WASHINGTON, D.C. — As they celebrated in the locker room after their season-opening 3-1 win over the Washington Capitals, Bruins assistant coach Steve Spott presented Marco Sturm with a game puck from his first career victory as a head coach.
Sturm hugged Spott and waved the puck toward his clapping players.
“Many more, right?” he said smiling. “Many, many more.”
Afterward, he was worn out by the emotional night.
“It feels great. I’m exhausted, though,” he said. “It’s the moment I was waiting for. To grab a win on the road in a tough place like here is even better.”
Jeremy Swayman enjoyed the moment.
“We really wanted to come together as a team. To be a part of his first National Hockey League win is really special,” he said. “He deserves it.”
Sturm appreciated their gesture, but was more excited about the way the players had executed the system he’d installed in the preseason.
“For the most part, they played exactly how we worked, exactly how I want them to play,” he said. “That makes me happy.”
That included special teams. The Bruins’ power play, which was led by Spott, scored on one of its two chances and the penalty kill, negated five Capitals power plays including a 54-second 5-on-3.
“Special teams, those are the moments that always come up,” Sturm said. “Those are the moments where you have to shine and get the momentum back.”
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