The Bruins continued their dream season on Saturday in Boston, becoming the fastest Bettman League team in history.
By beating the Detroit Red Wings 3-2, Jim Montgomery’s men savored their 50th win of the campaign, in their 64th game.
The previous brand belonged to the 1995-96 Red Wings and 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning, who accomplished the feat in 66 games.
Acquired before the trade deadline, support forward Garnet Hathaway scored his first goal in a “Oursons” uniform to confirm the victory for his team. He jumped on a return throw from Quebecer AJ Greer to complete the comeback.
The Michigan team had indeed secured a two-goal lead thanks to an excellent start to the game. Andrew Copp first hit the target shorthanded, then Alex Chiasson added on a massive attack.
Since signing a contract with the big club after playing 29 games in the American League, the 32-year-old Montrealer has been happily ever after in Detroit. He has three points in four games and is employed on the first wave of the power play.
Hampus Lindholm and Patrice Bergeron threaded the needle in the middle period to reset the counters to zero. For the Quebecer, it is a 130th net in massive attack in career, allowing him to overtake Cam Neely for fourth in Bruins history.
In addition, players from both teams held their breath late in the second period when Moritz Seider was hit head-on by a David Pastrnak shot. Bloodied, the German defender was still able to stay in the game.
The “Pens”, kings of Pennsylvania
At PPG Paints Arena, the Pittsburgh Penguins rode a frantic late game to defeat their arch-rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-1.
Jason Zucker, Jake Guentzel and Mikael Granlund hit the mark in the final six minutes of the duel to provide a comfortable cushion for the hosts. Head coach Mike Sullivan thus signed his 400th career victory on the Bettman circuit.
Captain Sidney Crosby, who else, scored the winning goal. He’s filled the net in his last four games against the Flyers. It was also his 82nd regular season game against the Philadelphia team, the equivalent of a full season. His 52 goals and 122 points prove just how comfortable he is battling Pennsylvania.
Rickard Rakell for the “Pens” and Kiefer Bellows for the Flyers completed the scoring.