BOSTON — Entering Saturday night’s matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets, most expected Tuukka Rask to start in net for the Bruins — including his backup, Jonas Gustavsson.
Gustavsson, however, was pressed into service after the Bruins made the late decision to scratch their starting goaltender, and the veteran responded by backstopping Boston to a 3-2 shootout win at TD Garden.
“He got the news at the last minute that he was playing,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said. “Tuukka was scheduled to play, and we made a change this afternoon for certain reasons. Tuukka wasn’t 100 percent — nothing major. And obviously, (Gustavsson) is the backup, so he had to go in there. And for a guy who found out just as he got to the rink this afternoon, he did well. He was well-prepared.”
Gustavsson participated in Saturday morning’s optional skate and said he left the arena believing he’d be backing up Rask later that night. He was informed of the change upon his return to the Garden.
The 31-year-old allowed two goals in one 3:20 span midway through the second period but otherwise was flawless, stopping each of the other 31 shots sent his way and shutting down both of Columbus’ shootout attempts.
“He did a phenomenal job,” said winger Brad Marchand, who scored Boston’s first goal in the win. “He’s a great goalie, and he’s shown that throughout the year. He had another great game (Saturday night), and we wouldn’t have won if he wasn’t playing.”
Gustavsson has won each of his last three starts — allowing two or fewer goals in each — to run his record to 9-3-1 this season.
Some additional notes from Saturday night:
— The Blue Jackets played the game without their head coach after John Tortorella broke two ribs in an on-ice collision during Friday’s practice. Associate coach Craig Hartsburg served as Columbus’ interim bench boss.
“He’s hurtin’,” Hartsburg told reporters Saturday morning, via BostonBruins.com. “I talked to him briefly. He didn’t have much sleep and really basically said he can’t move. It’s a tough thing for him, but his health is the most important thing and we’ll get him healthy and get him back.”
Bruins coach Claude Julien said he’s never suffered a practice injury like Tortorella’s — but he was quick to knock on wood.
“When you’re on the ice every day and when you’re practicing, those kinds of things happen,” Julien told reporters. “And you talk about close calls, I’ve had guys run into me. I’ve had to hang onto the boards, or guys slipping and coming right at your feet. But I’ve never had — like I said, knock on wood — I’ve never been injured the way Torts was (Friday).
“Hopefully, he’s feeling better. You don’t like to see that happen. He’s a tough guy, I’m sure he’ll be able to be back at it before you know it. Those are things that probably happen more than we think, but it’s not advertised the way it is at our level.”
— The game was Gregory Campbell’s first at TD Garden since the former Bruins forward signed with Columbus this past offseason. He spoke before the game about the “mixed emotions” that come with returning to the city he not so long ago called home.
The Bruins played a montage of Campbell’s most memorable moments during a first-period timeout, which prompted the veteran forward to smile and wave as the fans gave him a standing ovation.
— Almost matching Campbell’s ovation was the Garden crowd’s reaction to a sequence of New England Patriots highlights shown on the Jumbotron during the second period.
The Patriots, of course, will visit the Denver Broncos on Sunday with a trip to Super Bowl 50 on the line.
— Apropos of nothing, here’s a little something to put a smile on your face on a snowy Saturday night:
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
