Bruins take revenge on Tom Wilson; Reaves vs. Gabriel, NHL Friday

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NHL Three Stars starting Friday

1. Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins

There’s an old adage that some teams don’t fight often – maybe the Red Wings peak from Fedorov days, for example? – tend to take revenge by scoring on the power play.

After Tom Wilson delivered a questionable blow that ended up hospitalizing Brandon Carlo, the Bruins didn’t exactly turn the other cheek. On the one hand, Jarred Tinordi fought with Tom Wilson in the second period. Then Tom Wilson dropped the gloves in the third period, this second time against Trent Frederic.

So it was not a race for peace for the Bruins.

But the Bruins’ top players ended up having the last (and early, and the middle, really) laugh. After the first period, the Bruins scored a modest 1-0 goal from Brad Marchand. It really kindled a second period fire under the Bruins, as it did at the end of the first.

While Trent Frederic ranks as an unlikely goalscorer during this span, Marchand and Patrice Bergeron have really led the way – both in most of this push and overall. Marchand scored two goals and an assist, while Bergeron had two points (1G, 1A). The trio of Marchand, Bergeron and David Pastrnak (1A) all finished with +3 marks in a one-sided affair.

(Jaroslav Halak nearly scored a shutout, stopping 31 of 32 shots.)

2. Max Pacioretty, Vegas Golden Knights

Let’s start this recap with a little horror story. And a familiar.

Three minutes after Friday’s game against the Sharks, the Golden Knights took a 3-0 lead. Max Pacioretty was instrumental in building that lead. But it wouldn’t last.

The Sharks ended up reducing that 3-0 deficit, ultimately pushing the game into overtime when Oscar Dansk allowed a 4-4 goal. (Honestly, that sounded like one of Marc-André Fleury’s lesser moments.)

The goal shook Dansk’s dignity and earned the Sharks a point. Pacioretty prevented it from being a disaster for Dansk, however, as he scored the overtime winner to give him two goals and an assist on the night. Remarkably, Pacioretty now has three overtime goals in just 20 games this season.

(Pacioretty also angered Logan Couture with success, by the way.)

3. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues

Let’s close this trio of nights in three points.

Much like Pacioretty and the Golden Knights, the Blues really needed Ryan O’Reilly’s three points. ROR had assists on all three Blues goals in an overtime win over the Kings, two of his assists being of the main variety. As usual, O’Reilly was also dynamic from a two-way perspective. He finished with those three assists, two shots on goal, +2 odds and went 16-7 on faceoffs.

That three-point night pushed Ryan O’Reilly from July short of a point per game (23 in 24 GP) this season.

Some might argue that David Perron was the Blues player most deserving of a three-star nod. He scored two goals. Perron went from under the radar as a goalscorer, to being under the radar as perhaps the Blues’ most dangerous offensive weapon (25 points).

Highlights of the night: Blackhawks and Lightning in OT; Nichushkin Power Movement

Ultimately, Blackhawks – Lightning would be decided by a shootout. Even so, the 3v3 OT flurry of odds ended up being the highlight of this game:

Sheesh, if Valeri Nichushkin continues like this, he might become too mainstream to be just an analysis darling.

Given that Nichushkin scored two goals, including one in OT, he had an argument for full three-star status.

Finally, Kirill Kaprizov did things with Kirill Kaprizov.

Heavyweight fight: Ryan Reaves vs. Kurtis Gabriel

Goodness, this fight between Ryan Reaves and Kurtis Gabriel was downright scary:

The conversation between Reaves and Gabriel was apparently something else. The jaw occurred for several minutes and even occurred before the game.

(Reaves left the game later after Gabriel’s skate caught him while Reaves was delivering a kick.)

Friday’s NHL Scores

Bruins 5, capitals 1
Blackhawks 4, Lightning 3 (SO)
Avalanche 3, Ducks 2 (OT)
Wild 5, Coyotes 1
Blues 3, Kings 2 (OT)
Golden Knights 5, Sharks 4 (OT)

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James o’brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.



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