The Boston Bruins have risen to the top of the Atlantic Division standings, thanks to a long October point streak and three straight wins, but most of the action against their top rivals still is to come.
A Sunday afternoon matinee pits the Bruins against the visiting Florida Panthers in only their second divisional game all season, the first since a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 5.
Coach Marco Sturm’s club has taken care of nearly every opponent en route to a 12-4-1 record. That includes a 6-2 win Thursday at the Pittsburgh Penguins in which Pavel Zacha scored twice, and Morgan Geekie netted his third goal in as many games and added an assist.
Though key contributors fueled the latest win, Boston’s offense has included 17 different goal scorers this season. Captain David Pastrnak has a team-high eight goals, while rookie James Hagens, Elias Lindholm and Fraser Minten all have scored six.
“We’ve been deeper this year than in the past, we feel like,” Sturm said. “Every line can score and every line can be out there (at) any time of the game.”
However, the 20-year-old Hagens was placed on injured reserve after Pittsburgh defenseman Samuel Girard’s cross-check to the back forced him to leave the Thursday game early in the third period.
For the first time this season, Mikey Eyssimont was recalled from American Hockey League affiliate Providence, where he had a league-leading 13 goals in eight games.
“It’s definitely gonna be a few weeks,” Sturm said of Hagens. “(Eyssimont) worked really hard, and that’s why he deserved the call-up.”
Eyssimont played in 56 NHL games last season.
Like the coach, Zacha said he feels that being well-rounded and deep has led to team success.
“I think we have a lot of skill, but I think we can kind of add winning the battles and making the wall plays,” he said. “And we have a fast team through the neutral zone, so we know we can use that.”
Two goaltenders have done their part. Michael DiPietro made 17 saves in Pittsburgh for his fourth straight win backing up Jeremy Swayman.
The Panthers, who are a winless 0-3-0 against the Atlantic thus far, began a weekend back-to-back with a 4-3 loss Saturday at the Washington Capitals. It was their second loss in three games following a three-game win streak.
“We were really good early,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “Got into some trouble in the second period and I think we were all fighting it at that point.”
Despite the loss, Brady Tkachuk recorded his third multi-goal game of the season, upping his goal total to 10. Sam Bennett also found the back of the net.
Florida’s lineup finished a player short after 22-year-old forward Sandis Vilmanis was helped off the ice following a head-first hit into the boards from Washington’s Tom Wilson in the first period. Wilson was assessed a game misconduct.
“You never want to see one of your guys get hurt, especially a young guy,” Bennett said. “Hopefully he’s OK.”
Maurice said the standout rookie would receive a further evaluation on Sunday.
Florida looks to reverse its struggles against the division with the big trip to Boston.
“We’ve just got to learn from this one and be ready to go tomorrow. Sunday is another big one,” Tkachuk said.
