JJ Peterka finished the night on a clean breakaway, sliding David Pastrnak’s overtime feed through Stuart Skinner to give the Boston Bruins a 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on Friday. Peterka scored 3:21 into the extra period, delivering his first game-winner since Boston acquired him from the Utah Mammoth on June 26.
The Bruins are 2-0-0 to open the season after following Tuesday’s 3-0 shutout of the New York Rangers with a comeback that required an extra attacker, a late tip and one last finish from Peterka.
Jeremy Swayman turned aside 30 shots for Boston, while Skinner stopped 26 in his Jets debut. Pastrnak set up two goals, including the tying marker and the winner.
After the horn
Boston trailed 3-2 late in regulation before Elias Lindholm pulled it even with 1:38 left. With Swayman on the bench for the extra skater, Pastrnak fired from beyond the right faceoff circle and Lindholm redirected the puck past Skinner.
That rescue sent the game to overtime, where Pastrnak found Peterka in stride. Peterka went in alone and beat Skinner between the pads to end it.
Winnipeg had taken the lead at 4:52 of the first period. Dylan DeMelo’s one-timer from the point sailed through traffic and beat a screened Swayman high on the stick side.
Hampus Lindholm answered for Boston at 9:23, hammering a one-timer from the blue line beneath Skinner’s glove.
James Hagens put the Bruins ahead 2-1 at 15:20 of the opening period for his first NHL goal. Mark Kastelic drove toward the crease, Nikita Zadorov moved the puck across the goalmouth, and Hagens tucked it underneath the sprawled Winnipeg goaltender.
The Jets responded early in the second. Kyle Connor collected a loose puck during a scramble at the net and beat Swayman five-hole on the power play at 1:50 to make it 2-2.
Mario Ferraro restored Winnipeg’s lead with eight seconds remaining in the middle period, snapping a shot from the top of the left circle for a 3-2 edge.
Connor had a goal and an assist for Winnipeg, which opened its season at 0-0-1. Adam Lowry contributed two assists, while DeMelo and Ferraro each scored in the point-earned loss.
- Bruins: Peterka, Elias Lindholm, Hampus Lindholm and Hagens scored.
- Jets: DeMelo, Connor and Ferraro scored.
- Goaltending: Swayman made 30 saves; Skinner made 26.
- Key setup: Pastrnak recorded two assists.
