Final: Bruins 4, Red Wings 2 - Swayman saves 41 shots, Bruins score three goals in third period

The Boston Bruins keep their playoff position seeding with a 4-2 victory against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. 

Heading into this game, the Bruins and Red Wings both sat at identical records while holding both wild card positions in the Eastern Conference, making this a "must win" game for both sides. Despite struggling on the road this season, the Bruins persevered winning their first away game in regulation since Jan. 17th receiving a strong goaltending performance by Jeremy Swayman.

Both teams played conservative hockey through the first 20 minutes of the game. There were three penalties in the first period, but strong penalty killing on both sides kept the game scoreless.

Four minutes into the second period, the Red Wings broke open the scoring with a power play goal. Hampus Lindholm recorded Boston's third penalty of the game for high sticking. On the power play, the Red Wings cycled the puck in Boston's zone, and Andrew Copp found Lucas Raymond at the top face-off dot to put Detroit in front.

One minute after Raymond's goal, the Red Wings committed consecutive minor penalties. It started with an interference penalty by David Perron, and after the initial face-off in Detroit's own zone, Moritz Seider unintentionally shot the puck over the glass and received a delay of game call.

This gave the Bruins a prime opportunity to tie the game on a 5-on-3 power play, and they were successful. In Detroit's zone, Charlie McAvoy dished a one-timer pass to David Pastrnak at the low face-off circle to tie the game. 

Boston was still on the power play following the goal, but they weren't able to record another goal. Both teams once again went into the intermission tied.

In the final period, the Red Wings came out to another early lead. At 15:53, Alex Debrincat sniped a snapshot over the shoulder of Swayman to put Detroit in front again.

But the Bruins made another quick response with a goal from Elias Lindholm. Morgan Geekie delivered a cross-ice pass in Detroit's zone to Lindholm, who fired a shot between the legs of Detroit goalie John Gibson.

Three minutes later, the Bruins took their first lead of the game. In the neutral zone, Geekie delivered a pass to a rushing Nikita Zadorov. Boston's 6'6 defenseman carried the puck past Detroit's blue line and snapped a shot through the left side of Gibson, giving Zadorov his first goal of the season.

With the Bruins in front, Swayman continued to make key saves to maintain Boston's lead. Detroit pulled their goalie with three minutes remaining in regulation, and Marat Khusnutdinov iced the game with an empty net goal. Swayman finished the game stopping 41 shots on 43 attempts.

Tonight, the Bruins proved that they deserve to be a playoff team. With a win tonight, the Bruins match points with the Canadiens, who won 8-3 against the 83-points Islanders, and now hold a two-point lead over an Atlantic Division foe. 

Swayman became the main catalyst in this win, and other notable Boston point-getters put their name on the scoresheet. Pastrnak broke his power play goal drought, and Geekie recorded three assists. Most importantly, Boston's two biggest free agent signings in 2024, Elias Lindholm and Zadorov, scored the two biggest goals to put the Bruins in front.

The Bruins will return back to TD Garden to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Puck drop will be at 7 p.m.

_______________________

WHO: Bruins (38-23-8) at Red Wings (38-23-8)
WHEN: 8 p.m. (don't need the 00, don't cap PM)
WHERE: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
TV: ABC
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub

LIVE BOX SCORE

PROJECTED LINES

Boston

Khusnutdinov - Minten - Pastrnak

Mittelstadt - Zacha - Arvidsson

Reichel - E. Lindholm - Geekie

Jeannot - Kuraly - Kastelic

Aspirot - McAvoy

H. Lindholm - Lohrei

Zadorov - Peeke

Swayman

Korpisalo

Detroit

Debrincat - Compher - Kane

Perrone - Finnie - Raymond

Kasper - Copp - Appleton

Van Riemsdyk - Dries - Shine

Edvinsson - Seider

Chiarot - Faulk

Johansson - Bernard-Docker

Gibson

Talbot

PREGAME NOTES

The Boston Bruins take on the Detroit Red Wings in crucial Atlantic Division matchup for playoff implications. 

Boston College lost in the Hockey East tournament semifinals to UConn, which ended their season. This means that top prospect and current Eagle James Hagens can sign with the Bruins and join the roster immediately.