The newest member of the Boston Bruins made quite the first impression Saturday night in Montreal.
Newly recalled forward Frank Vatrano put on an all-around encouraging performance in his NHL debut, logging 14:02 of ice time and scoring a goal in the Bruins’ 4-2 loss to the Canadiens.
“(The nerves) were pretty high, seeing the fans and how nuts it was out there,” Vatrano, an East Longmeadow, Mass., native who grew up watching the B’s, told reporters after the game. “But they settled down as soon as (I took) my first shift. So, I don’t think nerves were a problem, really, for me.”
The 21-year-old UMass product possesses a rocket of a shot and a lethally quick release, but he showed Saturday that his skill set extends beyond shooting. He also dished out four hits and blocked two shots, providing a nice influx of physicality to Boston’s second line.
“I liked his game,” head coach Claude Julien said in a postgame interview with NESN’s Jack Edwards and Andy Brickley. “I thought he was very reliable. Besides scoring a goal — he can shoot pucks — he competed hard. He was physical. He wasn’t intimidated. I liked his game, and I thought he was a good addition to our group (Saturday night).”
Some additional notes from Saturday night:
— Speaking with NESN rinkside reporter Sarah Davis during first intermission, Vatrano used an interesting comparison to describe Bell Centre’s raucous atmosphere.
“Just being out there, it’s incredible,” he said. “It’s kind of like playing in a soccer game out there right now. It’s something I’ve never really played in front of, and it’s been fun to be a part of.”
Vatrano, who was the American Hockey League’s leading goal-scorer at the time of his call-up Friday, was the second Bruins player this season to score a goal in his first NHL game. Tyler Randell was the first.
— The Canadiens traditionally have owned Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, who’s won just three of his 20 career matchups with Montreal. Rask did not get the call Saturday, however, with Julien instead sending out backup Jonas Gustavsson.
Rask, who is 3-5-1 this season and ranks in the bottom five in the league in both goals against average and save percentage, likely will return to the lineup Sunday against the New York Islanders.
“When Coach looks at the rotation certain games fall to the other guy, and I don’t mind that,” Rask said at morning skate, via CSNNE.com. “I’ll play whenever I get called upon. I’ve played two games and lost two games, so I think it’s just right that he gets the start tonight.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s just one game, and it’s not the playoffs. So, it’s okay. I don’t think it matters. I felt good in the last game, and just trying to get turned in the right direction with that good feeling. Maybe I’ll play (Sunday) and try to keep it going.”
Gustavsson held strong for the first two periods against Montreal but surrendered two goals — including David Desharnais’Â game-winner — on 12 shots in the third. The loss was his first of the season.
— Torey Krug is one of just three Bruins regulars who have yet to score a goal this season. He had a golden opportunity to break that slump Saturday but could not capitalize.
Though he’s now gone 13 games without a goal, Krug has excelled as a facilitator, leading the team with 10 assists.
— Nathan Beaulieu was slapped with a match penalty in the game’s final seconds for this illegal hit on Bruins winger Zac Rinaldo:
Per NHL rules, Beaulieu will be suspended indefinitely, pending league review.
— In less than two months, the Bruins and Canadiens will square off outdoors at Gillette Stadium. In anticipation of that New Year’s Day matchup, both teams wore Winter Classic toques during warmups.
The winter headwear also accentuated the fantastic Movember ‘stache currently owned by forward Max Talbot.
Photo via Eric Bolte/USA TODAY Sports Images
