Bruins’ Newcomer Reacts To Finally Breaking Through With First Goal

When the Boston Bruins claimed Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers from the New York Islanders on Dec. 14, the hope was he would spark some offense.

The Maine native finally broke through with his first goal in a Bruins sweater in Boston’s 4-3 overtime win against the Florida Panthers on Saturday.

After Sam Reinhart evened up the score at 2-2 just 43 seconds into the third period, Wahlstrom and his linemates — Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau — went to work deep in the Bruins offensive zone. Charlie McAvoy jumped up to join the play, but his shot toward the net was blocked out front. The loose puck came right to Wahlstrom, who swept home his first goal and point as a Bruin in his 10th game.

“It was good work from us three down low, and the D getting in (to the play),” Wahlstrom told reporters, per team-provided video. “Just get to the net more when you know pucks aren’t going in and just hang out there, so I was able to bang it in.”

Wahlstrom added that he was thrilled to finally have one of his chances breakthrough after some of his chances went off the posts instead of into the back of the net. However, he is not ready to settle for just one.

“It’s pretty cool. I grew up watching this team since I was little, going to the TD Garden with my dad,” he said. “It’s pretty cool, for sure. I want a lot more. I got to get to those areas and get my shot off and just keep going on.”

The go-ahead goal by Wahlstrom would be erased when the Panthers tied the game up with 1.8 seconds left in regulation. David Pastrnak would be the hero for Boston — netting his 63rd game-winning goal with just two seconds remaining in overtime, snapping the Bruins six-game losing skid.

“It’s really big,” Wahlstrom said of the win over the Panthers. “We’ve always had belief in this room since I got here. The guys have been unbelievable, and there was no real panic. Today, we needed to get that win, and we felt it in the locker room.”

The Bruins will host the Tampa Bay Lightning at TD Garden on Tuesday night, looking to extend their winning streak to two games.