Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist on Thursday night, including the only score in the shootout to lead the Boston Bruins to a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey in the mutual season opener for both teams.
Marchand would put Boston ahead late in the first period in a game they never trailed. On the powerplay, David Krejci sent a pass from the bottom of the right circle to the bottom of the left circle finding Marchand to the right of New Jersey goalie Mackenzie Blackwood and he would tap it in at 17:40 for a 1-0 lead. Despite a 26-11 shot disadvantage, the host Devils would come back in the third to tie it twice. Miles Wood would score on a wrist shot to the stick side of Tuuka Rask on a partial breakaway at 8:51. Boston took the lead again when Nick Ritchie tapped one in on the powerplay at 13:12, on a pass from Marchand on a very similar play that Krejci had set up to Marchand earlier. New Jersey tied it when Ty Smith had a shot deflect off a few bodies in front and find its way into the net at 13:46 making it 2-2 sending the game to overtime. The Devils had the best chances in the 3 on 3 extra session with two breakaways that were turned away by Rask. Marchand scored to garner the extra point as he was the last skater in the three man shootout, slipping one past Blackwood.
Marchand officially had the one goal and one assist, while Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, and Matt Grzeclyk each had one assist. Rask made 20 saves in the win. Jack Hughes had two assists to lead New Jersey, while Blackwood made 35 saves to help pick up one point for the Devils. Boston will stay in Newark to face New Jersey again Saturday at 1 p.m.
