BOSTON — Down 2-0 after the first period and 3-1 after the second, the BruinsThe modest three-game winning streak looked unlikely to continue.
Boston was 0-6-1 in games in which they had trailed after the first period and 1-10-0 when trailing in the third. Rallies haven’t been part of this group’s DNA for 28 games.
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But Saturday after Trent Frederic’s second goal cut the deficit to one and by Brad Marchand The break tied the score in the third period, this new wave of momentum for the Bruins culminated Pavel Zacha’s game winner in overtime.
“I think we believe we can win these games even if we don’t get off to a good start,” Zacha said. “We have a lot of belief in the third periods that we can turn it around. We can outplay those teams and come back.”
In their last seven games since their coaching change, the Bruins’ style of play has reflected the straightforward personality of interim coach Joe Sacco. They have won seven of those games: five in regulation and now two in overtime.
“It shows a team that sticks to it. There will be times in games where there will be ups and downs,” Sacco said. “It was a big sign for us how we battled in the third period. Big sign for our team.”
Charlie McAvoy said it took the Bruins a while to figure out what the 2024-25 Bruins hit is.
“(Our confidence) is definitely higher when we’re down, but it’s the confidence that we can find our game again,” McAvoy explained. “When we lost it earlier this year, we couldn’t get it back at all, or really anything close to it. We know what it’s like now, so it’s easier for us to say, ‘Hey, let’s do it again. new and we’ll be fine”. We’ll live with the result'”.
Jeremy Swayman said the Bruins are still climbing.
“We haven’t played our best hockey yet. This is exciting. Knowing that we can get points when there is still more to give”, he said. “It’s good to get results, but we know we can get more.”
Sacco wants Saturday to be part of an evolving standard.
“They should wait (to come back). You get on the right side of the feeling and you just stay with it,” he said. “I think our guys are starting to feel it.”
Beginning Tuesday in Winnipeg, the Bruins will begin a five-game road trip through Western Canada with a sweep in Seattle. Sacco said getting a win as a springboard for this trip was important.
“This was an important game for us. We’re going to get a good test out West,” he said. “It’s a good time for us with the way we’re playing right now. We’re going to get a test of what our game is like on the road.”