Bruins rally in 3rd period to beat Ducks
Bruins rally from two‑goals down to beat Ducks 4‑2 in Anaheim
Boston, Calif. – The Boston Bruins snapped a two‑goal deficit to win 4‑2 over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night at the Honda Center, giving the Bruins their fourth consecutive victory and improving to a 6‑2‑0 record for the season.
The Ducks scored twice in the final minute of the first period, capitalizing on two opportunities that came 20 seconds apart. Long‑shot winger Tim Washe found the back of the net after a scramble in front of the net, while Beckett Sennecke finished a quick passing sequence that involved Cutter Gauthier and Nikita Nesterenko. The early surge gave the Ducks a 2‑0 lead and set the tone for a game where Anaheim had the most power‑play opportunities in the opening period.
Boston’s comeback began in the second period. On a power play, defenseman Frederic Brunet logged his first NHL goal, cutting the Ducks’ advantage to 2‑1. The goal came in Brunet’s sixth game at the NHL level and highlighted Boston’s growing depth at the blue line.
The tie came when right‑winger David Pastrnak netted a power‑play goal that matched his 423rd career point with the Bruins. The tally moved him past Brad Marchand to become the fourth‑highest goal scorer in franchise history. Pastrnak’s goal was assisted by Elias Lindholm, who would later prove to be the decisive player of the night.
With 11:39 remaining in the third period, Lindholm found himself on a power play where Anaheim failed to guard him closely. Pavel Zacha delivered a pass to the right wing, and Lindholm tapped it in, putting Boston ahead 3‑2. The goal was the go‑ahead of the game and the first of Lindholm’s Bruins career.
The Bruins added a fourth goal with 3:40 left in regulation. Matthew Poitras scored on a play that involved a second assist from James Hagens, giving Boston a 4‑2 margin that held until the final buzzer.
Boston’s goaltender, Michael DiPietro, made 25 saves in his second start of the season, solidifying the Bruins’ defense behind a steady 2‑1 advantage after the second period.
Anaheim’s roster faced a few setbacks during the contest. Captain Mikael Granlund sat out with an upper‑body injury, and winger Cutter Gauthier, who has spent his career as a left‑winger, played at center for the first time in the NHL. Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal stopped 18 shots, a figure that reflected Anaheim’s struggles to convert chances into goals. The Ducks have lost three straight home games and have allowed 13 goals in that span.
The Bruins now hold a 6‑2‑0 record for the season, keeping them firmly in contention for a playoff spot. Ahead of the next game, Boston will travel to Los Angeles, while Anaheim heads to New York to face the Rangers on Monday.
The 2026‑27 season has seen the Ducks’ home arena, the Honda Center, sold out for the first four games of the season since 2007, reflecting a renewed interest in the franchise as they look to turn their fortunes around.
