The Boston Bruins had their staff record-tying 14-game dwelling profitable streak snapped by the Vegas Golden Knights with a 4-3 shootout loss on Monday night time. What made the win sweeter for the Golden Knights was the truth that head coach Bruce Cassidy was fired by the Bruins simply months earlier than.
Cassidy spent six seasons as the top coach of the Bruins, and he took them to the postseason yearly, together with a run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019. Despite Cassidy’s general report of 245-108-46, the Bruins fired him following final yr’s first-round playoff exit towards the Carolina Hurricanes.
Cassidy was rapidly employed by the Golden Knights, and he made his return to Boston on Monday night time with the prospect handy the Bruins their first dwelling lack of the season.
Clearly energized by the chance in entrance of them, the Golden Knights got here out firing within the first interval. Just 96 seconds into the sport, Paul Cotter gave Vegas a 1-0 lead off an excellent feed from William Karlsson.
Less than 4 minutes later, Jonathan Marchessault took a Bruins turnover and deposited into the web behind Jeremy Swayman.
Cotter would rating his second objective of the sport below one minute into the second interval to present Vegas a 3-0 lead, however the Bruins weren’t about to roll over and watch their dwelling profitable streak fizzle out quietly.
Brad Marchand bought the Bruins on the board within the second interval by tapping in a wonderful backdoor cross from Patrice Bergeron. That gave Boston a pulse, however David Pastrnak introduced TD Garden again to life with a jaw-dropping spin-o-rama play within the dying seconds of the second interval.
In the third interval, Taylor Hall drove to the web on an influence play and punched dwelling his personal rebound to tie the sport at 3-3.
At that time, the Bruins had all of the momentum, and it appeared like it will be one more thrilling win on dwelling ice. However, the Golden Knights managed to regain their composure and shut Boston down for the remainder of regulation and additional time.
In the shootout, Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson got here up massive, and Reilly Smith scored to present the Bruins their first dwelling lack of the 2022-23 season.
In his postgame press convention, Cotter made it clear that the Golden Knights wished to win this recreation for Cassidy in his return to Boston.
“That was crucial, particularly for Bruce,” Cotter stated. “He wished that one dangerous, as you possibly can inform. It was nice to get that win. Obviously the additional level versus Boston, I feel they’re No. 1, is large. Big assertion win for us, and it is gonna be a great temper on the experience dwelling, which is sweet for us. Good ending to a street journey.”
Cassidy even admitted that he and Jack Eichel, a Massachusetts native, put some cash up for grabs to present Vegas slightly additional motivation. Cassidy wound up shedding that cash, however he did not thoughts in any respect.
“They had been glad,” Cassidy stated of the Golden Knights locker room. “They bought slightly cash from me, so the Cassidy faculty fund went down slightly bit. I’ll gladly pay it. It’ll be my flip right here or Jack’s, proper? Jack did not play, and he was nonetheless variety sufficient to place slightly cash on the board.
“It’s a great group, so much just like the room in Boston. Great management guys. Mix of younger and outdated. Our staff performs exhausting each night time. It’s not good, however we’re engaged on that. It’s a terrific group.”
