Bruins

There are facts to back up the opinions: What I believe: Linus Ullmark is the clear No. 1 goalie. Ullmark was outstanding against Anaheim. The only goal he ...

[Charlie McAvoy](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/charlie-mcavoy-VE3qyGiGZS9Vq7BT/) and [Brandon Carlo](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/brandon-carlo-PwjOlz17demZ8ytT/) out, Clifton has become the No. [Kraken](https://theathletic.com/nhl/team/kraken/) goofed by not selecting [Connor Clifton](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/connor-clifton-wKVJEawsJwV3Jcsc/) in the expansion draft. Instead, the Kraken claimed [Jeremy Lauzon](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/jeremy-lauzon-snwksocclU8cWalI/). The 23-year-old, centering [Trent Frederic](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/trent-frederic-cKg5AXB9bilx1iTB/) and [Charlie Coyle](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/charlie-coyle-qPumCVSfcecI8GKY/) on the third line, got stripped inside the offensive blue line by Strome in the second period. He snapped in the shootout winner against [John Gibson](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/john-gibson-sQpqyVdw5tZ2yVUw/). [Taylor Hall](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/taylor-hall-UekrRLrWPizTKMyE/) is going in the right direction. [Craig Smith](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/craig-smith-BWhMCDkKaOIvyjVo/), a healthy scratch against Anaheim for the second straight game, is eager to play. [Linus Ullmark](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/linus-ullmark-FXm8r2Ou2BUNO3rw/) is the clear No. [Jack Studnicka](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/jack-studnicka-zMHWp5uWA2jgEeNJ/)’s next game will be critical. He thudded into [Cam Fowler](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/cam-fowler-833ZL2I6sEEH3UVt/) in the third period with enough force to send the defenseman off the ice briefly. The only goal he allowed was off the rush to ex-Bruin [Frank Vatrano](https://theathletic.com/nhl/player/frank-vatrano-aqDeDMl7pRII4ohI/). They proved they can tighten up defensively after giving up a seven-spot against the [Senators](https://theathletic.com/nhl/team/senators/) in their previous game.

BOSTON — Taylor Hall scored in the fourth round of the shootout to lift the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night.

The Boston Bruins went into their fifth game of the 2022-23 season last night with a record of 3-1-0, facing off against the Anaheim Ducks.

In addition, Clifton is getting more time on the ice short handed and has been excellent, and as always, Bergeron has proven why he is one of the best two-way forwards of all time. The Bruins were shorthanded four times against Anaheim, and fended off all four, even with Derek Forbort, one of their best penalty killers so far this season sitting in the box for one of them. In addition, there were struggles at times to maintain control of the puck and the Bruins in general struggled with clean entries on the powerplay, creating more missed opportunities on offense. The Quinnipiac University product has four assists in five games and is a plus-3 to start the season. [Connor Clifton](https://thehockeywriters.com/docs/connor-clifton/) has been one of the most impressive and noticeable defensemen so far this season for the Bruins. The Bruins are currently ranked sixth overall in the NHL on the penalty kill, even with Marchand, a top penalty killer, absent. The Bruins led the Ducks in shots on goal but struggled to find the back of the net. It was clear in last night’s game that there is still some chemistry that needs to be worked on with the lines and some early-season rust that still needs to be cleared off. They suffered their first loss of the season on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators, but still currently sit first in the Atlantic Division due to a tiebreaker they have with the Florida Panthers. Particularly in the first period, the offensive lines struggled to connect. In the bottom six, changes were also made as Jack Studnicka made his season debut on the third line with Trent Frederic and Charlie Coyle, moving AJ Greer down to the fourth line with Tomas Nosek and Nick Foligno. Both teams had excellent goaltending on display throughout all three periods, sending Boston into their first overtime and first shootout game of the season.

After a messy effort on Tuesday night in Ottawa, the Bruins righted the ship a bit last night, eventually beating the visiting Ducks in a shootout. After that ...

Anyways, the Bruins will be back in the ice Friday for practice before hosting the Wild on Saturday. After a messy effort on Tuesday night in Ottawa, the Bruins righted the ship a bit last night, eventually beating the visiting Ducks in a shootout. After that chaotic Ottawa game, one of you fine folks mentioned that we should expect a 1-0 game against Anaheim last night...perhaps it's time for you to play the lottery!

Taylor Hall is focusing on "being the best player I can be" in breakout game for the Boston Bruins after a slow start.

When Hall plays like he did on Thursday night, he’s a game-changer for the Boston Bruins. That’s the way it stayed until Hall beat Gibson in the shootout with a five-hole attempt, but in between he was strong and fast with an aggressive approach running left wing on the top line with Patrice Bergeron and Jake DeBrusk. Hall didn’t waste any time quickly spinning and firing on the net to give the Boston Bruins a 1-0 lead in the second period before Frank Vatrano’s 2-on-1 score evened things up in the game. It’s important to this team that I can be the best player that I can be and drive a line the best I can.” It was a giant step in the right direction toward exactly the kind of impactful player the 30-year-old Hall wants to be for the Boston Bruins coming off an invisible game in Boston’s rough loss in Ottawa where they gave up seven even-strength goals. Then Hall got hurt in the preseason and played just eight minutes of game action, a development that put him behind everybody else while readying for the start of the regular season.