With a new coach and a new system, the Boston Bruins have had their share of ups and downs over the opening weeks of the season.
The Bruins look to follow up Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win against Buffalo and complete a three-game homestand sweep when they host the Carolina Hurricanes for another Eastern Conference clash on Saturday afternoon.
Thursday alone featured ups and downs for Boston, which was held without a shot for nearly 10 minutes in the first period before having 2-0 and 3-1 leads erased as the Sabres rallied for two third-period goals. But it was a happy ending thanks to Marat Khusnutdinov’s first goal of the season.
“I thought we showed up (Tuesday) against the Islanders and (Thursday),” Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov said. “We played good team hockey. Obviously, there is something to build off.”
The game also saw Morgan Geekie score for a sixth straight game, tying him for the NHL lead with nine goals this season.
Joonas Korpisalo made 37 saves in his second straight start. Could he get another? Coach Marco Sturm did not commit.
“At the start of the season, I would say no just because we have so many games coming up and we have the luxury to have these two really, really good goaltenders,” Sturm said.
Khusnutdinov has been scratched five times amidst Sturm’s early-season lineup shuffling. But when his name has been called, including Thursday on the top line with Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak, he has responded well.
“A player has to understand that is it fun when you get scratched? No. But the player has to be ready when your opportunity comes,” Sturm said. “Any time he was scratched, he worked really hard in practice. He just waited for his opportunity and then he took advantage.”
The lineup looked different later though, as Lindholm left with a lower-body injury following a knee-on-knee collision with Buffalo’s Jordan Greenway in the second period. He is expected to miss multiple weeks.
Carolina improved to 7-3-0 on the season and snapped a two-game skid with a 6-2 win Thursday over the New York Islanders. The two recent losses came to Western Conference powers in the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights.
“The effort is never the issue with our team,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Sometimes the execution and whatnot, but I thought tonight was a good effort and then there were some real good energy plays and individual plays that got us some goals.”
However, the victory also came with a price as forward Seth Jarvis blocked a shot with his left foot and left the game in the third period.
Following the game, Brind’Amour did not mince words about Jarvis’ injury saying, “that doesn’t look great, I’ve got to be honest.” However, Jarvis skated during Friday’s optional practice and was not ruled out to play in Boston.
Andrei Svechnikov and Logan Stankoven each had a goal and an assist to lead Carolina. Bradly Nadeau, the Canes’ 2023 first-round pick, opened the scoring with his first NHL goal in his sixth game.
Brandon Bussi, who began his career in the Bruins organization but never played in a NHL game, has found a home in Carolina. He has backstopped three wins in four starts, making 15 of his 26 saves in the first period on Thursday.
“I think I’ve worked really hard to get to this point, and obviously you never take it for granted,” Bussi said. “You never know when it might end or not. But I think with my game, I’ve gotten more and more comfortable every start.”
However, the Canes activated Pyotr Kochetkov from injured reserve Friday morning, meaning that his season debut could be coming soon. He has been out with a lower-body injury, leaving the net to Bussi and Frederik Andersen.
In another roster move Friday, Carolina placed defenseman K’Andre Miller on IR with a lower-body injury. The move is retroactive to Oct. 20, so he can return when he is healthy and when a roster spot is open.
