Oliver Wahlstrom’s first goal since joining the Bruins didn’t come as the result of the elite shooting ability he’s known for.
In his 10th game as a Bruin, the Maine native, who grew up dreaming of playing for his current team, finally broke through by putting himself in the right place at the right time. From the right-wing corner he centered the puck to the front of the net and then cycled behind the net to the opposite post.
That left him in the right spot when the rebound of Charlie McAvoy’s shot caromed off Sergei Bobrovsky. Wahlstrom pounced on it and jammed it into the net to put Boston ahead, in the game it eventually won, 4-3 in overtime.
“Just get to the net more,” Wahlstrom said. “When pucks aren’t going in, get down there to be able to bang them in.”
Wahlstrom’s intense celebration captured the fact that he scored for the team he grew up rooting for, to put the Bruins ahead of a team that’s tormented them, in the midst of a losing streak and ended a stretch of 12 scoreless games for him.
“It’s pretty cool. I grew up watching this team since I was little, going to TD Garden with my dad,” he said. “It’s pretty cool for sure.”
Wahlstrom hasn’t fulfilled the high offensive expectations he came into the league with with 36 goals in 229 games which is why the Islanders waived him. But he’s only 24. He hoped Saturday’s goal was the just start.
“I want a lot more. So I got to get to those areas, get my shot off,” he said. “Just keep going.”
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