Bruins takes revenge against Tom Wilson; Reaves vs. Gabriel, Friday in the NHL

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NHL Three Stars from Friday

1. Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins

There is an old saying that some teams do not fight often – maybe the peak of the Red Wings of the Fedorov days for example? – tend to retaliate by scoring on the power play.

After Tom Wilson delivered a questionable hit that left Brandon Carlo hospitalized, the Bruins didn’t exactly turn the other cheek. For starters, Jarred Tinordi fought Tom Wilson in the second period. Then Tom Wilson dropped the gloves during the third period, which was the second time vs. Trent Frederic.

So it was not a pacifist run for the Bruins.

But the best Bruins players ended up getting the last (and early and middle, real) laugh. After the first period, the Bruins kept a modest 1-0 goal from Brad Marchand. That blow really sparked a second period of fire among the Bruins, as it happened late in the first.

While Trent Frederic is considered an unlikely goalscorer during that period, Marchand and Patrice Bergeron really led the way – in most of that wave as well as in general. Marchand scored two goals and one assist, while Bergeron scored two points (1G, 1A). The trio Marchand, Bergeron and David Pastrnak (1A) all ended up with +3 ratings in a one-sided affair.

(Jaroslav Halak almost threw a shutout, stopping 31 of 32 shots.)

2. Max Pacioretty, Vegas Golden Knights

Let’s start this review with a bit of a horror story. And a well-known one.

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

The Sharks ended that 3-0 deficit, eventually extending the game when Oscar Dansk gave up a blooper of a 4-4 goal. (Frankly, it felt like one of Marc-Andre Fleury’s lesser moments.)

That goal diminished Dansk’s dignity and earned the Sharks a point. Pacioretty made sure it wasn’t a Dansk disaster, as he scored the winner of the extra time and gave him two goals and one assist on the night. Remarkably, Pacioretty now has three overtime goals in just 20 games this season.

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

3. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues

Let’s wrap up this three-point nighttime trio.

Like Pacioretty and the Golden Knights, the Blues really needed Ryan O’Reilly’s three points. ROR collected assists on all three Blues goals in an extra time win against the Kings, with two of its helpers 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, a rating of +2 and went 16-7 on face-offs.

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

Some might argue that David Perron was the blues player more worthy of a three-star nod. He scored two goals. Platform goes from under the radar as a scorer to under the radar as arguably the Blues’ most dangerous offensive weapon (25 points).

Night Highlights: Blackhawks and Lightning in OT; Nichushkin Power Movement

Ultimately, Blackhawks – Lightning would be decided by firefight. Still, the flurry of 3-on-3 OT odds became the highlight of that match:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaPWa_AtIk

Sheesh, if Valeri Nichushkin keeps this up, he might become too mainstream to be just an analytic treasure.

Since Nichushkin scored two goals, with one in OT, he had an argument for three-star status in his own right.

Finally, Kirill Kaprizov did things to Kirill Kaprizov.

Heavyweight Bout: Ryan Reaves vs. Kurtis Gabriel

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

The gossip between Reaves and Gabriel was apparently something else too. The jawing happened for a few minutes and happened even before the game.

(Reaves later left the game after Gabriel’s skate caught him while Reaves delivered a hit.)

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)

James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC SportsSend him a message to [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @RTLNews

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