The Boston Bruins, especially Michael Eyssimont, made a statement in a thrilling come-from-behind 5-4 overtime win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
Just like in Boston’s 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals on Sunday, the Black and Gold got on the board first, only to see their early lead on a Matej Blumel goal erased 44 seconds later. The Bruins and Rangers entered the first intermission knotted at one a side, but New York exploded for three goals in the middle frame to take a commanding 4-1 lead.
“We addressed it after two. That’s not us, right? That’s not the Boston Bruins,” head coach Marco Sturm told reporters in New York, per team-provided video. “That’s not how we want to play. That’s not how we want to represent our logo on that jersey and (it) looked good for them by responding, and end up winning the game too.”
The game-winning goal came off the stick of defenseman Nikita Zadorov, earning Boston its first win of the preseason.
“We had a clear message after the second period, that wasn’t good enough for our standards, for the Bruins’ standards. We had to show up in the third,” Zadorov told reporters, per team-provided video.
Zadorov was able to secure the win because two players — Eyssimont and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo — fought against the script and gave the Bruins life in the third period.
The overtime hero took a cross-checking penalty early in the third period giving the Rangers ample opportunity to pad their three-goal lead. Instead, Eyssimont stole the puck from Rangers defenseman Adam Fox before tallying a shorthanded goal.
Eyssimont wasn’t done. He got the Bruins within a goal four minutes later at even-strength and then had the primary assist on Marat Khusnutdinov’s equalizer with 1:05 left in regulation.
“It just shows that we fight till the end and see games all the way through,” Eyssimont said in New York. “We have to learn from our losses, and hopefully we can learn from periods even when we don’t play too well in. That’s what we did. We fixed a lot of things, and that’s the sign of a mature team.”
While Bruins fans may not be familiar with Eyssimont’s tenacity on the ice, Boston’s bench boss coached the 29-year-old forward during his time in the Los Angeles Kings organization.
“I had Mikey before, so no surprise for me, but it’s nice to see him get rewarded,” Sturm said. “He works extremely hard. (…) I thought probably the second half of the game he kinda got his legs under his belt and he scored some pretty nice goals in the third period.
“What I like about him, he doesn’t complain. He accepts his role, whatever it is, and he’s trying the best he can. So, guys like him, you always root for because he cares, and because he has not just grit, but he also has the skill. That’s something you welcome.”
Korpisalo saw his first action between the pipes for the Bruins. The 10-year veteran netminder played the entire game, making 33 saves on 37 shots.
“Four goals, not too happy (about) that,” Korpisalo told reporters in Manhattan. “But saw a lot of action, which was great for the first game and especially for the full 60 minutes. There are some things I have to improve for sure.”
After allowing three goals on 18 shots in the second period, Korpisalo turned aside all seven he faced in the third period.
“The game could’ve gone to the garbage real quick if he didn’t make those big saves,” Zadorov said. “Korpi stayed big for us and gave us a chance to get back in the game.”
More Bruins: Boston lost it’s preseason opener to Washington
Troiani Rink Report 
Leave a comment