Bruins Wrap: Boston’s Early Dominance Helps Avoid Late Collapse

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins are on quite the roll, winning their third-consecutive game to open up the 2022-23 season by defeating the Florida Panthers, 5-3, on Monday night at TD Garden.

The Bruins now are 3-0 on the season while the Panthers are 2-1.

Check out the full box score here.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Though the Celtics don’t open their season until Tuesday night, TD Garden was home to a game of runs on Monday, before the Bruins were able to pull away big in the third period.

The Bruins and Panthers traded bouts of sustained offensive pressure throughout the first period. Boston, who has seen 12 different players score a total of 16 goals in its first three games, kept pace with a high-powered Florida club that is expected to have one of the league’s best offenses.

Jake DeBrusk’s energy and effort were the difference makers, as he got the scoring started just 0:21 into the game. It was the first of three Bruins breakaway goals, all of which displayed how Boston was able to hit a second gear that Florida wasn’t. Despite a late scare by the Panthers, where they scored two goals to cut the Bruins’ lead to a single goal, Jim Montgomery’s squad kept their foot on the gas to a near wire-to-wire victory.

By getting out to a quick lead and holding it through almost the entire game, the Bruins were able to play that fast style coach Jim Montgomery is looking to implement. Through three games, it seems to be fitting in well.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Jake DeBrusk was the best player on the ice in this one, not bad for a guy who was inserted into the lineup just minutes before puck drop. He finished the night with three points on a quick goal and high-effort assist and an empty-net tally to put the game away.

— David Pastrnak usually doesn’t need many opportunities to score a goal, he just makes it happen. So letting him put six shots on net probably wasn’t a great strategy by the Panthers, who saw him bob and weave his way to a breakaway goal in the third period.

— Patrice Bergeron netted the Bruins’ middle goal and added an assist one period later. He’s a plus-three through three games.

WAGER WATCH
DraftKings Sportsbook set the odds of Bergeron tallying a goal at +190. The 19-year veteran delivered in the second period, netting a $290 return on those who placed a $100 ticket on the Bruins captain.

UP NEXT ON NESN
The Bruins have a quick turnaround, travelling to Canada to play the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and you can watch the game, plus an hour of pregame and postgame coverage with NESN 360.