Youngsters Lauko and Andersson Stand Out in 2-1 Win

Jakub Lauko and Axel Andersson are each just 18 years old. While the two Europeans are barely older than the typical high school senior, the Bruins top two picks from the 2018 NHL Entry draft were certainly mature enough to make a big impact on the opening domestic preseason game on Sunday afternoon.
Bruins assistant coach Joe Sacco praised the two players for their first professional games.
"I would put those two guys," said Sacco. "As far as young guys, in the same category as getting off to a good start for their first game overseas here playing against a team that was obviously missing a lot of players, but they came out hard, especially in the second half of the game. They started to pressure us, and they handled it well, both those guys."

Lauko lined up on the Bruins fourth line alongside Joona Kopannen and Marcel Noebels. The speedy winger found an opening late in the first period, and made no mistake, wiring it five-hole to give the Bruins the lead.
"Yeah, it was good - the feeling after," said Lauko of his goal. "I didn't know what to do. I was there like 'oh my god I scored, what do I do now?' So, it was good. Nice feeling."

Sacco was impressed by the young forward's game.
"He played well," said Sacco. "He played hard, 18-year-old kid, didn't seem phased by anything out there really. Competed, obviously scoring the goal is a bonus, but just the way he played the game, the way he approached the game tonight. It was a good start for him.
"I mean you don't want to get ahead of yourself here, but certainly it was a good first game for him. I thought he showed a lot of composure for his first game. He seemed to be calm, played hard, didn't seem like he was nervous at all out there, so it was a good start for him."
The Czech-Republic-native is hoping his strong play will create an opportunity for him to stay on this side of the Atlantic this season.
"I'm trying," said Lauko of trying to play his way into a spot in North America. "I'm trying a lot. I'm trying to learn on the ice and off the ice. And I hope I can stay for next season - here or Providence. I want to stay in America."

Andersson, who also was participating in his first professional contest, lined up next to Zdeno Chara on the B's top pairing.
"He's such a role model," said Andersson."He's great on and off the ice, so he made me comfortable."
For his part, Andersson was satisfied with his performance.
"It went pretty good," said Andersson. "I played my own game, so I'm pretty happy with that. I tried not to think about it, just to play hockey."
Sacco also noted how comfortable Andersson appeared.
"[He] seemed really poised back there," said Sacco. "Wasn't nervous, went back for pucks, didn't seem to get rattled or anything. Even when the pressure came on him a few times he didn't seem to back off, he stuck with it."

Heinen and Krejci Find Chemistry

Sacco paired Krejci and Heinen on the top line in the win against Washington, and the two players created a number of quality looks throughout the contest.
"I thought we created lots of chances," said Krejci. "Especially the first period. Could have had easily a few goals, but that's how it goes, you know. It's not really so much about goals now, just to get the good habits. Like I said, you know, we knew we had some mistakes, but it's a good thing we made a win in the preseason so just try to get better tomorrow."
The two forwards had been paired together for the first two skates of training camp, but Sunday brought their first game action together.
"He's going to hang onto it and he will find you," said Heinen of playing with Krejci. "So yeah, I think just, you know, things happen when the puck is in his hands and you know, like you said, it's the first game and focusing on getting your game legs back and everything, but you know, it was fun to play with him."

Sacco thought the two of them were impressive together.
"I liked it," said Sacco. "I thought it was good. I thought that those two guys seemed to have the puck quite a bit. Krech [David Krejci] had it on a string there earlier on in the game, the first half of the game. I thought they played well. I thought the two of them showed they're smart, they're good with the puck, they make good decisions, and they have a high-skill level with the puck. I thought it was a good start for those two guys as far as trying to form a little bit of chemistry with each other."
Heinen scored the shootout winner for the B's, using a nice fake shot to freeze Washington's Vitek Vanecek and score the eventual game-winner.
"My mindset was if there's an opening take the shot," said Heinen. "But kind of faked it and didn't see much, so yeah luckily tucked it in the back."

McIntyre Steady in Net

Zane McIntyre got the nod in goal for the B's, and the 26-year-old made sure his fourth professional season got off to a strong start.
"It was nice playing a full game, to be honest," said McIntyre of seeing game action for the first time in months. "Just getting the ebbs and flows of a whole game. I mean, there's sometimes where you see half the game and you don't get to see all the shots that you'd like, or to feel the actual pressure when they're hemming you in and stuff, so it was good to actually experience that and it's good to get back playing games, too.
"We do goalie drills and stuff all summer, but once you actually get into the game it makes a big difference - game speed."
The University of North Dakota graduate stopped 21-of-22 shots, and also was perfect in the shootout to clinch the win.
"He wasn't tested early all that much," said Sacco. "Then when they started to press towards the third period obviously towards the end there on the power plays that they ran up there, he played well. He made some big saves. He played well, and then in the shootout. He came up big in the shootout, so good on him, good start for him, too."