Recap: Bruins top Coyotes, 4-2, with two power-play goals

Two even-strength goals from Charlie Coyle and multi-point games from Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak led the Boston Bruins to a 4-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes this afternoon at the TD Garden.

The first period was quiet, but Jake DeBrusk and David Pastrnak set the mood of getting pucks to the net and had the best chances to put the Bs ahead, with two shots each.

But the period would end on a rocky note. Jeremy Lauzon was called for high-sticking late in the first, but the team successfully killed off the penalty. Lauzon had a nice opportunity coming out of the box with a rush on Adin Hill, but moments later, went in for a high hit on Derek Stepan along the left-wing boards. Lauzon headed to the box for a match penalty, and an illegal check to the head call, with 20.3 seconds left in the first period.

The Bruins were doing a good job killing off the five-minute penalty, being served by Anders Bjork, to start the second period, but with over a minute left, the Coyotes capitalized on the man advantage. Jakob Chychrun took a slap shot from the point. Zdeno Chara tried to clear its rebound from the front of the net, but Phil Kessel got his stick on the puck for a high one-timer over the stick of Tuukka Rask at 3:36 of the second period for a power-play goal, to make the score, 1-0. The Bruins killed off the remainder of Lauzon’s match penalty.

The Bruins answered back at 6:50 in the second period to tie the game. Charlie McAvoy backhanded a pass to Charlie Coyle crashing the slot for a one-timer over the glove of Hill, evening things at 1-1.

The story of the rest of the second period would be the strength of the Bruins’ power play units to get fast goals and David Pastrnak’s shooting.

The Bruins gained the lead at 12:06 of the second period with a power-play goal from Bergeron. Bergeron won the puck back to Torey Krug who slid the puck to Pastrnak at the left point. Bergeron’s stick redirected the puck to sneak through Hill’s five-hole to put the Bruins up 2-1.

The Bruins scored quick again on the power play to extend their lead to 3-1 at 14:35 of the second period. 22 seconds into the man advantage, Pastrnak threw the puck at Hill, where Jake DeBrusk’s stick deflected the puck, bounced around Hill’s chest padding for a bit, and then snuck past his right skate.

The Coyotes responded fast to start the third period, as Chychrun picked the top-shelf over Rask’s glove, to make the game, 3-2.

Charlie Coyle solidified the win with 49 seconds remaining in the third period with an empty-net goal, shot from the Bruins’ blue line.

The Bruins head to Detroit for a game against the Red Wings tomorrow.

Noteworthy:

• Rask is now 12-0-6 at home, setting a new franchise record for home point streak.
• Bergeron had a three point night with 1 goal and 2 assists.
• Bruins were 50% on the power play and 75% on the penalty kill.
• Coyle and Pastrnak each had two points.
• Chara was honored in a pregame ceremony for 1,500 career games and 1,000 in a Bruins’ uniform. He got a cool painting, large book with a compile of letters from players around the league and his teammates, and an all-expense paid trip for him and his family. No bike.
• The biggest question will be what happens with Lauzon. Head Coach Bruce Cassidy said the team will await the decision and make the necessary adjustments with call-ups from Providence. There was also talk about the status of John Moore after the game, and more potential Providence guys potentially having to join the team for tomorrow. Brandon Carlo is expected to join the team in Detroit.