It was the Bruins second win in a row — for the first time in three weeks — and the second in a row over a divisional rival, following an overtime win over the Panthers.
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Some new faces dotted the lineup Tuesday night at the Garden, relief in the form of a midseason caffeine jolt from Providence, helping the Bruins to a 6-2 win over the Lightning — good for a slight boost in the standings and for their bruised/recovering egos.
It was the Bruins second win in a row — for the first time in three weeks — and the second in a row over a divisional rival, following Saturday’s overtime win over the Panthers.
“We feel some traction, there’s no question about it,” said interim coach Joe Sacco, his charges still trying to shake the trauma of a recent 0-5-1 skid. “This is a hard league to win in, especially when you are playing good, quality opponents like we have lately. There’s definitely traction in there.”
The win, though, did not mask over a troubling trend of late: the Bruins have been outhsot in each of their last five games by an aggregate 195-126. After yielding a season-high 111 shot attempts in Sunrise on Saturday afternoon, they gave up 79 to the Lightning while generating only 45 of their own. They picked up four points in the two games — all that really matters — but on most nights that kind of lopsided offense leads to more heartbreak than Hallmark moments.
“There’s areas of our game that we need to clean up,” acknowledged Sacco, eager to get in some solid practices before his club plays again Saturday afternoon in Ottawa. “That’s going to be our focus.”
Vinni Lettieri, called up Monday from Providence, made his season debut in Black and Gold. Matt Poitras, called up Monday night, assisted on the night’s first goal, his first point since being demoted to the AHL on Nov. 11. Franklin’s Mike Callahan, the former Robury Latin and Providence College blueliner, made his NHL career debut on a No. 3 defensive pairing with Peeke and logged a steady 14:11 in ice time.
Poitras, called back to the varsity after a strong two months of remedial work with AHL Providence, fed to Frederic for the 1-0 lead, the pair finishing off a two-on-one break that began down ice when Lightning icon Victor Hedman fanned on a shot and turned over the puck. It was Frederic’s seventh goal this season.
Along with the assist, Poitras logged 14:05 in ice time, landed one shot on net and finished plus-1.
“There were some plays … pucks I thought I could do a little more with,” said Poitras, reflecting on his first night of reimmersion. “Maybe not so much pace, but the guys are just so good, you can’t get away with some you maybe get away with in the AHL.”
Wotherspoon collected his first NHL goal in his ninth pro season, and it came with Pastrnak as the primary helper. The Bruins rushed into the offensive zone and Pastrnak dished across from right wing, setting up Wotherspoon for a wrister in the left wing circle.
“My mom was in the crowd tonight, too,” said a smiling Wotherspoon, “so I know she’s going to be fired up.”
Callahan, called up when the Bruins decided that an injured Charlie McAvoy needed the week off. He turned pro with the P-Bruins upon finishing his senior season at Providence College.
“Just wearing the jersey … being from here,” Callahan said when asked what he would remember most of his NHL debut. “It means a lot to me and my family, too … hopefully there is a lot more to come. Getting the win is probably what I’ll remember most.”
