BOSTON — The Vegas Golden Knights made former Boston coach Bruce Cassidy’s return successful, as Reilly Smith scored within the fifth spherical of the shootout to beat the Bruins 4-3 and finish their NHL report for residence victories to open a season at 14 video games Monday night time.
The 57-year-old Cassidy was fired by Boston following 5½ seasons in June after the Bruins have been eradicated by Carolina within the opening spherical of the playoffs. Eight days after he was let go, he was employed by Vegas.
In a matchup of two of the league’s high three groups, Western Convention-leading Vegas opened a 3-0 lead early within the second interval on two targets by Paul Cotter and the opposite by Jonathan Marchessault. It was the primary time the Bruins allowed the opening three targets of a recreation this season.
However the Bruins began their comeback when Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak scored simply over six minutes aside late within the interval. They tied it on Taylor Hall‘s power-play aim 3:08 into the third when he spun in entrance and slipped a shot from the slot previous goalie Logan Thompson.
Smith had the one rating within the shootout, slipping a forehand shot previous Jeremy Swayman.
It was Vegas’ 14th street win of season, tied with the Dallas Stars for many within the West.
Cassidy took over as Boston’s interim coach on Feb. 7, 2016, earlier than getting the highest job that April. His groups made the playoffs all six seasons, together with a visit to the 2019 Stanley Cup Ultimate after they misplaced the seventh recreation at residence in opposition to St. Louis.
The Bruins performed a video montage of Cassidy on the Jumbotron late within the opening interval that ended with an image of him and mentioned: “Welcome again, Bruce.” The group gave him a pleasant ovation and he waved thanking them.
The Bruins’ home-opening streak broke the report of 11 that was set by the 1963-64 Chicago Blackhawks and equaled by the Florida Panthers final season.
Earlier than the shootout, Thompson made 40 saves. Boston’s backup netminder Swayman had 21.
Cotter collected William Karlsson‘s cross contained in the left circle and unloaded a wrister below the crossbar 1:36 into the sport. Marchessault stole Pastrnak’s tried clearing cross, broke in alone and tucked in his personal rebound to make it 2-0.
Cotter’s second got here 51 seconds into the second interval when he slipped a wrister previous Swayman’s glove.
Data from The Related Press was used on this report.