Boston — At TD Garden on Thursday, the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins 5-2 after scoring three goals in a 1:33 span during the third period.
For the Blackhawks (23-46-10), who had dropped six of seven (1-5-1), Ryan Donato scored his first NHL goal, and Nick Foligno scored twice. 31 saves were made by Arvid Soderblom.
Foligno remarked of Donato, “Ryan has the ability to shoot the puck, and it’s all coming together.” It’s a unique year for him, a contract year, and he becomes a father. You can see that things are beginning to settle down a bit for him and his identity, and he’s likely become more at ease with his personal identity. We’re happy for him because he has a fantastic job here that has enabled him to play to his strengths. We are pleased to see him reach 30 because he has been a fantastic competitor for us.
The Bruins (32-39-9) have dropped two of three games and have goals and assists from Morgan Geekie and David Pastrnak. 16 saves were made by Jeremy Swayman.
“The league is still humble,” Boston coach Joe Sacco remarked. Regardless of a team’s position in the standings, this league is good. It’s a lesson in learning, and you must be prepared for sixty minutes. No matter who you are competing against, you must show up and compete for sixty minutes.
At 3:13 of the third, Donato scored on a rebound close to the right post to give the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead.
At 4:23, Tyler Bertuzzi made it 3-1. Parker Wotherspoon blocked his backhand pass, but the puck returned to him, and he scored from the high slot on the blocker side.
Twenty-four seconds later, Kevin Korchinski scored his first goal of the season, increasing the lead to 4-1.
“Our team is capable of doing that,” Foligno stated. “This team has players with skill and the ability to put the puck in the net, but you have to give yourself the chance to do it.”
After a pass from Pastrnak, Geekie scored a one-timer from the low slot at 11:08 to narrow the score to 4-2.
With seven goals and ten assists, Geekie’s point streak reached an NHL career-high nine games. With eight goals and ten assists, Pastrnak’s point streak now stands at eight games.
Regarding Geekie, Pastrnak remarked, “I’m really happy and it’s well-deserved.” “You could see it this year as he works on his game.” He is now a serious danger to score goals. We are excellent friends, and it’s encouraging to see him succeed this year.
With 27 seconds left in the 5-2 final, Foligno scored into an empty net.
The Bruins took a 1-0 lead at 10:39 of the first period thanks to Pastrnak. When he went to check on Philipp Kurashev, he attempted to move around him and turned the puck over. The ball eventually found its way to Elias Lindholm, who beat Soderblom when his intended pass for Pastrnak veered off Sam Rinzel’s stick and the Bruins forward.
The score was tied 1-1 at 7:55 in the second quarter by Foligno. He skated down the right wing, chipped the puck to himself off the boards, and blocked up a pass at the defensive blue line before hitting Swayman blocker side on a partial breakaway.
NOTES: Since Alex DeBrincat scored 41 goals for Chicago in 2021–2022, Donato is the only player to score at least 30 goals for the team. In 13:36 of ice time, Boston-born forward Riley Duran, who made his NHL debut with the Bruins, was minus-1. Pastrnak became the first player since Marc Savard (three consecutive from 2006-07 to 2008-09) to record at least 60 assists in a season, and the seventh player in Bruins history to do so.
