Two fights just over three minutes into the game, and a Dustin Byfuglien goal at the 10:54 mark of the period put the Winnipeg Jets in business on a rare afternoon trip to Boston. But four straight goals from the Bruins, including two from Torey Krug, proved to be too much for Ondrej Pavelec and company as the Black-and-Gold cruised to a 4-1 victory at TD Garden.
Boston opened up their scoring when the 5-foot-9 Krug outmuscled Blake Wheeler for a loose puck, cycled around, and later connected with Danny Paille on a great feed.
“I was sitting back there and luckily it went to Kruger [Torey Krug] as he pinched, and he saw me the whole way and I could see him looking at me the whole entire way,… Paille, who scored his sixth goal of the season on the play, said. “It was pretty much easy for me to try and get that in and it was nice.…
Skating to a 1-1 draw through 20, the B’s wasted no time in pressing Pavelec and the bend-don’t-break Winnipeg defense, as Krug struck twice from the point (with traffic in front) at the 3:08 and 7:18 mark of the middle period. While the second period goals were a bonus for a Boston club that’s seemingly been haunted by the 20:01 to 40:00 marker this year, the strikes also quieted some of Krug’s critics after a near 20-game slump that left Krug with little to cheer about.
“He’s been that guy for us for most of the year, and a guy that’s capable of [scoring],… Krug’s pairing partner, Adam McQuaid, told reporters after the game. “He’s been for the most part pretty consistent for his first full year. It brings an element to our D [defensive] core that we need. So it was nice to him get rewarded tonight.…
The Bruins added another one in the third period when Reilly Smith banged home his 15th goal of the season (moving him into the Top 30 among NHLers this year), and earned the victory behind a 36-save performance from netminder Tuukka Rask.
Putting the finishing touches on a home friendly start to the 2014 calendar year, this was without question the way that the Black-and-Gold wanted to end their weekend before embarking out on a huge California road swing with stops in Anaheim, Los Angeles, and San Jose.
“I think this will definitely be our toughest challenge coming up playing those three Western teams, I don’t think they have many losses at home,… Paille said of the trip that begins on Tuesday. “It’s definitely going to be a tough road trip, but I think we’re looking forward to that challenge with the best of that conference or that division, and being able to match up to their intensity and their physical play.…
Justin Florek makes NHL debut
Woken up by a phone call from Boston, emergency call-up Justin Florek became the sixth Bruin to make his NHL debut this season, the most since the Bruins’ rebuilding 2006-07 season. But you wouldn’t had known that this was Florek’s first game with the Big B’s based on his play with linemates Danny Paille and Gregory Campbell on the Boston fourth line today.
In fact, Florek looked right at home.
“Don Sweeney (assistant general manager) woke me up so – I was actually talking to Iggy [Jarome Iginla] before the game and he said that’s what happened to him,… Florek said of his morning. “You don’t have too much time to think about it so it was actually pretty nice just hopping in my car, drive up here and get ready to play in the game rather than think about it for a day so it was pretty good.
“[I] played last night against Worcester at home. The turnover was pretty short, but down there we are used to having a short turnover,… Florek noted of the morning’s change from Providence to Boston, adding, “We usually play Sunday night on the road and then three o’clock at home so pretty much the same time frame there.…
Finishing the night with 10:14 of time on ice, the 6-foot-4 winger brought a straight, fast,and aggressive game to the Bruins’ fourth line, and was just inches away from tallying his first NHL goal on Krug’s first of the night. All in all, there wasn’t much to complain about when it came to Florek’s NHL debut, and if anything, it was his net-front presence that had you talking.
“At first you kind of struggle to put those in the net and as of late I’ve kind of worked on being stronger on my stick and those have been going in the net for me,… Florek admitted. “I think just focusing in more and hopefully getting more chances to do it will help me start to put those in the net.
“It’s definitely been a positive progression. I think that’s part of the game I think you never really quit trying to progress and move onto the next level,… said the 23-year-old. “ I’ve been trying work my way up the line up from Providence and it’s brought me here to Boston so it’s a great feeling just to know that my hard work is starting to pay off.…
The Bruins are expected to return Florek to the American Hockey League for tomorrow’s game, but may end up calling him up for their road trip based on the status of Jordan Caron, who missed today’s game with a stiff back.
Up next
The Bruins head out to California for a Tuesday night battle with the Anaheim Ducks. The Bruins took their earlier meeting with the Ducks this season via the shootout back on Halloween, and will look to pull off an upset at the Honda Center, where Anaheim boasts a 16-0-2 record in 2013-14.