Watch: Bruins rookie Matt Poitras scores his first two NHL targets to elevate Boston to win over Geese

Bruins

Matt Poitras scored each of his targets in a span of three:49 within the third interval.

Boston Bruins center Matthew Poitras, left, celebrates his goal with the bench during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif.
Matthew Poitras has now scored three factors in his first 5 video games within the NHL. (AP Photograph/Ryan Solar)

Matthew Poitras lastly lit the lamp.

Not solely did the 19-year-old Bruins rookie middle rating his first profession NHL aim throughout Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Geese — he additionally recorded the primary multi-goal recreation of his promising younger profession by potting one other puck previous Anaheim’s John Gibson simply 3:49 after his first aim.

Poitras’ breakthrough efficiency got here at an ideal time for the Bruins, who have been trailing 1-0 halfway by the third interval at Honda Heart in what was a sluggish displaying from Jim Montgomery’s membership.

Simply 1:24 after Anaheim opened the scoring with a aim from Mason McTavish, Poitras discovered twine off of a rush sequence together with his linemate, Morgan Geekie.

After breaking into the offensive zone, Geekie dished a backhand feed to the trailing Poitras, who tapped it dwelling from the low slot for the equalizer.

“Geeks made that play twice,” Poitras stated postgame throughout his interview with NESN’s Adam Pellerin. “The primary time, I simply missed it far proper and I assumed if he gave me one other one, I’m gonna put it behind the web. So sort of put my stick in there and I acquired a fortunate bounce off the goalie’s arm, I feel, and it went in.”

The younger pivot was removed from completed. 

On simply his second shift after tying issues up, Poitras gave his group the lead — knocking dwelling a rebound off an preliminary shot from Jake DeBrusk.

Poitras completed with 15:06 of ice time within the win, with the poised playmaker almost including one other level off of a slick feed to Kevin Shattenkirk within the second interval.

“I feel for me, it’s simply constructing confidence and realizing I’m the kind of participant who desires to carry on to pucks and make performs,” Poitras stated. “I feel a part of my recreation is simply having the ability to defend the puck properly and when the group’s sort of taking part in man-on-man, I love to do some reduce backs and attempt to make some performs. I’m a playmaker. Simply constructing confidence each recreation.”

As soon as considered as a longshot to make the NHL roster given each his age and lack of expertise, Poitras beat the percentages and carved out a spot within the NHL ranks after posting 5 factors in 5 preseason outings.

Though Poitras broke camp with the Bruins, Boston nonetheless had 9 video games to determine whether or not or to not preserve him up with the NHL ranks (and burn the primary 12 months of his entry-level contract) or ship him again to the OHL’s Guelph Storm.

With Poitras now as much as three factors (two targets, one assists) and showcasing some spectacular chemistry with Geekie, it doesn’t appear to be the 2022 second-round choose has to worry about packing his luggage for an additional trek up north any time quickly.