BOSTON — The Boston Bruins’ 14-game home winning streak ended with a 4-3 shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at TD Garden on Monday.
Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist, and Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves for the Bruins (20-3-1), who rallied with three straight goals.
Their 14-game home winning streak to start the season is an NHL record.
“That’s probably the way our streak was going to end,” Boston forward Taylor Hall said. “We battled back, we did everything we could to try and win the game, and ultimately a good team won against us.”
Video: Smith wins shootout for Golden Knights with wrister
Paul Cotter scored twice, and Logan Thompson made 40 saves for Vegas (19-7-1), which finished 3-1-0 on a four-game road trip. Shea Theodore had two assists.
It was Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy’s first game against Boston since he was fired by the Bruins on June 6 after six seasons. He was honored with a video tribute in the first period and was visibly emotional while the crowd gave him a loud ovation.
“I don’t know what the reaction is [was] going to be,” Cassidy said. “It was a really nice gesture by the Bruins organization. I appreciate it. All along, I’ve [had] a tremendous amount of respect for them.”
Hall tied it with a power-play goal at 3:08 of the third period, going bar-down after grabbing his own rebound in front.
“This is a great group of players to coach,” Boston coach Jim Montgomery said. “They never quit, they never stop playing, they never stop believing. Down 3-0, we didn’t start on time, that’s unfortunate. We got beat through the middle of the ice too often tonight. That usually doesn’t happen. to us.”
Video: VGK@BOS: Hall rips a PPG in tight to even the score
Thompson kept the game tied with a glove save against Charlie McAvoy‘s wrist shot from the right face-off circle 55 seconds into overtime on a 2-on-1 rush.
“To be honest, I thought he was going blocker,” Thompson said. “And then he, last second, I was able to flick my hand up. It always feels good being able to make those saves, and I’m already in the game. It gets you more into it, for sure.”
Cotter gave the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead at 1:36 of the first period. William Karlsson fed Cotter in the slot from behind the net. It was Cotter’s first point in 11 games (Nov. 12).
“That many games in a row without a point is unacceptable,” Cotter said. “I mean, it’s going to happen; it’s my first year. But if I play my game, I’m sure I should be able to get points, whether it’s a weird tip-in or battle in front.”
Jonathan Marchessault made it 2-0 at 5:04, picking off a David Pastrnak Breakout pass deep in the Bruins zone and rebounding in Swayman’s pad save from his initial shot.
“I just saw that Pastrnak was looking at the [defensemen] sometimes on the breakout,” Marchessault said. “I was just trying to cut that play off, and no, I’m just pretty disappointed I missed my first shot there.”
Video: VGK@BOS: Cotter scores his 2nd goal of the game
Cotter, who played on Vegas’ top line Jack Eichel out with a lower-body injury, made it 3-0 just 51 seconds into the second period, picking up a short pass from Mark Stone and cutting through to the high slot.
“Obviously playing with those two (Chandler Stephenson and Stone), it’s going to be pretty easy to get opportunities, and I cashed in on a few,” Cotter said. “I think I should have had six tonight, but no, it was good to get some confidence going.”
Marchand cut it to 3-1 at 13:46 after bumping in a centering pass Patrice Bergeron.
Pastrnak made it 3-2 with 25 seconds left in the second, picking up a loose puck against the wall and spinning into the left face-off circle.
“Tough one to swallow,” Pastrnak said. “Great fight back by our whole group, and at the end of the day, it’s a good point.”
Video: VGK@BOS: Pastrnak rips a shot from the circle
Reilly Smith scored the lone goal of the shootout in the fifth round.
“They were resilient tonight,” Cassidy said. “You get a lead, you want to be able to protect it obviously, but I think there were some circumstances tonight. We’re at the end of the road trip, there’s some fatigue in our group. … [We had] to manage and keep our emotions in check and just get back to the game.”
NOTES: It was the Golden Knights’ 400th game since entering the NHL at the start of the 2017-18 season (235-132-33). Their 235 wins are the most by a franchise through their first 400 games in NHL history, eclipsing the original Ottawa Senators (223 in 1917) … The Bruins had won 21 straight here dating to April 16 of last season. They won each of their three home games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes. … Marchand extended his point streak to seven games (10 points; three goals, seven assists).
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