McAvoy's Return Helps Lift Bruins in Win Over Calgary

BOSTON - Charlie McAvoy was just itching to be a part of it.
Sure, he was around the room for the Bruins' historic start to the 2022-23 campaign. But watching from the press box and handing out post-win high fives dressed in a suit, as he did over the season's first month, isn't quite the same.
"We went into the third with a lead," said McAvoy, "and I'm like, 'Man, let's get this job done, I want to be a part of it."

McAvoy got his wish, in large part thanks to his own contributions.
The 24-year-old, making his season debut after roughly five months of rehabilitation following offseason shoulder surgery, scored the eventual winning goal, while also delivering a game-high five hits in Boston's 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night at TD Garden.
"When you come through that [locker room] door, and you're not greeting everybody [in a suit]…you're coming and getting those high-fives," said McAvoy, "it was nice, it was nice to be a part of that tonight."
Despite a game that was heavily influenced by special teams - there were 11 power plays between the two clubs - coach Jim Montgomery was able to limit McAvoy to just 19:18 of ice time, achieving his pregame goal of keeping him under 20:00.
"He's fun to watch. It's a lot more fun coaching with him than against him," said Montgomery. "Just his skating, his ability to create, how many pucks he kept alive in the offensive zone by pinching pucks on walls and then carrying them down and making possession plays."
McAvoy notched the winning goal late in the second period when he took a feed from Pavel Zacha - who was playing in his 400th career game - and let a wrister fly from just inside the Calgary blue line. With Nick Foligno parked in front providing a screen, the shot sailed past old friend and Flames backstop Daniel Vladar and gave Boston a 2-1 lead with 1:33 to play in the middle frame.
"It started with a hard rim and Fliggy did a good job to get that puck on first touch," said McAvoy. We did a good job getting the puck and getting possession of it and set it up, and a good pass by Pav to find me there in the seam. Just part of my simple attitude tonight. I just wanted to shoot it and get in the mix on the ice and have something go in."

Boston's ace blue liner admitted to being a "big 'ole bundle of nerves" before the game as he geared up for his highly anticipated return to the Bruins' lineup.
"It felt really good…it's exciting to come back, and it's always good to feel those things," said McAvoy. "This is the first time I've come in like this, not having preseason to get ready, so definitely nervous all day today. Excited - the good kind of nerves. To get out there, I knew I just wanted to play simpler. A couple real quick shifts to get me in, and I felt like it went well."
It did indeed. And McAvoy made sure to thank Boston's medical staff for getting him back on the ice some three to four weeks ahead of the original timeline for recovery of six months that would have had him back some time in early December.
"TLC, baby - tender loving care," McAvoy said when asked what allowed him and Brad Marchand to return so far ahead of schedule. "Confidence, mostly, in where you're at and the hard work that you've done. We have a great group of trainers in there They do an exceptional job, and they take so much pride in what they do.
"As you can see, we all came back early - significantly early. It's a lot of hard work from us and them. A lot of days where they don't let you plateau. They keep pushing you forward. It's exciting to get to this day."

Clifton Keeps It Up

With McAvoy and Derek Forbort out of the lineup, Connor Clifton was called upon to play first-pair minutes alongside Hampus Lindholm for the four games leading into Thursday night's tilt against the Flames. Clifton, playing some of the best hockey of his career, did not look out of place."I honestly feel like I am playing the same way," said Clifton. "I've kind of been all around. We went to five D a couple of times this year [because of injuries], and we've kind of been partnered up with everyone, honestly, so just playing the same style, being loud and trying to communicate with each other and read off of each other. I think we've been doing a really good job at that."
As such, Montgomery opted to keep the Quinnipiac product paired with Lindholm despite McAvoy's return. The move paid off as Clifton's stellar season continued with his first goal and two hits (including a heavy hit on former Bruin Milan Lucic along the boards) in 19:28 of ice time, which ranked second behind Lindholm among Boston's blue liners.
"Cliffy Hockey, baby," said McAvoy. "He has an exceptional compete level and confidence, and that's been something we've seen a long time here. Just how special he is, and I think a little bit of opportunity is all he really needed to kind of explode, that confidence from the guys and the coaching staff - to see him take it to that next level and put it on display."
Clifton showed it off in the first period when he tied the game after collecting a backhand feed from Tomas Nosek and letting a wrister fly from the high slot. Vladar made the initial stop, but Clifton surged toward the crease to pick up his own rebound, before zipping a laser into the top right corner with 3:22 left in the opening frame.
"Yeah, two Grade [A chances]…just getting my Corsi up…drive the net," said Clifton. "Honestly, the rebound was just sitting there. Fliggy went to the net real hard, great pass by Nosey and got fortunate just burying that rebound."

Ullmark Stays Hot

Linus Ullmark was, once again, stellar between the pipes, making 31 saves for his league-leading 10th win of the season, which tied the franchise record for hitting that mark in the fewest decisions, matching Tuukka Rask (2016-17), Tim Thomas (2010-11), Gerry Cheevers (1976-77), and Ross Brooks (1973-74), per NHL Stats.
"Linus played great," said Clifton. "We gave them a lot of chances, honestly…Linus really held us in. Good for him."
Also per NHL Stats, Ullmark has now won 36 of his first 50 starts with Boston, which ranks second in team history for most wins through 50 starts, behind only Brooks (37).
Overall, the netminder ranks second in the NHL in goals against average (1.95) and fourth in save percentage (.936). At home, Ullmark improved to 6-0-0 with a 1.63 GAA and .947 save percentage.
"I'm really calm when the puck is in our end, I have a lot of confidence in our PK, I have a lot of confidence in our D-zone coverage and I have a lot of confidence in Ullmark," Montgomery said when asked about Ullmark's nifty glove save on Calgary's Adam Ruzicka in the third period. "I mean, he just looks so calm and poised…he's seeing the puck at such a high level that as a coach, you're sitting there and you're seeing how confident he is… that gives you confidence."

Foligno's Feeling It

Nick Foligno didn't have any points on Thursday night, but he impacted the game as much as anyone. The veteran winger was parked out front providing the screen on each of Boston's first two goals, picked up three hits to lead the B's forwards, and dropped the gloves with Kevin Rooney after the Flames forward delivered a questionable hit-from-behind on Nosek.
The 34-year-old played so well - as he has all season long - that Montgomery is beginning to get frustrated that he can't find more ice time for the former Columbus captain.
"I think Nick Foligno is having a great year," said Montgomery. "He's helping us win in so many different ways, I can't find him enough ice time. I can't find enough ice time for the third and fourth lines at times, especially when there was a lot of special teams like there were tonight. Going into the game, I wasn't looking for matchups, I was looking to get everybody involved as much as possible because I have confidence in all four lines.
"And Nick Foligno…I thought that play, we should've been on the power play, on that hit on Nosek, and then he goes in there and sticks up for him. We've been doing it all year, playing for each other and playing the right way."
Foligno's teammates have taken notice as well.
"He's been playing awesome," said McAvoy. "It's been so fun to watch these guys play, to watch everybody really put it on display, show our depth. Everybody has had nights where they've chipped in and they've been a part of why we're winning. I think that's probably the best thing to watch. It's not the same people every night. It's everybody pulling the rope, and that's really what it takes to win.
"It's a grueling regular season, and you got to have everyone step up…and Fliggy has certainly been one of those guys who really played exceptional to start here. He's an incredible teammate, great human. To see him playing as well as we know he can, it's awesome."

Wait, There's More

• The Bruins have started the season 8-0-0 at TD Garden, matching the franchise record for longest home winning streak to start a season. The first instance came in 1983-84.
• Boston's penalty kill, which ranks first in the league by far at 94.1%, was immense, once again, going a perfect 6-for-6 against the Flames. "We're skating, we're being selfless, we're blocking shots, everyone's stepping up and we're working as a unit of four," said Clifton. "It's been awesome. And having Linus back there, saving everything…it's been working real well."
• Montgomery on McAvoy and Marchand both scoring in their returns to the lineup this season: "I think it's just great, isn't it? It just seems like for whatever reason the stars are falling in line here…we're just going to have to wait for [Jeremy] Swayman to come back and get a shutout and [Derel] Forbort to come back and get a hat trick."