Three Takeaways From Bruins Preseason Opener

For the first time since falling to the Canadiens in Game 7 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Bruins got back to real hockey games on Tuesday, as they took on Montreal in their preseason opener. The B’s held a 2-0 lead in the first period, but fell to the Habs 3-2 after Montreal tied the game in the second, then scored with under a minute to play in the third. Here’s a look at three things we took away from the game.

1. Matt Fraser Looks Ready to Go

Matt Fraser got his first taste of playoff hockey back in May, and the then-23-year-old didn’t disappoint. Fraser netted the game-winner in overtime in Game 4 in Montreal to send the teams back to Boston tied two games apiece.

After Ryan Spooner gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead 1:17 into Tuesday’s game, Fraser doubled the lead eight minutes later, beating Habs goalie Dustin Tokarski, who started for Montreal in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, on a wrist shot with David Krejci and Johnny Boychuk getting the assists.

Fraser had a very good chance to tie the game with less than 10 seconds to play in the game, as he took a pass from David Krejci and nearly sent the contest into overtime. Fraser finished with four shots and a hit, and looks like a strong candidate to fill one of the open forward spots the Bruins have after Jarome Iginla and Shawn Thornton left during the offseason.

2. Niklas Svedberg Solid in Start

Niklas Svedberg, the presumed backup for Tuukka Rask this season, got the start for Claude Julien’s club and played the first two periods on Tuesday against the Habs. Svedberg looked good in net, saving the first six shots he saw before allowing his first goal – to Montreal’s Jiri Sekac – that ended the first period on a sour note.

Svedberg came back out for the second and shut out the Habs for the first ¾ of the period on eight shots, including two huge saves on Rene Bourque and Charles Hudon, respectively, before Montreal knotted the game at two after a bunch up in front of the Boston net allowed Christian Thomas to knock home the tying goal. Malcolm Subban came in for the Bruins in the third period, ending Svedberg’s night.

Svedberg saved 16 of the 18 shots he saw for a solid preseason debut, including bailing out the B’s blue liners on some defensive miscues throughout the game. With the Bruins having 12 games in a three week span to start the month of October, look for Julien to try and get Rask some rest to keep his minutes from skyrocketing too early, which will mean we will get to see Svedberg on a much more regular basis.

3. Simon Gagne Sat in the Penalty Box, Didn’t Do Much Else

The former Flyer who tormented the Bruins during his years in Philly was mostly quiet in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss. Playing 15:06 in his first NHL action since 2012-13 after sitting out all of 2013-14, Gagne did not register a shot, but was responsible for two penalties – a tripping minor in the first and a hooking minor in the third.

The closest Gagne came to making his mark in the game was in the first period, as he cleared the puck out the Bruins zone, but right into the skates of Nikita Scherbak. The Habs winger attempted an ill-advised backhand pass that was picked off by Ryan Spooner, who skated into the Montreal zone and scored the opening goal.

In the past two NHL season he’s played, Gagne has scored just 12 goals in 72 games. Gagne was invited to Bruins training camp on a tryout basis, so unless he dazzles during the rest of the preseason, it may be more likely that the Bruins look to within the organization to fill their roster that has some openings than sign Gagne.