Bruins general manager Don Sweeney did not mince words in the offseason: The team needed to add speed and skill.
Enter JJ Peterka.
Peterka, acquired from the Mammoth in a draft day trade, made an instant impact in his Bruins’ debut.
The German forward danced Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider and went five-hole on Igor Shesterkin for a goal that not only extended the Bruins’ lead late in a 3-0 win Tuesday, but will roll on highlight reels for the foreseeable future.
“It was just nice to see because, first of all, he had some really good chances preseason, even at practice, and then to make a move like this today and actually finish the way he did, I think it really, hopefully, helps him moving forward,” Bruins coach Marco Sturm said. “I also know, as a new guy on a new team in a new city playing at home, you want to be good and you want to be the guy. That part was really nice, too, because he scored at the right time. And I think he showed everyone that he got here for a reason.”
Peterka skated on the first line, on the left of Elias Lindholm and newly-minted captain David Pastrnak.
“Just exciting overall,” Peterka said of his linemates. “I think whenever we’re out there, we can make something happen. It’s fun to be a part of.”
What will the Bruins do for an encore? They head to Canada to open Winnipeg’s season, and the Jets will be without star goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who is suspended indefinitely for not reporting to training camp. The netminder publicly requested a trade.
Here’s a preview.
When: Friday, 8 p.m.
Where: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
TV: NESN. Radio: WBZ-FM 98.5.
Line: Winnipeg -125. O/U: 5.5.
BRUINS
Season record: 1-0-0. vs. spread: 1-0. Over/under: 0-1
Last 10 games: 5-5-0. vs. spread: 7-3. Over/under: 2-7, 1 push
JETS
Season record: 0-0-0. vs. spread: 0-0. Over/under: 0-0
Last 10 games: 5-5-0. vs. spread: 4-6. Over/under: 6-3, 1 push
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored: Boston 3
Goals allowed: Boston 0
Power play: Boston 0%
Penalty minutes: Boston 2
Penalty kill: Boston 100%
Faceoffs won: Boston 50.0%
Stat of the day: It’s the first time in 10 seasons that the Jets will start someone other than Hellebuyck for the opener.
Notes: Stuart Skinner — who shares the same agent as Hellebuyck — signed a two-year contract with the Jets this offseason. “I’ve been in positions where you’re not playing every game, and positions where you are playing every game,” Skinner said. “For me, personally, I’m just trying to go out there and be myself, trying to be the best team guy I could possibly be, give my team a chance to win. I mean, that’s the biggest thing. That’s the goalie’s job: to give the team a chance to win.”
Cam Kerry can be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.