Ruff ’s debut as Devils coach is spoiled by Bruins in shootout

NEWARK, N.J. — Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist, then scored the only goal in the shootout as the Boston Bruins beat New Jersey 3-2 on Thursday night to spoil Lindy Ruff’s debut as Devils coach.

Marchand scored a power-play goal and set up another by Nick Ritchie for the Bruins, who won the Presidents’ Trophy for having the best record in the NHL during the 2019-20 regular season. Tuukka Rask made 20 saves, including two on breakaways in overtime, and added two stops in the shootout.

Miles Wood and rookie defenseman Ty Smith scored for New Jersey, which missed the playoffs last year. Mackenzie Blackwood was outstanding in making 35 saves. He also stopped Charlie Coyle and Ondrej Kase in the shootout.

The teams play again in New Jersey on Saturday afternoon.

Rask denied shootout attempts by Nikita Gusev and Jesper Boqvist. Jack Hughes did not get a shot off.

Rask stopped shootouttype breakaways by Kyle Palmieri and Hughes in OT.

The Devils rallied twice in the third period to tie the game on goals by Wood and Smith in his NHL debut.

Smith’s goal, which bounced off defenseman Charlie McAvoy, came with 6:14 left in regulation, 34 seconds after Ritchie put the Bruins ahead 2-1.

Marchand, who set up Ritchie’s goal, gave Boston a 1-0 lead at 17:40 of the first period on a power-play goal.

Wood tied the game on a breakaway with 11:09 left in regulation.

Both of Boston’s goals were scored on power plays after Wood was penalized for goaltender interference.

THE NEW C

Patrice Bergeron donned the captain’s C for the Bruins. Defenseman Zdeno Chara, who signed with Washington, had been the captain for 14 seasons.

MILLER RETURNS

Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller played in an NHL game for the first times since breaking a kneecap against Minnesota on April 4, 2019. The 33year-old played with rookie Jakub Zboril, who was playing in his third career game.

NEW PLAYERS

Smith and forward Egor Sharangovich made their NHL debuts. Besides Zboril, the Bruins also used taxi squad members C Trent Federic and F Jack Strudnicka with David Pastrnak (shoulder/hip) and free agent signee Craig Smith (back) unable to play. Nico Hischier was out with a lower-body injury for the Devils.

LAYOFF

The Devils were one of seven teams that missed the playoffs last season after the pause in March. They were playing their first game since March 10.

Bill Kostroun / Associated Press Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask stops a shot by New Jersey Devils left wing Andreas Johnsson (11) during the second period on Thursday in Newark, N.J.