James van Riemsdyk’s two-goal game lifted the Boston Bruins to a 3-2 win over the visiting Nashville Predators on Saturday night.
van Riemsdyk was stationed at the net front on the power play on each of his first two goals with Boston, including when he tipped home Charlie McAvoy’s blast from the point as it sailed through traffic for the game-winner at 2:52 of the third.
David Pastrnak registered a goal and an assist, becoming the fourth Bruins player to score multiple career penalty-shot goals for the franchise when he tied the score in the second period. Brad Marchand holds the record of six.
Charlie McAvoy dished out two assists, and Jeremy Swayman made 33 saves for the Bruins, who have won their first two games of the season.
Swayman stopped 14 shots in the first period.
Colton Sissons scored in each of the first two periods while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots for Nashville.
The Nashville power play finished 0-for-7, failing to convert despite 13:12 of man-up time and 13 shots on net.
After Kevin Shattenkirk’s chance off a Boston rush went wide, the visitors turned the play around and capitalized in transition when Sissons ripped home Kiefer Sherwood’s quick pass in the circle at the 3:29 mark of the first quarter.
Despite being outshot 15-11 in the first, it was a 1-1 game at intermission as the Bruins converted on the power play at 14:48. van Riemsdyk scored his first goal as a Bruin, banking a shot in off a defender from just outside the right crease.
The score remained tied through 40 minutes after the teams traded goals in the second as well. Nashville had a major chance for more, but Boston killed Jakub Lauko’s four-minute penalty for high sticking.
The Bruins took their first lead with 5:14 left in the middle frame. Alexandre Carrier held Pastrnak’s stick on an attempted break-in, resulting in a penalty shot on which the Boston star ripped a high snapper from the slot.
Nashville was set to go on its eighth power play — and fourth of the second period alone — before scoring on a delayed penalty only 2:08 later. Sissons tipped home Roman Josi’s point shot to make it 2-2.
–Field Level Media
