The B's had some brutal puck management issues to start the game that would contribute to a 2-0 deficit. Jake Guentzel created two turnovers that led to both goals. On the first one, the high-scoring winger picked Charlie McAvoy's pocket at the Boston blue line and the Bolts went on a quick counter-attack that resulted in an Anthony Cirelli tap-in off a Gage Goncalves pass just 1:09 into the game, Cirelli's first of two in the period.
A hipster picker's nightmare, indeed. As is tradition, I revealed my Stanley Cup selection to a member of that team while at the player media tour in Las Vegas: Me: I wanted to inform you that I'm picking you guys to win the Stanley Cup. Avalanche star Cale Makar: I appreciate that. Me: I also wanted to inform you that I'm not good at making Stanley Cup predictions. Makar: Well, we'll prove that wrong, hopefully.
Young star Connor Geekie is entering his second season with the Lightning but this season he is hopeful to break through. Th 6-foot-4 and 212-pound center played 52 games with the Lightning last season, producing eight goals and six assists for 14 points, along with one power play goal, three game-winning goals, and 97 hits. The 11th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes, he is developing into a solid player who could make an impact this season.
Ekblad stated, "Going down the wall there, I'm trying to make a hit every single time I do that. I was aiming for his chest, I caught him in the chin, and that's unfortunate. It was not my intention."