Bruins Brief: Wasted Offense; USA Advances To WJC Final

Good morning, my name is Andrew Fantucchio. It’s Sunday, January 5, and here are the top stories, news items, and highlights surrounding the Boston Bruins and from across the NHL today.

Bruins News:

Bruins Refuse To Die, Fall Anyway: Playing from behind the entire night, the Bruins battled and responded with one timely goal after another. But for every answer they had, the Toronto Maple Leafs had one of their own as the Bruins lost at Scotiabank Arena.

Rare Night For Offense Wasted: The Bruins finally got the goal-scoring they’ve desperately needed but did little to support it and were graded accordingly.

Mark Kastelic Has Found Where He Belongs: It was only eight months ago that Mark Kastelic first joined the Bruins as merely a footnote. It turns out that all along, Boston is where he belonged.

Team USA Advances to WJC Final:

For the second straight year, the United States will play in the final at the World Junior Championships and try to capture another gold medal after defeating Czechia in the semi-final round on Saturday.

Multiple players with New England ties factored into the 4-2 victory.

Gabe Perreault scored the game’s opening goal off an assist from his Boston College teammate Ryan Leonard. Newburyport native and Boston University product Cole Eiserman then scored in the second period before Leonard scored a goal of his own in the third.

Team USA will battle Finland in the gold medal game tonight at 7:30 p.m. EST.

Yesterday’s Scoreboard:

Maple Leafs: 6, Bruins: 4

Red Wings: 4, Jets: 2

Canadiens: 2, Avalanche: 1

Kings: 2, Lightning: 1

Golden Knights: 3, Sabres: 1

Capitals: 7, Rangers: 4

Sharks: 3, Devils: 2

Wild: 4, Hurricanes: 0

Blue Jackets: 6, Blues: 4

Stars: 3, Utah: 2 (OT)

Predators: 4, Flames: 1

Oilers: 4, Kraken: 2

Today’s Schedule:

All Times EST

New York Islanders vs. Boston Bruins, 6 p.m.

New York Rangers vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 3 p.m.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 6 p.m.

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Anaheim Ducks, 8 p.m.

More From National Hockey Now:

Pittsburgh/Florida: Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett was disciplined for a cheap shot he delivered to Drew O’Connor of the Pittsburgh Penguins, similar to the one he gave Brad Marchand in last year’s playoffs.

New Jersey: Sheldon Keefe was bluntly honest, and Nico Hischier was pissed off after the New Jersey Devils lost their fourth game in a row.

New York: With their future at stake, the New York Islanders must consider what they’ll do at this year’s trade deadline.

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