The Boston Bruins earned a hard-fought 4-3 overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the performance of two players the B’s acquired ahead of Monday’s NHL trade deadline.
Rick Nash, acquired from the New York Rangers on Sunday, and Tommy Wingels, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, both scored a goal and made solid defensive plays in their TD Garden debuts.
Nash scored his first goal with the B’s — and his 800th career point — with a first-period tally, while Wingels tied the score at three in the second period. Nash also stopped a goal early in the opening period with a goal-line save, and Wingels picked up an assist on Riley Nash’s first-period goal that trimmed Carolina’s lead from 3-1 to 3-2 with three seconds left in the frame.
Nash has been as advertised through two games in Black and Gold. He’s shooting the puck a lot, he’s winning puck battles and contributing to both the power play and penalty kill units.
Wingels stepped into Riley Nash’s usual spot on the third line — Riley moved up to replace the injured Patrice Bergeron on the first line — and developed instant chemistry with his teammates.
It’s still early, but it looks like B’s general manager Don Sweeney’s trade deadline pickups have fit in well and are providing the team the depth it needs to overcome injuries. And with Bergeron expected to miss at least two weeks with a fractured right foot, Nash and Wingels will play key roles for Boston at both ends of the ice.
Here are some other notes from Bruins-Hurricanes.
— Charlie McAvoy continues to be one of the top candidates for the Calder Trophy (best rookie) as a consistently strong performer at both ends of the ice. His offensive skill was on display in overtime as he led a 2-on-1 rush and scored the game-winning goal.
McAvoy also has two shootout winners on the season.
The 19-year-old rookie became the youngest defenseman in Bruins history to score an overtime goal in the regular season or playoffs. He also joins Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Glen Wesley and Greg Hawgood as the only B’s defenseman 20 years old or younger to tally 30-plus points in a season.
— Riley Nash did a really good job filling in for Bergeron at center on the top line. He scored a goal, picked up an assist, killed penalties and blocked two shots.
— The Bruins went 0-for-16 on the power play on their recent five-game road trip, and they didn’t find any more success in Boston, as the Hurricanes went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill Tuesday night.
Speaking of killing penalties, Boston’s PK also has struggled of late, giving up six goals in the last five games. Carolina scored twice on the power play in the first period.
— The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Florida Panthers in overtime Tuesday night, but maintain their one-point lead over the B’s for second place in the Atlantic Division. However, the Bruins still have five games in hand on the Leafs.
