When the Bruins hosted the Philadelphia Flyers for their home season opener on January 21st, they hadn’t score a 5v5 goal in the young season. Enter Jack Studnicka, the Bruins 53rd overall pick in the 2017 draft.
The six foot one inch centre has been playing in the AHL for the past two seasons, scoring 23 goals last season in 60 games. Studnicka played junior hockey and was the captain with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League from 2015 to 2019. Primarily a centre, Studnicka can also draw into a right winger role, as the Bruins have centre depth. His scouting report highlighted all of his great assets, like offering plenty of scoring ability and having a good sized frame, but said he needed to work on being more consistent with his game. The 21 year old earned his first NHL point on an assist in 2019, but was still looking for his first NHL goal.
On opening night, he drew into the Bruins second line on Krejci’s right wing, with Nick Ritchie on the left wing. Going into the third period, down 2-0, Bruce Cassidy sent out the Krejci line to start the third period. Not even a minute into the third, Jack Studnicka got the Bruins on the board. David Krejci and Nick Ritchie earned as assist each, as Studnick scored on a pass from Krejci. This was not only his first NHL goal, but the Bruins first 5v5 goal of the season.
This goal was the start of a four goal comeback in the third period (where have we heard that before?). The Boston Bruins won in a shootout, with Jake DeBrusk scoring the nasty game winner. The Bruins face the Flyers again tonight at 7pm at TD Garden, as well as six other times this season. This isn’t the last time we will hear of Jack Studnicka, as David Pastrnak is out until mid-February and Studnicka will continue to draw into the lineup in his place.
Until Next Time
~ RJ
Hybrid Theory Thoughts Blog 