Grzelcyk’s dream comes true
Matt Grzelcyk had been envisioning the moment for many years, but that still couldn’t keep him from getting a little giddy when it actually happened.
The Charlestown native and Bruins rookie defenseman, whose father John has worked on the Garden’s bull gang for decades, popped in his first NHL goal in the Bruins’ 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins yesterday.
“It was a jolt through my system. I didn’t really know what was going on. I tried to hide it as best as I could, but all the guys were trying to make me smile, so I was really happy,” said Grzelcyk.
“It was huge. I don’t know how great I was playing in the first period and I think that gave me some more confidence for the rest of the game and happy to lock that one down.”
For years, Grzelcyk tagged along with his father to work many times and he’s been imagining this day for a while.
“All the time,” said Grzelcyk. “Whenever I was skating out there I was always alone and there were no fans, but I’d always kind of picture a full crowd like there was (yesterday). I’m just really happy that it came in a win.”
Grzelcyk scored on a broken play. Jake DeBrusk put the puck on a tee for David Krejci to blast a one-timer from out high, but the veteran fanned on the shot. It went right to a pinching Grzelcyk in the left circle and the rookie, mano-amano against Matt Murray, beat the goalie gloveside at 10:31 of the second period.
“Actually right before, JD told me to go back door so I was headed that way. Krech came over right after that and said, ‘Don’t go down all the way, just wait in the slot.’ Fate happened. He fanned on the puck and it landed right on my tape. Credit to those guys for putting me in the right direction,” said Grzelcyk.
Asked if he looked at his texts yet, Grzelcyk said, “I’ll make sure I have a charger before I check that.”
As you’d might expect, the elder Grzelcyk was in his glory.
“I was up in Section 21 watching and I saw the puck. I said, ‘He’s got a shot here,’” said John Grzelcyk, taking a quick break from turning the building around for last night’s Celtics game. “Then I saw him take the shot and it went through the six-hole as they call it. It was pretty cool to see. And to see the smile on his face, he’s relieved to get the first one. His whole family’s relieved.”
Cehlarik goes out
It wasn’t all good news for the B’s yesterday. Rookie Peter Cehlarik had to leave the game in the third period when he collided leg-on-leg with Penguins defenseman Matt Hunwick. Cehlarik, who picked up an assist on Krejci’s goal earlier in the game, had to hop off the ice using just his right leg.
After the game he walked through the dressing room, not bending his left leg very much at all.
“He didn’t come back so obviously that’s not good news, and then the way he went off the ice. Right now I have nothing to update,” said coach Bruce Cassidy, who expected to have more information today. …
Torey Krug returned after missing three games with an upper-body injury and said he felt no ill-effects from whatever ailed him. As a precaution, Cassidy dressed seven defensemen.
Marchand closes in
Brad Marchand, who missed his seventh of the last nine games with a suspected concussion, is expected to be a full participant in today’s practice and is a possibility for tomorrow’s game against Edmonton. Anders Bjork will not be ready for the Oilers game. …
Grzelcyk’s goal was the seventh time a rookie has scored his first goal for the Bruins this year. …
Rookie Danton Heinen is proving to be one of Cassidy’s more reliable players. He had four blocks and was second among Bruin forwards in ice time with 22:03, one second behind David Pastrnak.