Recap: Bruins edge out Golden Knights, 5-4, on Geekie’s hat trick

Lohrei netted the game-winner after the Golden Knights rallied to tie the game.

Morgan Geekie’s first NHL hat trick led the Boston Bruins to a 5-4 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at the TD Garden on Thursday night.

It may not have been completely pretty, but the Bruins got the job done and in regulation. The B’s had to recover from a blown three-goal lead to close out the game in the third period and not head to extra minutes.

The B’s started strong, outshooting the Golden Knights heavily in the first period and ending the 20 minutes up 3-0 on two goals from Geekie and a one-timer rocket from Jesper Boqvist. But the tables turned for the middle frame when Vegas was in the driver’s seat, putting up a goal early and then capitalizing on defensive breakdowns to tighten the game to one score.

Geekie completed his hat trick which regained a two-goal lead and make it 4-2 Bruins. But a lack of urgency and desperation in the period had Michael Amadio close in on the score and have it be a 4-3 game heading into the final 20 minutes.

Despite being on the man-advantage, Vegas continued to rally back and Chandler Stephenson was able to get on a breakaway and tie the game on a shorthanded tally.

The Bruins’ second power play unit came through to close out the game in the third period.

Mason Lohrei netted the game-winner off a fed from Kevin Shattenkirk while Jeremy Swayman staved off the Golden Knights in the final minutes when the Bruins found themselves on the penalty kill.

A win is a win — and two points.

Here are the highlights!

First period:

The Bruins opened the scoring at 14:34 of the first period.

Trent Frederic sprung Morgan Geekie loose as he exploded with speed up ice and down the center lane in the offensive zone to put a wrist shot past Adin Hill’s glove. 1-0 Bruins.

The Bruins took a two-goal lead at 15:04 of the first period.

Jake DeBrusk backhanded a pass out front which Jesper Boqvist picked up in the slot for a quick release that flew past Hill’s blocker. 2-0 Bruins.

The Bruins extended their lead at 16:54 of the first period on Geekie’s second goal of the night.

David Pastrnak fed a pass to Geekie inside the left-wing circle for a one-timer past Hill. 3-0 Bruins.

Second period:

The Golden Knights cut into their deficit at 1:48 of the second period.

Below the left-wing circle, Paul Cotter batted down a pass from Nicolas Roy which he sent from across the ice which snuck past Jeremy Swayman. 3-1 game.

The Golden Knights made it a one-goal game at 6:57 of the second period.

Jonathan Marchessault threw a shot on net. Alex Pietrangelo picked up the rebound out front and then put his own second effort past Swayman. 3-2 game.

The Bruins retook a two-goal lead at 16:32 of the second period as Geekie recorded a hat trick.

Out front and screening Hill, Geekie tipped-in David Pastrnak’s shot. 4-2 Bruins.

The Golden Knights scored at 17:46 of the second period.

Chandler Stephenson sent a pass into the slot which Michael Amadio found and put a wrist shot past Swayman. 4-3 game.

Third period:

The Golden Knights tied it up with a shorthanded goal at 5:01 of the third period.

After Marchand had a chance on the power play, Stephenson ended up on a breakaway to beat Swayman. 4-4 tie game.

The Bruins regained the lead with the ultimate game-winner at 15:23 of the third period on the power play.

Kevin Shattenkirk found Mason Lohrei inside the right-wing circle for a one-timer that went five-hole on Hill. Final score: 5-4 Bruins.

Game notes:

• After SIX overtime/shootout wins, picking up a win in regulation, even after losing a three-goal lead, is a good win. “Maybe it takes a grind it out type of game to the very end to get over that,” Charlie Coyle said postgame when asked about winning in regulation after so many overtime games. “That’s what happened today, but it’s all about learning from it.”
• The night seemed like it was going to be different, as the Bruins jumped out of the gate and were all over the front of the net and really limiting Vegas’ o-zone time. But the second and third period felt like the end result was going to be the same as recent games as the lead looked to be slipping away with Vegas taking control.
• But the game was won largely on the play of the Bruins’ bottom six forwards — and defense. The third and fourth line came up big to provide secondary scoring and four 5v5 goals tonight. And it was the Bruins’ second power-play unit with Shattenkirk and Lohrei out there controlling the play and puck movement leading up to the winning goal.
• Lohrei’s goal was his first game-winner and also first goal he’s scored at the TD Garden this season. Tonight was also the 100th career win for Jim Montgomery.
• While they won this one, Montgomery and the players all echoed the sentiment that they are still working on closing games out and they will build off tonight. Geekie talked about how tonight they let Vegas back into the game when the B’s let up a bit in the second period and then again in the third period. Montgomery said they are looking at one game at a time.
• The Bruins will hit the road and face the New York Islanders on Saturday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m.