The B’s and Golden Knights show how exciting a potential playoff clash would be originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
BOSTON — The 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs don’t start until April, but Monday night’s showdown between the Bruins and Vegas Golden Knights at TD Garden definitely felt a lot like a postseason atmosphere.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman said when asked if there was a playoff intensity in the building. “Awesome fans — that’s what it’s like every night here. We don’t take that for granted, and we appreciate that. It makes it the best rink in the NHL to play at — super fun atmosphere.”
Sure, the return of ex-Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy contributed greatly to the heightened energy in the building before and during the game. It was an emotional night for Cassidy, who appeared to be fighting back tears on the Vegas bench during his tribute video on the jumbotron in the first period.
Cassidy reflects on emotional return to Boston as Knights end B’s streak
The play on the ice was phenomenal.
The two best teams in the NHL that lead their respective conferences in points percentage, went toe-to-toe in a physical 65 minutes of hockey that saw plenty of twists, turns and edge-of-your-seat moments.
The third period and overtime provided some of the most exciting hockey of any game this season. After the Bruins erased a 3-0 deficit and tied the score early in the third period, these teams traded so many quality scoring chances through the end of regulation and an overtime period that would have ended with a Bruins game-winner if not for the Brilliant play of Vegas rookie goalie Logan Thompson and his 40 saves on the night.
Vegas ultimately wound up taking the two points with a 4-3 shootout win, thus ending Boston’s 14-game home win streak to begin the season.
“Yeah, that was a game,” Golden Knights forward Paul Cotter, who scored twice, said at his locker after the win. “Even (Mark Stone) said I don’t think the team hasn’t grinded like that in a long time.”
The Bruins and Golden Knights combined to score six goals and tally 63 scoring chances (39-24 B’s), 29 high-danger chances (16-13 B’s) and 63 hits (35-28 B’s). Boston, based on how many more shots and scoring chances it generated, led 3.92 to 2.42 in expected goals, per Natural Stat Trick. But sometimes you run into a hot goalie like Thompson.
“We know how good they are, and how good they are at home,” Thompson said. “So for us to come in here and take two points from them is a stepping stone for us and a confidence booster for sure.”
We’re only in December, so there’s a ton of hockey left to be played, but it’s not hard to imagine these two franchises squaring off in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
I would like to be here in the spring. Wouldn’t that be nice, eh?
Bruce Cassidy on the potential of a Bruins-VGK Cup Final
The Bruins rank No. 1 in goals scored and goals allowed. The Golden Knights have scored the third-most goals and rank No. 10 goals allowed. Each of these teams has plenty of scoring depth, a battle-tested blue line, quality goaltending, veteran experience (including multiple Stanley Cup winners) and elite coaching.
Aside from the obvious Cassidy storyline, and North Chelmsford, Mass., native Jack Eichel going up against his childhood team on the sport’s biggest stage, a Bruins vs. Golden Knights matchup in the Cup Final would be pretty entertaining from an on-ice perspective, and that was fully evident from their first matchup of the season.
A Best-of-7 series filled with the type of high-paced, physical action we saw at the Garden on Monday night would be a treat for hockey fans in June.
“I would like to be here in the spring. Wouldn’t that be nice, eh?” Cassidy admitted. “Two good hockey teams that are trending that way. A lot is going to happen between now and then, I’m sure.”