Home, Sweet Home

In a third period surge, the Bruins topped the Devils 2-1 in the season home opener.

• The return of Patrice Bergeron meant the debut of David Backes on David Krejci's line and Danton Heinen's shift to his own strong side. Backes played "yuge," in a style much like big Bruins right wingers of the past. The Boston Globe
• Take five... observations from last night's win. Torey Krug can play on the right side, but is clearly much more comfortable on the left. WEEI
• Enjoy this gallery of game photos, including two of Jimmy Hayes' big collision with John Moore and yet another heartwarming goal celly featuring an airborne David Pastrnak. Boston Herald
• Brad Marchand sniped a clutch goal through a defender's legs, then ("after Pastrnak had done some yeoman's work" along the boards, according to Jack Edwards,) set up the game winner by Bergeron. Claude Julien preached patience as the scoreless game moved into the third period. (With links to GIFs of the two Bruins goals) The Boston Globe
• Pastrnak is maturing into the kind of player Claude Julien had hoped he would be. The Score
• Marchand has (pretty much) quit collecting penalty minutes in favor of goals and points. Boston Herald
• Winning at home is a nice change from last year. Joe Morrow was in, Ryan Spooner was out, and Austin Czarnik went to Providence. Bonus: There is a link to listen to Ty Anderson's and Andy Merritt's (of the New England Hockey Journal) postgame podcast. Hockeybuzz
• Patience is a virtue for the Bruins' President Cam Neely, but it is nestled alongside a mandate for results that has the team integrating inexpensive youngsters with the veterans on the roster. The Boston Globe
• The genuine affection between Bruins legends Milt Schmidt and Bobby Orr let to some gentle joshing last evening. And Derek Sanderson told a story about pennies. Lots and lots of pennies. ESPN
• Watch the ceremonial puck drop along with historical footage or Orr And Schmidt. Tuukka Rask is looking more like his elite self. Marchand pointedly praised Pastrnak for the work he has put in that has led to him winning possession battles this season, including the one that paid off in Bergeron's game winning goal. (With video)  NESN
• Regarding the new Bruins third jersey, one reader's comment is telling- "...stirring up memories of the horror that was the 2016 Winter Classic is questionable." Icethetics

Elsewhere around the rink:

• Speaking of all the NHL outdoor games, Sean McIndoe rates them here. Fortunately, not every one involving the Bruins was a dud. Sportsnet
  
• Paul Stewart learned a lesson from Fred Shero about role players and the value of working on deficiencies in a player's game rather than simply polishing already mastered skills. Hockeybuzz
• Preparing players financially for long lives after hockey has become more critical- their careers are shrinking in length as cap-friendly youngsters are pushing hard for roster spots. Hockeybuzz
• Case in point: Jared Cowen's buyout by the Maple Leafs (at the ripe old age of 25) has gone to arbitration. Just read the sobering list of nagging injuries that lead Cowen to assert that he was ineligible for termination according to the CBA. Sportsnet
• Jaromir Jagr just hit another NHL scoring bogey, 750 goals. Bar Down
• Here's an inside look at being a reporter covering the Lightning beat. What we learned: Even free food still garners grumbles. Raw Charge
• In a growing trend, the NHL has hired away the creators of NHL.com, and have subsequently shut down the site. The Bettman says 'sorry, not sorry' and chortles that "... (now) we’ll get to keep all the good puns to ourselves for internal humor purposes only." NO, REALLY! Lighthouse Hockey