Mikey Eyssimont scored the winner in his season debut as the Bruins beat the Panthers 4-1 this afternoon.
Eyssimont had no games on his NHL ledger this season before today. Boston recalled him a few days after his natural hat trick in Hamilton, and he went straight from that to a game against Florida.
Jack Studley passed along Eyssimont's reaction after the game, and the forward made clear he enjoyed every minute of it.
Here is Eyssimont's full answer: "Yeah, it was exciting. Played a lot of games against Florida, you know what you're gonna get, so you come ready. But, you know, right off the bat, Z gets us going with a big fight, and the fun started there. But yeah, it was great to be back."
He doesn't say who "Z" is, but the point comes through. The Bruins set the tone early and a forward who had been watching came in already knowing what kind of game it would be.
Conor Ryan had the goal as it happened, and it put Boston up by two.
It stood up. Mark Divver pointed out that the goal ended up being the game-winner.
The rest of the scoring came from Lindholm, Morgan Geekie and John-Jason Peterka. Jeremy Swayman's 40-save matinee did the heavy lifting at the other end.
Does the winner earn Eyssimont a longer look?
It should. Eyssimont has 33 goals in 269 career games, so he is a depth forward whose job is energy, forechecking and the odd timely finish. On a day when the game opened with Nikita Zadorov and Brady Tkachuk dropping the gloves, he fit right in.
Marco Sturm now has a simple decision. Boston was 12-4-1 and first in the Atlantic before today's game, so there is no pressure to change anything. But it is hard to sit a player after he scores the winner in his first game back.
The next test comes Thursday against Montreal, and we will see if Eyssimont is in the lineup again.
Quick hits
COLORADO AVALANCHECale Makar was pulled from Sunday's practice and will be reevaluated Monday, according to LNH Fr. Nobody wants to hear that about their best defenseman.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSMark Masters reports that Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev are both out tonight against the Devils. Two blueliners gone at once is a big hole.
INJURYRotoWire reports that Josh Morrissey will not play tonight for the Jets against the Lightning because of a wrist injury. Winnipeg loses its top defenseman.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINSThe Penguins recalled forward Rutger McGroarty from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, hours before tonight's game at Anaheim. The team announced it Sunday afternoon.
FLORIDA PANTHERSJack Studley reports that the referees sent Matthew Tkachuk down the tunnel with 8:08 left in the third period in Boston. It was a chippy afternoon.
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