Bruins-Jets takeaways: Taylor Hall secures late win over Winnipeg

Share

Equal parts dominant and frustrating at various points of the game, the Boston Bruins are nonetheless back in the win column following a 4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night.

Brad Marchand and Trent Frederic helped the Bruins to a 2-0 lead, which evaporated briefly in the third period before Taylor Hall snapped a lengthy goal-scoring drought on the power play for the game-winner and Charlie McAvoy tapped in an empty netter in the final minute.

The win helped the Bruins (38-19-5, 81 points) keep control of the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference over the Washington Capitals, as well as deny the Jets (28-23-10, 66 points) crucial points in the chase for a wild-card spot out West, as Winnipeg remains four points back of the Vegas Golden Knights.

David Pastrnak set for milestone appearance with Bruins

Here are some takeaways from the win for the Bruins, who were again without the services of captain Patrice Bergeron:

Failure to put game away earlier frustrating

Following a scoreless first period, the Bruins were able to take a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes. 

That's the least they could do after outshooting the Jets, 22-5, in the middle frame. Winnipeg failed to record a shot on goal for the first 12:30 minutes of the second period, a stretch that included a power play.

The Bruins didn't do enough against Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who had a mediocre .908 save percentage and unsightly 2.99 goals against average entering play Friday.

Winnipeg capitalized early in the third period, getting a goal from Adam Lowry -- son of interim Jets coach Dave Lowry -- at 2:29 and the equalizer from Nikolaj Ehlers at 3:54 to tie the game.

There's something to be set for the Jets being a desperate team at this juncture, each trip to the ice a fight for their playoff lives. But meltdowns like the Bruins had early in the third -- Hall and Travis Nosek were on the ice for both goals, allowing Winnipeg's forwards to walk in for uncontested shots -- won't cut it in the postseason.

For what it's worth, it was Linus Ullmark in net rather than Jeremy Swayman. Would the reigning NHL Rookie of the Month have made either of the stops that Ullmark failed to make?

Brad Marchand continues to awaken

Not to overlook the contributions of Jake DeBrusk on this sequence, but that's now two goals in as many games for Marchand -- once again, scoring without Bergeron -- after going eight straight without a tally, his longest stretch of the season.

With his 25th goal of the season, Marchand matched Cam Neely for sixth in franchise history with 344 goals. Next up: Bergeron, who's at 392 (and counting).

Marchand nearly had another goal shorthanded in the second period, telegraphing an errant breakout pass from Jets defenseman Josh Morrisey and clanging iron:

For the season, Marchand is up to 25 goals and 35 assists for 60 points.

Marchand logged more than 20 minutes on the ice against the Jets on Friday, trailing only defensemen McAvoy and Brandon Carlo for the B's. The team is asking a lot of him without Bergeron -- who could return Monday -- and Marchand is delivering.

Timely goal for Taylor Hall

Marchand isn't the only notable Bruin who'd gone a while without scoring a goal.

Hall snapped his own eight-game goal-scoring drought against the Jets for the game-winner, putting home a rebound of a Charlie Coyle offering from in close. It wasn't the flashiest goal by any means, but like Marchand on Wednesday, who knows, maybe it could be all Hall needs to get the wheels going again on offense.

The goal was only the 13th of the season for Hall, who's up to 45 points. To Hall's credit, he had five assists over his eight games without a goal.

Contact Us