Bruins soak up China Games atmosphere

SHENZHEN, China --Jaroslav Halak has heard a lot of national anthems in his time in hockey, including "O, Canada," "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "Nad Tatrou sa blyska," which is the anthem of his native Slovakia.

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But until Saturday, the Boston Bruins backup goaltender had never heard the Chinese national anthem, "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu," which translates to "March of the Volunteers."
It was just one indication for Halak, the Bruins and Calgary Flames that they weren't playing a normal preseason game. This wasn't TD Garden. This wasn't Boston, though the Bruins did still get to hear "Dirty Water" after they defeated the Flames 4-3 in a shootout in the first of two games in the 2018 O.R.G. NHL China Games.
"It's different than playing back home," Halak said following his first game as a Bruin since signing a two-year contract with Boston on July 1. "Playing here just makes it more special."
For some, including Bruins centers Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, Trent Frederic and Jack Studnicka, playing in NHL preseason games is still a new experience. For others, the veterans, this is a routine part of the start to their seasons. Except it's anything but routine.
"It felt a little odd being on the bigger ice," forward Brad Marchand said. "Felt a little bit different. But it still got competitive there at the end. You could tell the guys were getting into it. So a little bit different, but had a little bit of the same feelings."

Not for Forsbacka Karlsson, who left with the Bruins for China just after returning from the rookie tournament in Buffalo.
"This is a step up," Forsbacka Karlsson said. "Obviously, it's more skilled players, it's better players. I think it's a faster game. It's a smarter game. Guys are stronger. It's just another level."
Forsbacka Karlsson had a couple of nice moments, including an assist on a goal by Ryan Donato, the second of three Boston goals in a span of 1:55 during the first period; Frederic and John Moore scored the other two.
Though Mark Giordano's second goal of the game tied it 3-3 with 47 seconds left in the third period, Boston survived the overtime and won the shootout.
Not that the result really mattered. It was more about starting the long process of working out the offseason kinks, of making decisions, of building a team; aspects that don't change even if the preseason begins 8,000 miles from home.
There were the usual issues that come with the beginning of the season; the rustiness Marchand felt, the skate that needed to be resharpened for Halak, causing him to miss a couple of minutes in the third period.
"You could tell it's been four or five months since we've been playing," Marchand said. "That's what these games are for, get the rust out, get your feeling back, get your hands back, and timing. Definitely needed it. Going to need a couple more."
The Bruins and Flames will get one more in China before heading back to North America. They face off again at Cadillac Arena in Beijing on Wednesday (7:30 a.m. ET; NBCSN, SN). By then, they will have had two more practices, more time to figure out their systems, more time to integrate their new players, but also more time to explore a country most of them have never been to and many never would have visited if not for these games.
They even got to hear a few cheers from some Boston faithful - and some Calgary faithful - who helped fill the stands at Universiade Sports Center in Shenzhen, and who helped make it feel in that small way like just another game in just another NHL arena.
"It's great," Donato said. "Hockey brings all communities together and I think the fact that we can share in this with Shenzhen and have some Americans at the game is definitely something special. Hopefully it felt special to them. Obviously, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play here. For me, I cherished every second of it."