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Frederic Brunet and Michael DiPietro, who spent last season together with the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League, both reached significant NHL milestones in the same game on Friday. Their contributions helped the Boston Bruins come from behind to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 4-2, extending Boston's winning streak to four games.
Brunet recorded his first NHL goal, while DiPietro stopped 25 shots to secure his first career NHL victory. The Bruins had trailed 2-0 early before mounting their comeback.
"I've been with Mikey a couple years in Providence, and the way it just happened, me scoring my first NHL goal and him getting the first win, it's great," Brunet told reporters after the game. "He's one of the hardest workers I've played with, and I think no one deserves it more than him."
DiPietro's Long Road to First Win
DiPietro's first NHL win came after a lengthy journey through the professional ranks. Selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2017 draft, the 27-year-old goaltender spent one season in the ECHL and six in the AHL before getting his chance with Boston. Friday marked his second start with the Bruins and his first NHL win after nearly five years between starts.
The game did not begin smoothly for DiPietro. Anaheim scored twice in the final minute of the first period to take a 2-0 lead, but he settled in and prevented the Ducks from extending their advantage as Boston mounted its comeback.
After the game, DiPietro reflected on the significance of the moment and the support he received along the way. "It's a long road to get here, and I just want to thank my family, my dad, my mom, my brother, my wife, everybody who supported me through this last eight years of pro," DiPietro told NESN. "It's a long road, but this one's extra special."
At 27 years and 129 days old, DiPietro became the second Bruins goalie in the past 48 years to earn his first NHL win after turning 27. Tim Thomas was the last to do so, at 28 years and 187 days old on Oct. 19, 2002, against the Edmonton Oilers.
DiPietro made sure to keep a memento from the milestone. Asked about the puck from his first win, he said he planned to keep it close. "The puck is going under my pillow tonight, and then it's going to go in my pocket tomorrow and then probably on the plane and everything in between," DiPietro said. "It's not going out of sight."
Brunet's First Goal Sparks Comeback
Brunet made his own mark early in Boston's comeback, cutting Anaheim's lead to 2-1 with a power-play goal at 3:15 of the second period. The 23-year-old rookie defenseman settled a pass from James Hagens and fired from just inside the blue line. The shot slipped past Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal to give Brunet his first NHL goal.
Brunet joked about the shot afterward, calling it "probably the worst shot of my career" before acknowledging how much the milestone meant to him. The defenseman has also earned opportunities on Boston's second power-play unit early in the season. Head coach Marco Sturm praised Brunet's skating and puck-handling ability, while Brunet said the added responsibility has helped him play with confidence.
Friday's goal gave him another reason to feel comfortable at the NHL level. More importantly, it came alongside DiPietro's first win, making the night especially meaningful for two players who shared their development years in Providence.
Special Teams Fuel Bruins' Rally
Boston's special teams helped turn the game around after Anaheim's quick finish to the first period. Brunet's goal got the Bruins on the board, and David Pastrnak tied the game at 2-2 with a power-play goal early in the third. Elias Lindholm scored another power-play goal at 8:18 to give Boston the lead before Matt Poitras added an insurance goal later in the period.
The Bruins finished 3-for-4 on the power play, while Anaheim went 0-for-5. DiPietro made 25 saves, including key stops as Boston worked its way back into the game.
For Brunet and DiPietro, the comeback was more than another win in the standings. A year after sharing an AHL locker room, they celebrated their first NHL milestones together, with DiPietro finally earning his first victory and Brunet recording his first goal. Their paths to the NHL had taken time, but Friday gave both players a night they will remember.
Originally reported by yahoo.