BOSTON BRUINS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME
- The Bruins visit the Devils tonight in the 1st of 3 games between these teams this season and the first of two Boston visits to the Prudential Center.
- They are 26-4-2 overall this season and are 8-4-0 on the road … They are 14-3-0 vs. Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Bruins are playing their 4th of 14 sets of back-to-back games last night vs Winnipeg (3-2 win) and tonight in New Jersey … They are currently 4-0-0 in the 1st game of those sets and are 2-1-0 in the 2nd games so far.
- The Bruins finish the holiday break in New Jersey tonight and they will then play in Ottawa on 12/27 and in New Jersey on 12/28.
RECENT GAMES:
- The Bruins are 5-0-1 in their last 6 games with a 3-1 win vs Vegas on 12/11, 4-3 shootout win vs NY Islanders on 12/13, 3-2 shootout setback to Los Angeles on 12/15, 4-2 win vs Columbus on 12/17, 7-3 victory vs Florida on 12/19 and 3-2 win vs Winnipeg last night … They are 9-1-2 in their last 12 games and are 16-2-2 in their last 20 games.
- They are 18-0-2 in their 20 home games, including a 14-game home win streak, the longest from the start of a season in league history … That is the 2nd longest point streak from a season’s start in Boston annals to 1973-74’s 21-game stretch at 19- 0-2 … This is their fifth longest home point streak overall in team history (4x) with their club mark a 26-0-1 stretch in 1970-71.
- Boston 4 vs Columbus 2 … David Pastrnak scored his 20th of the season and David Krejci had a PPG+A each, and Taylor Hall (GA) and Tomas Nosek scored in a 19-second span in the 3rd period for the win … Jeremy Swayman earned the victory in goal while narrowly missing a score of his own … SOG: Bos 39, Cmb 33 … PP: 2/3 … PK: 2/5
- Boston 7 vs Florida 3 … Patrice Bergeron had 2-2=4 totals, Brad Marchand added 3 assists, and Brandon Carlo, Connor Clifton (1-1=2 each), Hampus Lindholm and Taylor Hall (2A each) had 2-pt nights … Charlie Coyle, David Krejci and David Pastrnak had single goals … Linus Ullmark extended his point streak to 10-0-1 … SOG: Bos 26, Fla 39 … PP: 2/4 … PK: 0/3
- Boston 3 vs Winnipeg 2 … The Bruins went down 0-2 after the 1st period before tying the score on goals by David Pastrnak (1- 1=2 totals) and Jake DeBrusk (his 200th NHL point) … Nick Foligno had 1-1=2 totals with the GWG in the 3rd period … Jeremy Swayman took his 2nd straight win in net … SOG: Bos 39, Wpg 27 … PP: 1/4 … PK: 0/2
INJURIES (Total man-games lost in 2022-23: 36)
- None
BOSTON vs NEW JERSEY, LIFETIME SERIES
- The Bruins and Devils are meeting for the 173rd time in their histories with the Bruins having a 95-45-19-13 record and 569-444 scoring advantage in those games.
- The Bruins are 44-22-11-7 lifetime in New Jersey with a 261-204 scoring edge in those 84 contests.
NUMBERS
1 / 2: Boston’s rank in win percentage (.844) and fewest goals against per game (2.16) while 2nd in goals for per game (3.88).
1 / 3: Boston’s special teams ranking in the penalty-kill at 85.3% (19/124) and power play at 29.5% (36/122) … The Bruins are 36.8% on the power play over their last 5 games (7/19).
2: Player on the current roster new to the Bruins organization this season – A.J. Greer (free agent) and Pavel Zacha (trade).
3: Season series completed – ARI (1-1-0, snapping a 19-gm win streak which was the longest by an opponent in club history), COL (2-0-0), VGS (1-0-1).
4: Defenseman points in a game this season by Hampus Lindholm (1-3=4 vs PIT on 11/1) and Charlie McAvoy (4A vs CHI on 11/19).
4: Points by David Pastrnak (1-3=4 totals) on 10/12/2022 in Washington in the 2022-23 season opener … That is the most points in a Boston opener since Brad Marchand (2-3=5) and Pastrnak (2-2=4) in 10/13/2016.
5: Game-winning goals by Taylor Hall (tied for 3rd in the NHL), including three straight deciding goals from 10/20-25/2022 – deciding shootout goal vs. Anaheim on 10/20, OT goal vs. Minnesota on 10/22 and GWG vs. Dallas on 10/25.
7: Straight 20-goal seasons by David Pastrnak, including his 3rd-fastest 20 in his 30th game (22 gms in 2019-20 and 28 gms in
2018-19).
9: New career-best win streak by Linus Ullmark from 11/7-12/13/2022 … That bested his 8-game stretch from 10/12-11/3/2022 which was his previous mark and it also tied the longest win streak by a Boston goaltender from the start of a season (Tim Thomas, also 8-0-0 in 2010-11).
9: Players on the Bruins current roster who played college hockey – Connor Clifton, Charlie Coyle, Derek Forbort, Trent Frederic, AJ Greer, Matt Grzelcyk, Charlie McAvoy, Craig Smith and Jeremy Swayman.
10: Game point streak by David Pastrnak (8-5=13) from 12/3-21 (current), which is his 6th career stretch of at least 10 gms … Pastrnak had a 9-game streak from 11/7-25 with 6-7=13 totals in that span earlier this season.
10: Former first round draft picks on the current roster – Charlie Coyle, Jake DeBrusk, Derek Forbert, Trent Frederic, Taylor Hall, Hampus Lindholm, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, Pavel Zacha and Jakub Zboril
14: Straight home wins to open this season, which is the longest such streak in NHL history … That also tied as Boston’s longest home win streak overall since a 14-game stretch in 2008-09.
20: Current home point streak at 18-0-2 … That is the 2nd-longest from the start of a season in club history and is tied for the 5th-longest home point streak overall in team history with their club mark a 26-0-1 stretch in 1970-71.
54: Points by the Bruins after 32 games this season at 26-4-2 … That is the 2nd-best mark after 32 games in team history (27-4-1) and they are the 3rd team in NHL history to hit that mark through the 1st 32 games of a season.
+55: Boston’s league-leading goal differential (Toronto is 2nd at +29), including an NHL-best 3rd period goal differential at 47-19 and +28.
100: Points by David Pastrnak in this 2022 calendar year … That ranks tied for 7th in club history (Ray Bourque is next with 103 points).
395-25-21: Boston’s record since 2011-12 in games in which they have had a 2-goal lead in a game … That extends to 258-2-6 over that span when they have led by 3 goals
557: Consecutive Bruins games (regular season & playoffs) currently sold out at TD Garden … Their last non-sellout game was on 12/2/2009 when a Wednesday game vs. TB drew 16,553
FUN FACTS
- The Bruins currently have 22 players on their roster … 10 were drafted by the team, 4 were acquired in trade and 8 were signed as free agents.
- The Bruins play 16 matinees this season (local start time 4:00 pm or earlier) … They have a 3-0-0 record in afternoon games so far.
- The Bruins play 14 sets of back-to-back games this season … They are currently 4-0-0 in the 1st game of those sets and are 2-1-0 in the 2nd games so far.
- The Bruins are playing game 12 of a 14-game December schedule tonight (8 hm/6 rd, 8-1-2) … They will play 14 games in January (5 hm/9 rd), 10 in February (3 hm/7 rd), 15 in March (9 hm/6 rd) and 7 in April (3 hm/4 rd) … They went 8-1-0 in October and 11-2-0 in December.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
Nov. 16: Keith Kinkaid returned to Providence/AHL.
Nov. 29: Anton Stralman assigned to Providence/AHL (cleared waivers 11/29).
Dec. 20: Craig Smith assigned to Providence/AHL (cleared waivers 12/19).
Dec. 21: Craig Smith recalled from Providence/AHL.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS NOTES:
LAST GAME
New Jersey Devils 4 Florida Panthers 2
(22-9-2—46 PTS) (15-15-4—34 PTS)
Three Stars: 1. J. Bratt 2 E. Luostarinen 3. Y. Sharangovich
SCORE 1
ST 2
ND 3
RD OT SO FINAL
Florida 1 1 0 – – 2
DEVILS 1 0 3 – – 4
New Jersey Devils: Media Notes
Goals:
FLA: E. Staal, E. Luostarinen (PPG)
NJD: J. Bratt (PPG), J. Bratt, Y. Sharangovich, T. Tatar (ENG)
INJURIES/ILLNESS
PLAYER INJURY OUT SINCE GAMES MISSED
Jonathan Bernier – LTIR Lower-body, hip 2021-22 33
Ondrej Palat I.R. Lower-body Retro-active to Oct. 24 27
Nate Bastian Upper-Body Nov. 27 11
2022-23 Total Man-Games Lost to Injury/illness: 93
TRANSACTIONS
DATE PLAYER ACTION
12/1 Nico Daws Reassigned to Utica
12/2 Andreas Johnsson Recalled from Utica
12/13 Mackenzie Blackwood Assigned to Utica (conditioning loan)
12/19 Akira Schmid Reassigned to Utica
Mackenzie Blackwood Recalled from conditioning loan, Utica
12/22 Nate Bastian Placed I.R. retro to Nov. 26
Nikita Okhotiuk Recalled from Utica
WHAT TO KNOW
The Devils snapped a season-low six-game winless streak, after defeating the Florida Panthers on the road in a 4-2 win on Wednesday. After Wednesday’s win, Jersey’s team earned a power-play goal on the road for the first time in six road contests, last: Nov. 19, at Ottawa (E. Haula, 7:10 into 1st per., 5-1, W). Prior to the five-game stretch without a power-play goal on the road (Nov. 25-Dec. 20) the Devils never experienced consecutive road games without a power-play goal earned this season. After Wednesday’s win, the Devils improved to 2-8-0 when trailing after two periods of play this season. The Devils were 4-38-4 when trailing after two periods of play last season. Jersey’s team is now 6-1-0 when outshot by an opponent this season. Florida outshot the Devils 36-33. The Devils were 11-25-4 when outshot by an opponent last season. The Devils enter tonight’s contest with nine comeback wins this season, which is tied with Carolina for the second most in the NHL behind Edmonton (11), per Dec. 22. Jersey’s team improved to 20-2-2 when scoring three-or-more goals in a game this season. The team’s 12-2-1 record on the road ranks second in the NHL this season behind Sin City (VGK, 14 wins). Keep in mind that the Devils were 11-26-4 on the road last season, which ranked 31st in the NHL. As of Dec. 22, the Devils were seeded in 2 nd place for the Eastern Conference for 16 days in the month of December. The team fell to third place on Dec. 21. The team is fresh off logging 27 blocked shots on Wednesday, which marked a season-high (prior, 26 blocks on Nov. 26, 2022, vs WSH). The Devils are 12-8-1 vs the Eastern Conference and 7-3-0 vs the Atlantic Division for 2022-23. Side note…the Devils entered the month of December with a share of first place, or sole possession, atop the League standings for the first time in franchise history. Jersey’s team is 18-1-2 when Nico Hischier recorded a point in a game this season and 10-3-1 when Jack Hughes scored a goal in a game for 2022-23. Former Devil, Pavel Zacha, returns back to the Prudential Center for the first time since the Czech Republic native was traded to Boston in exchange for Erik Haula on July 13, 2022. Haula also face-off vs his former team (Boston) for the first time this season. Zacha is one of three former Devils who selected in the 1st round at the NHL Draft and are currently active in the league: Z. Parise, 2003, now NYI & A. Larsson, 2011, now SEA The Devils have allowed 1, or fewer, goals against nine times this season in a game. Jersey’s team allowed one, or fewer goals against, in a game just eight times all of last season.
THE RANKS
STAT NHL RANK
GA/GP, 2.52, 3rd GF/GP 3.39, 8 TH SA/GP 26.7, 2ND SF/GP 35.1, 2nd
Since 1994-95, the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship, the Devils have finished a season averaging under 25 shots against, per game seven times:
23.7 1997-98
24.7 1998-99
24.7 2000-01
23.2 2001-02
23.6 2002-03
24.4 2003-04
23.1 2012-13
The team clinched a playoff berth in six of those seasons, while winning a Stanley Cup championship in 2002-03, plus advancing to the Stanley Cup final in 2000-01. The team didn’t clinch a playoff berth in the shortened (lockout year) in 2012-13. Since 1994-95, the team’s highest shots per game total is 33.1, which was earned in 1999-00. The team then won its second Stanley Cup championship. The Devils are one of 11 teams this season that haven’t been shut out in a game, yet. Head coach Lindy Ruff became the fifth bench boss in NHL history who earned 800 wins. Only four other NHL coaches all-time are in the “800 club.”
S. Bowman: 1,244 wins
Joel Quenneville: 969 wins
Barry Trotz: 914 wins
Ken Hitchcock: 849 wins
The Devils officially announced and revealed their second-ever Adidas Reverse Retro sweater, which turns back the clock and nods to the franchise’s Colorado roots. The team is scheduled to wear the sweaters four times this season and twice on the road:
Dec. 3, at PHI, 7:00 P.M. 3-2, W
Dec. 9, vs NYI, 7:00 P.M. 6-4, L
Dec. 30, at PIT, 7:00 P.M.
Jan. 7, vs NYR, 1:00 P.M.
2022-23 TEAM STATS
RECORD ON DAYS OF THE WEEK
The Devils record on Friday in 2022-23…2-1-0…at home: 1-1-0…road: 1-0-0
Record in night games in 2022-23…19-9-2…home: 8-7-1…road: 11-2-1
Record in day games in 2022-23…3-0-0…home: 2-0-0…road: 1-0-0
2022-23 Alternate jersey record…3-1-0
RECORD WHEN SCORING FIRST
Scoring first…14-5-1…Trailing first…8-4-1
The 8 wins when trailing first in a game are tied with PHI, WSH, EDM and PIT for the most in the NHL. The longest duration of a game this season: 2 hours, 42 minutes, 11/23, vs TOR, 7:12 pm – 9:54 pm Team’s average: H: 6’1” | W: 197lbs | A: 27 years old
GOALS BY PERIOD
PERIOD GOALS FOR/AGAINST DIFFERENTIAL
1 29-25 +4
2 44-34 +10
3 36-22 +14
OT 3-2 +1
TOTAL 112-83 +29
The team’s +29 goal differential ranks 2nd in the NHL behind Boston (+54)
BACK-TO-BACK GAMES
Overall: 4-3-1
First game: 1-2-1 | home: 0-1-0 | road: 1-1-1
Second game: 3-1-0 | home: 1-1-0 | road: 2-0-0
VS BEANTOWN
The Devils and Boston meet for the first of three matchups and also meet again on Dec. 28. The last time the Devis were scheduled in consecutive games vs Boston, and at home, was May 3, 2021 to May 4 (1-1-0). Third matchup: Apr. 8, at BOS, 7:00 P.M. The Devils were 0-3-0 vs Boston last season. The last time that the Devils won a season series vs Boston was 2020-21 (5-2-1).
ALL-TIME vs THE B’S
Record: 58-85-19-10
Home: 29-40-11-4
Road: 29-45-8-6
DID YOU KNOW…
The most goals in franchise history earned in a single game vs Boston is eight, twice, last earned on Mar. 19, 1994 at Boston. The most goals that the Devils allowed in a single game vs Boston is eight, three times, which last occurred on Mar. 31, 2022, at Boston. The most shots that Jersey earned in a single game vs Boston is 48, which occurred on Oct. 29, 19996 at Boston. The most shots that the Devils allowed in a single game vs Boston is 48, which occurred on Mar. 30, 2021, in a 5-4 shootout loss at Boston. The last time the Devils shut out the Bruins was on Mar. 28, 2021, in a 1-0 win at Boston (M. Blackwood, 40 saves). The last time that Boston shut out the Devils was on May 3, 2021, in a 3-0 loss.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE .
Wed., Dec. 28, vs BOS, 7:30 P.M.
Fri. Dec. 30, at PIT, 7:00 P.M.
Sun. Jan. 1, vs CAR, 3:00 P.M.
Wed., Jan. 4, at DET, 7:00 P.M.
DHN QUIZ QUESTION
Can you name the Devils player who earned the most points in a regular-season game vs Boston? It was 5 PTS (2g-3a)…
LAST TRADE
P. Zacha in exchange for E. Haula on July 13, 2022.
