There’s six more exhibition games and plenty of training camp left for Fabian Lysell to make a positive impression for the Bruins this preseason. But the first preseason game was a missed opportunity for the 21-year-old wing trying to help his chances of making the team.
Lysell, who the Bruins are hoping will eventually become a top six forward who can make an offensive impact, came into the year as one of the players with a chance to grab the open spot alongside Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle.
But in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Rangers, Lysell didn’t stand out in 14:56 of ice time including 2:20 on the power play. Skating with John Farinacci and Cole Koepke, he had zero shots reach the goal as two of his attempts were blocked and one was offline.
Jim Montgomery didn’t think the game lent itself to crisp offense.
“The ice didn’t seem like it was rolling. It didn’t seem like there was a lot of plays out there consecutively, tape to tape.,” he said. “I thought he worked hard and played with a lot of pace.”
Georgii Merkulov, another rookie with high hopes, had an assist of the first goal, but he was otherwise quiet too.
The Bruins and Rangers both dressed rosters of young players, who are more likely to land in the AHL to open the 2024-25 season, which should have created a familiar environment for both players who spent all of last year in Providence.
Meanwhile, Trevor Kuntar, who is more of a bottom-six, physical checking prospect scored a goal.
Bruins honor Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau before the game — The Bruins, like many teams around the NHL, aired a remembrance video for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were both killed by a drunk driver while biking in New Jersey. That was followed by a 13-second moment of silence (13 was Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey number).
Goalies debut —Brandon Bussi and Michael DiPietro split time in goal. Bussi stopped 10 of 12 shots in 30:14 on the ice, while DiPietro stopped nine of the 10 he faced in 27:09. Neither stood out. Both are attempting to establish where they stand in the pecking order of Bruins goalies with Jeremy Swaymon out.
Who wears letters with Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy out? — The Bruins didn’t have anyone from their leadership trio dressed for Sunday’s game or anyone who had even spent two seasons with Boston.
Nobody got a “C” but Andrew Peeke, Patrick Brown and Vinni Lettieri each wore alternate captain “A’s”
