Bruins Blitz Golden Knights With Historic First-Period Surge

Thursday night at TD Garden saw the Boston Bruins deliver a first-period blitz that left the Vegas Golden Knights reeling and set the stage for a dramatic 4-3 victory in front of an electric Boston crowd. With both teams eager to rebound from recent losses that snapped impressive win streaks, the Bruins wasted no time asserting their dominance, making this matchup one to remember in a season already full of highlights.

Coming into the contest, the Bruins were licking their wounds from a tough 6-2 loss on the road to the Dallas Stars—a game that ended their six-game winning streak and exposed some vulnerabilities. The Golden Knights, meanwhile, had their own seven-game run halted by the Philadelphia Flyers, entering Boston with something to prove. Both squads, loaded with offensive firepower and defensive grit, had plenty at stake as they took the ice for this nationally televised showdown.

The opening period was nothing short of sensational for the Bruins. After Vegas’ Tomas Hertl was called for a high-sticking double minor on Alex Steeves—a play that left Steeves bloodied and gave Boston a four-minute power play—the Bruins pounced. Just 10 seconds into the man advantage, Charlie McAvoy finished off a slick passing sequence with David Pastrnak to put Boston on the board. The TD Garden crowd barely had time to catch its breath before Elias Lindholm, set up in the bumper spot by Pastrnak, doubled the lead only 20 seconds later. And when the teams returned to even strength, the Bruins’ fourth line showed sheer determination, as Tanner Jeannot went top shelf to make it 3-0, capping off the fastest three-goal burst for Boston since 2001.

"You got to do a better job putting out fires," Vegas winger Reilly Smith remarked postgame, reflecting on the Knights’ inability to stem the Bruins’ momentum. "Just collectively as a group, we can be better at not letting those momentum swings hurt us like that."

The first period statistics told the story: Boston outshot Vegas 15-4 and held the Golden Knights without a single shot on goal for the final 13:45 of the frame. The Bruins’ swarming attack and suffocating defense left Vegas searching for answers and their bench looking for a spark.

Head coach Marco Sturm’s trust in versatile forward Alex Steeves was on full display. Steeves, recently rewarded with a two-year contract extension after starting the season in the AHL, continued to anchor Boston’s third line alongside Fraser Minten and Morgan Geekie. "It is just really a special feeling. Appreciative that they believe in who I am as a person and as a player and my potential," Steeves said of his new deal. Sturm echoed that praise, noting, "He is a good guy to have for me, personally, because I trust him and I can put him in any situation." Steeves’ journey from opening-night omission to key contributor is quickly becoming a blueprint for Boston’s next generation.

The Bruins kept their foot on the gas in the second period. Nikita Zadorov’s strong movement along the blue line opened up space for Pastrnak, who buried a wide-open look past Akira Schmid to make it 4-0. That tally capped a three-point night for Pastrnak, who continues to lead the team in points with 60 and now has 20 goals on the season. The chemistry between Boston’s top players was evident, and their ability to capitalize on mistakes proved decisive.

But if there’s one thing the Golden Knights have shown this season, it’s resilience. Vegas stormed back in the third period, refusing to let Boston coast to victory. Massachusetts native Jack Eichel got the Knights on the board just 31 seconds into the final frame, and Tomas Hertl—redeeming himself after the costly first-period penalty—converted on the power play 2:32 later to cut the deficit in half. Vegas wasn’t done. With 2:35 remaining and the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Pavel Dorofeyev found the back of the net, bringing the Knights within one and setting up a frantic finish.

"It was good to see us get to our game eventually," Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Otherwise, it was going to be a really long night." Cassidy, who once led the Bruins behind the bench, found both encouragement and disappointment in his team’s performance: encouraged by their third-period push, but frustrated by the early defensive lapses.

For Boston, the night belonged to goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, whose 30 saves—including several clutch stops in the dying minutes—secured his fourth consecutive win. This marks Korpisalo’s longest win streak since joining the Bruins and his best run since March 2024 with Ottawa. His poise under pressure, particularly as Vegas pressed for the equalizer, was instrumental in preserving the victory. "The Bruins’ Joonas Korpisalo stopped the bleeding from there and refused to let the VGK get any closer, and finished with 30 saves on 33 shots," noted one local report.

The Bruins’ recent form has been nothing short of impressive. With this win, Boston improved to 9-2-0 since New Year’s Eve, matching their hottest stretch of the season. Over their last 11 games, they’ve outscored opponents 46-27, showcasing a balanced attack and a commitment to team defense. The club’s depth has been further highlighted by the emergence of players like Steeves and defenseman Jonathan Aspirot, who also earned a two-year extension earlier this month after starting the season in Providence.

On the other side, the Golden Knights saw their record slip to 24-13-12, but there were bright spots even in defeat. Captain Mark Stone extended his franchise-record point streak to 13 games, notching an assist on Hertl’s goal and bringing his point total during the streak to 20. "He does so many little things," Eichel said about Stone. "He finds ways to score. He finds ways to produce. I’m not surprised at all." Stone’s leadership and consistency remain a cornerstone for Vegas as they look to regroup quickly, with a back-to-back against the Toronto Maple Leafs looming.

There was also some roster news for Boston ahead of the game, as defenseman Jordan Harris was sent to AHL Providence on a conditioning assignment while recovering from a fractured ankle. Harris, a local product from Haverhill, has one goal and two points in five games this season but hasn’t played since late October.

Looking ahead, the Bruins will stay home for a Saturday night clash with their archrivals, the Montreal Canadiens. The season series is tied, with the road team winning each of the first two meetings. Fans can expect another spirited affair as Boston aims to extend its hot streak and solidify its standing in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

As the dust settles on a thrilling night at TD Garden, the Bruins’ mix of veteran leadership, emerging talent, and relentless energy has them riding high. For Vegas, the fightback proved they’re never out of a game, but a slow start proved costly against one of the league’s hottest teams. With both teams eyeing deep playoff runs, Thursday’s showdown might just be a preview of bigger battles to come.