BOSTON — Chris Kelly’s first goal of the 2014-15 season could not have come at a better time.
The Bruins forward smacked a loose puck past Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason with less than two minutes remaining in the third period Monday night, providing the game-winner in the Bruins’ 2-1 win on opening night at TD Garden.
“It was obviously right place, right time,” Kelly said after the game. “I thought we played well; we had some pretty good chances. (Mason is) a big goalie and I think it’s important to get some traffic in front of him and it paid off.”
The goal followed a broken-stick slap shot by Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid, which altered the trajectory of the puck and threw off Mason’s timing.
It’s been a rough couple of years for Kelly after various injuries limited him to 34 games in 2012-13 and 57 last season. A back injury forced him to miss the entirety of last year’s playoff run, which ended in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“I just wanted to go out there and feel good and enjoy it,” Kelly said of his first game back. “Last year was taken away from me and made me realize how much I missed the game and want to be out there playing. I just tried to enjoy the whole night and tried to play my game. For sure, there’s no better feeling.”
Line-shuffling necessitated by injuries to David Krejci and Gregory Campbell had Kelly skating alongside Swedish forwards Loui Eriksson and Carl Soderberg on Monday. The makeshift line ended up being arguably the Bruins’ best — Soderberg assisted on both Boston goals — despite a bit of a language barrier.
“I don’t really like playing with Carl and Loui, so I think (Patrice) Bergeron needs a winger up there,” Kelly joked. “No, yeah, obviously I like playing with the Swedes even though half the time I never understand them on the bench.”
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
