After securing his first win as interim coach of the Bruins, Joe Sacco and his squad will look to make it two in a row when they face Detroit on Saturday night.
The Bruins were on a three-game losing streak (0-2-1) when Jim Montgomery was let go on Tuesday. Under Sacco’s leadership, Boston managed a narrow 1-0 victory against Utah at home on Thursday. “It felt pretty good, I won’t lie,” Sacco remarked. “Getting a win for our guys was even more crucial. We’re feeling better about ourselves, and I think we approached the game (on Thursday) in a business-like manner.
He noted that several players brought crucial energy during key moments, contributing to a solid team effort. Joonas Korpisalo achieved the shutout with 22 saves, while Elias Lindholm’s goal in the second period proved decisive during Boston’s fifth power play of the match. “It boosts our confidence,” said Bruins captain Brad Marchand. “We know we can play the right way, and we can bounce back. It’s unfortunate the situation had to happen for us to respond like that. It was a good game, but it’s just one game.” Earlier in the month, Boston had two shutout wins but then went 2-3-2 before Montgomery’s firing. Sacco, who was associate coach this season, had a 130-134-30 record as head coach of Colorado from 2009 to 2013. On the other hand, Detroit broke a three-game losing streak (0-2-1) in thrilling fashion on Thursday. Lucas Raymond scored with 51.1 seconds left, sealing a 2-1 victory against the New York Islanders at home.
Dylan Larkin set up the goal, allowing Raymond to blast a shot past Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin. This marked Raymond’s third goal of the season, after he netted 31 in 2023-24. “Everyone wants to score, and I’m no different,” Raymond stated. “But as long as we’re winning, everyone’s happy. It’s been tough lately, so this was a big night for us and something to build on. It’s just the beginning, but it’s always great to score at home.” The Red Wings were at risk of being shut out at home for the second game in a row until Jonatan Berggren scored with 4:46 remaining. “It’s not ideal to score two goals in the last five minutes for a win, but we got what we deserved,” said coach Derek Lalonde. Lalonde highlighted the importance of Raymond, a first-line skater, scoring the game-winner, especially since his previous two goals came in games that the team lost. “For a goal scorer, it’s different when the puck hits the back of the net, and that was a top-notch shot,” Lalonde said.
Both goals were impressive finishes, especially against a goalie like Sorokin, who looked unstoppable. I thought it might take a lucky bounce, but we had two great finishes instead.” Saturday’s game is part of a stretch in which the Red Wings play five of six at home, with a rematch against Boston scheduled for Dec. 3.
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