ST. PAUL, Minn. — The heavyweight belt fit “Slim Jim” just fine.
Moments after the Bruins secured their second straight win — a thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind overtime decision over the Jets Friday night — James Hagens was given a wardrobe addition.
As the disappointed locals filed out of Canada Life Centre, Boston captain David Pastrnak handed over the Black and Gold belt (think WWE style) to Hagens, who had scored his first career goal in the first period.
“You only get one — first NHL goal,” said Pastrnak as the rest of the room erupted.
Hagens’s heroics could have gotten lost in the euphoria of the win ― punctuated by JJ Peterka’s highlight-reel goal off a delicious dish from Pastrnak, but the captain gave the rookie his due.
“Honestly, you kind of black out for a second there and it’s something I’ll always remember,” Hagens said of his goal, a doorstep ding. “So grateful it happened.”
Hagens was stationed at the post when Nikita Zadorov and Mark Kastelic (fresh off the bench) came crashing through the slot. Hagens caught them out of the corner of his eye and figured he was in the right spot.
“I saw [Kastelic] and Zadorov coming in pretty fast, so I just tried to open up on the backside there,” he said.
Hagens acknowledged it’s a relief to see that first one go in.
“It definitely feels good to get it over with and hopefully there’s more to come,” he said.
Hagens is second-youngest teenager (19 years, 333 days) to his first NHL goal with the Bruins in the past eight years. The other? Matt Poitras (19 years, 226 days) on Oct. 22, 2023.
“It’s just something as an NHL player, that moment you will never forget,” said coach Marco Sturm, who scored his first goal in his first game back in 1997. “And if people ask you 20 years later, what’s your best moment? A lot of times that first goal comes in your mind. So, I’m happy James got the goal.”
DiPietro gets start
Michael DiPietro got the start in net for the Bruins against the Wild on Saturday night at Grand Casino Arena. It was his first start at the NHL level since January 2022 when he was with the Canucks.
“Well, it’s a back-to-back. It’s traveling and we play again in 48 hours. So, there’s a lot to it,” said Sturm about his decision. “I thought [Jeremy Swayman] was unbelievable the first two games, and we feel really, really comfortable with Mikey stepping in. He’s been great in preseason, and he should be good [against the Wild].”
Other than giving him the news, Sturm said he didn’t spend much time chatting with DiPietro.
“I leave always my goalies alone. It’s not my job, but I think we just got to make sure we’re going to help him out. That’s all that I’m asking for. So, it’s nothing to do with him. I’m going to leave him alone,” said Sturm. “I’m not going to mention anything, but I will mention to my guys, and I just did, that we all got to help him out, too. So, he got the first shot, we got the second and third.”
Bloodied but unbowed
Kastelic emerged bloodied after his first-period tussle with Winnipeg rookie Tyrel Bauer, but it was just the emotional life a lethargic Bruins squad needed to boost their game.
“Yeah, big fight,” said Sturm. “That kid over there [Bauer], he’s been pretty tough, so good for him,” said Sturm. “But we needed it. So that’s where those guys [Kastelic and Tanner Jeannot] always, I feel like they always know when to do it. And that was a big game changer for us because they came out pretty strong.
Kastelic had to head to the room after the bout for some repairs and a new sweater but emerged with energy and helped set up Hagens’s goal.
Clifton escapes serious injury
Connor Clifton avoided what could have been a gruesome injury when the Bruins defenseman was struck in the face by the boot of Mark Scheifele’s skate as the Jets forward tumbled over Swayman.
Clifton was momentarily stunned but an inch either way and Scheifele’s blade could have done major damage. At the next stoppage when both were on the ice, Scheifele gave Clifton a stick tap apology.
Peterka matches Donato
Did you know Peterka is the first Bruin to score in his first two games with the franchise since Ryan Donato did on March 19-21, 2018?
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him @globejimmcbride.