Looking back at some of the Bruins’ recent season openers

With Bruins fans seemingly waiting forever for the puck to drop on Boston’s 2021-22 season and us having little new content to write about, why don't we take a look back at the last 5 season opening games for your Boston Bruins?

The first game of the year is always an exciting time for any team in the NHL. Everyone starts in the same position, and at that point, everyone has the exact same chances to win the Stanley Cup.

In recent years, Bruins fans’ excitement has been met with some pretty good team results, as the Bruins have gone 4 - 1 in their last 5 opening games of the year.

That being said, the one loss, which will be discussed later, was a game most Bruins fans and players would like to forget.

2016-2017: Columbus Blue Jacket 3 - Boston Bruins 6

The Bruins’ 2016-2017 season opener on the road is a memorable game for a number of reasons.

Not only did the Bruins overcome 2-0 and 3-1 deficits to win this game, but it was also a big night for a number of Bruins players.

The game against the Blue Jackets was David Backes’ first regular-season game as a Bruin, and he was given the unenviable task of filling in for injured Patrice Bergeron.

Despite this challenge, Backes had one of his best games in a Bruins uniform, scoring twice and setting up another goal.

It was also a big night for Brad Marchand, as he tied a career high in the game by recording 5 points (2 goals and 3 assists).

And just in case you may have forgotten over the offseason how good of a player Marchand is, please see the game highlights below:

Finally, this game was the just the beginning of David Pastrnak’s leap into superstardom.

Pastrnak put up 4 points this game, contributing to the 70 points he had that year in his first full NHL season.

2017-2018: Boston Bruins 4 - Nashville Predators 3

Going into this game, few people would have given Boston a chance to win.

The Bruins were playing without Patrice Bergeron and David Backes, against a Predators team who had just lost in the finals and was expected to be a cup contender again in the 2017-2018 season.

The Bruins were also dressing a very young group that night, but the kids really showed up to play.

Rookies Jake DeBrusk (goal and an assist), Charlie McAvoy (goal and assist), and Anders Bjork (1 assist) all contributed in big ways giving Bruins fans great hope for the future.

On top of this, the Bruins got a goal from newly re-signed star in the making David Pastrnak.

Weeks before this game, the Bruins signed Pastrnak to a 6-year, $40 million dollar deal that some pundits thought was an overpayment for a guy who only had one 70 point season prior.

Boy, how they were wrong, as Pastrnak’s contract is one of the leagues’ best bargains at this point.

2018-2019: Washington Capitals 7 - Boston Bruins 0

The worst season-opening game in Bruins history, the Capitals, who had the Stanley Cup banner raised before the game, absolutely demolished the Bruins.

The Capitals scored early and often in this game, chasing Tuukka Rask out of the game mid-way through the 2nd period, and the Bruins went home with their tails between their legs after an embarrassing loss.

If you’re into the rougher side of hockey, probably the only good thing to come out of this loss was the beating Brad Marchand put on long-time foe Lars Eller after Eller taunted the Bruins bench after scoring.

2019-2020: Dallas Stars 1 - Boston Bruins 2

This was perhaps one of the more boring opening games for the Boston Bruins in recent history.

Probably the most notable things to come up of this game were newly signed Brett Ritchie scoring the first goal and a horrible call by Bruins announcer Jack Edwards.

After a dangerous fall into the boards which required Stars defenseman Roman Polak to be stretchered off the ice, Edwards said that the play that Polak got injured on “has a little bit of bad hockey karma.”

The comment was highly criticized around the league and was definitely not a bright spot in Edwards’ career as a announcer.

2021: New Jersey Devils 2 - Bruins 3 (SO)

In front of a crowd of zero, the Bruins and the Devils played a hard-fought battle which resulted in a 3-2 shootout victory for the Boston Bruins.

If Bruins fans thought this victory would be a sign of things to come against their new (and temporary) divisional foe, they were dead wrong, as New Jersey would have Boston’s number all season long, finishing with a 5-1-2 record against the B’s.

In this victory, Marchand would once again do Marchand things by playing a dominant 200-foot game of hockey, plus recording a goal and an assist.

For the second-straight year, a Ritchie also scored for Boston in their season opener, this time with it being Nick Ritchie, Brett’s younger brother.

The biggest story of the game, and undoubtedly the reason Boston won this game, was Tuukka Rask’s play. After a solid three periods against the Devils, Rask stopped two breakaways in overtime, followed by all three of the Devils’ shootout attempts.

That Tuukka Rask sure was something, wasn’t he?

If Jeremy Swayman or Linus Ullmark can’t fill the big shoes Rask has left behind, and Rask does not return to Boston this season, he’s going to be missed more than ever in Boston.