The Boston Bruins have sat comfortably as the best team in the NHL throughout their 2022-23 season.
Despite any challenge in place, whether on or off-ice, the Black and Gold have remained poised and continue to display a refusal of falling off track with Boston’s greater goal in place — the Stanley Cup playoffs.
This remained evident during Sunday’s electric 4-3 shootout victory over the St. Louis Blues, which like many matchups the Bruins have successfully conquered this season, had a gritty playoff feel attached to it.
The contest featured a blown 3-0 lead and a scoreless overtime period, which positioned the game-deciding heroics of Charlie Coyle — who netted Boston’s shootout goal, and Linus Ullmark — who saved a convincing St. Louis redemption attempt to send the game into a final score.
“It’s been pretty electric, to be honest. It’s been crazy,” Jake DeBrusk said, as seen on TNT’s postgame coverage. “It’s one of those things that there’s a lot of question marks going into our team beginning of the year. A lot of naysayers and we had some big injuries obviously. But we just try to grow as a group and try to get those guys back on board going full swing. Hitting 60 wins tonight, that just sums up how good our team truly is.”
The B’s would’ve never had the chance to seal the deal in a shootout, had it not been for the pivotal goals from Oskar Steen — his first of the season — and Tyler Bertuzzi. Both led Boston’s two-goal charge in the second period, which gave the team a commanding 3-0 with 25 seconds left before the final frame.
“I’ve never really been a part of a group like this,” DeBrusk said. “We just continue to grow and find ways to win.”
Here are more notes from Sunday’s Bruins-Blues game:
— The Bruins are the fourth team in NHL history to reach 60 wins in a single season, doing so for the first time since the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens. Boston improved to 60-12-5 following Sunday’s win.
— DeBrusk opened the game with a goal, which initially was credited to teammate Trent Frederic. This became a gut-wrenching blow to the bettors, as Frederic’s odds of being the game-opening scorer were set at +2900 prior to puck drop, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
“Yeah, I’m a greaseball, I guess,” DeBrusk said.
— Ullmark improved to 11-4 on his career in shootouts and 3-1 this season. The All-Star Bruins goalie saved three straight St. Louis shootout attempts, including an eclectic game-winner, after saving 36 shots in regulation.
— Boston is on a three-game winning streak with five left to play on the regular season schedule.
— The Bruins return to TD Garden to face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET, and you can catch the game, along with full pregame coverage, live on NESN.
