmark still unavailable due to injury. Montgomery said that Ullmark, along with the Bruins’ injured group of Brandon Carlo, Matt Poitras and Derek Forbort all skated Monday morning and were “trending well.”
Pavel Zacha was a game-time decision due to illness, but ended up slotting in on the second line between Danton Heinen and Jake DeBrusk. Johnny Beecher was a healthy scratch as a result, leaving Trent Frederic to center the fourth line with Jakub Lauko and Oskar Steen.
Boston will be back in action Thursday night at TD Garden for a 7 p.m. puck drop against the Colorado Avalanche.