DiPietro Makes 30 Saves in Bruins’ 3-2 Shootout Win Over Capitals

BOSTON –– The last time Michael DiPietro was in the crease at TD Garden was Feb. 26.

​Fresh off getting recalled from Providence, the goaltender got thrown into the game just over six minutes into the second period while Joonas Korpisalo exited on precaution. It was, suddenly, his Bruins debut. DiPietro stopped both the shots he faced before Korpisalo came back to relieve him.

​The Boston Bruins ended up winning 4-2 that night, but DiPietro remembers the nerves pulsing through his body as he skated out. It was an experience he used to actually calm himself down ahead of the B’s preseason matchup against the Washington Capitals on Sunday back at TD Garden.

“Believe it or not, I kind of went back to the Columbus game last year, just going in cold. This is an opportunity and trying to go seize it,” DiPietro said. “Trying to deal with nerves and the anxiousness of the game and trying to make a good first impression on the coaching staff and earn your teammates' trust is a big thing, too, as a goaltender coming in that’s new. Those are all kind of things going through my head, but trying to keep it simple and make sure my thoughts were clear and concise.”

It worked for DiPietro, who made 30 saves in the Bruins’ 3-2 shootout win. He earned the first star of the night and did not allow a goal in the shootout.

“All in all, I liked my game. Obviously a few things to clean up but a good first one to get out of the way,” DiPietro said. “I think any time you go to main camp you have the mindset of trying to put a good foot forward. I think for me, just trying to compete, stay humble and lean on my work ethic and try to earn a job.”

The Capitals took a 1-0 lead in the first period moments after the Bruins killed off a 5-on-3 power play. While the B’s jumped out of the box, Jonny Brodzinski snapped it in from the left side at 8:48.

Boston got on the power play with 6:28 remaining in the middle frame, and Jake Schmaltz took advantage of the opportunity for Boston’s first goal of the preseason. Riley Duran battled for the puck along the endboards, popping it out to Schmaltz in the slot, who wristed it past netminder Logan Thompson at 15:32.

“It was really cool. I’ve wanted to play here for a while now. To get the first one here with the two guys I was playing with – it was really cool,” Schmaltz said. “It’s a short camp, so you’ve got to take advantage of every practice and every game. Just trying to play solid and capitalize when I can. Just work hard and play for these fans. It was pretty cool.”

Schmaltz, who was a seventh-round pick by the Bruins at the 2019 NHL Draft, played his first full season in the AHL with Providence last year after skating for the University of North Dakota (2021-2025). Schmaltz had 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) through 64 games in Providence. The 25-year-old forward was on the fourth line with Duran and Joey Abate on Sunday.

“I worked them pretty good the last few days, so I knew they would be tired today, but they didn’t stop,” head coach Marco Sturm said. “That’s what I liked about today’s game. That’s us. That’s Bruins’ hockey.”

Ivan Miroshnichenko scored on the power play off a deflected shot at 5:34 of the third period to put Washington up 2-1, but Charlie McAvoy responded with a blast from the point off an offensive-zone faceoff win by Matt Poitras to knot things 2-2 at 18:17 and force overtime.

​The contest was eventually pushed to a shootout, during which James Hagens was the lone goalscorer with a slick five-hole backhander to secure the victory.

“I don’t know if you guys watched the scrimmage yesterday. He did the same move, so he tried it again,” Sturm said. “Good for him.”

The Bruins’ next preseason matchup is on Tuesday when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden for a 7 p.m. puck drop.