For their second win over the NHL-leading Bruins this season, the Detroit Red Wings defeated Boston 5-2 on Friday. Goals and assists were contributed by Alex DeBrincat and J.T. Compher.The only team to defeat Boston(14-2-3) in regulation is the Red Wings, who also got goals from Robby Fabbri, Dylan Larkin, and David Perron. Ville Husso made 25 saves, and Shayne Gostisbehere contributed two assists.
Detroit used six Boston penalties to its advantage in their third encounter in as many months, improving to 10-0-2 when scoring four or more goals. The Bruins won the first meeting on October 28.
The Bruins, who had gone 5-0-2 since losing at Detroit on November 4, scored goals from Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen. Jeremy Swayman, who turned 25 today, made 24 saves.
Though he shut out New Jersey on Wednesday with 16 saves, Alex Lyon was the Red Wings backup. Husso looked sharp until DeBrusk scored on a power play to bring the Bruins within 2-1 early in the second period. Husso had given up at least four goals in his previous three appearances.
After scoring just one goal in his first 16 games, DeBrusk now has two goals in as many games.
Husso, though, held off the advancing Bruins until 13:24 of the second period, when Fabbri scored on a wrist shot from the faceoff circle.
4:12 into the third, Heinen’s wrist shot pulled the Bruins within one goal. However, less than a minute later, Brandon Carlo was punished for hooking, and five seconds into the power play, Larkin scored to give Detroit a two-goal lead once again.
With 1:45 remaining, Perron added an empty-netter.
In the team’s customary Black Friday home matinee, Boston coach Jim Montgomery benched veteran James van Riemsdyk in favor of veteran Morgan Geekie.
The Bruins were behind due to an early Geekie error and an unusual bounce. At the five-minute mark, Compher blocked Gostisbehere’s shot as Geekie was serving a holding penalty. Swayman’s chest was struck by the puck, which then trickled between his legs.
DeBrincat picked off youngster Matt Poitras in the neutral zone, went in alone, and wristed a shot past Swayman for his team-high 12th goal to give the Red Wings a 2-0 lead late in the first period.
For the fifth time in 50 home games during the regular season in the previous two seasons, Boston lost in regulation after a sluggish start.
Following a number of games this season, including their first over Boston, where they played with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, the Red Wings used a regular 12-6 lineup with Jake Walman (sickness) scratched.
After returning from a 0-1-1 trip to Sweden, it proved effective as Detroit won its second straight game.
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