BUFFALO – The Boston Bruins rookies got goals from Brett Harrison, Lucas Romeo and Adam Mechura, but lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets in overtime, 4-3, on the second day of the Prospects Challenge on Saturday.

In a contest that was spiced by three fights, the Bruins rallied from two goals down in the first period and one goal down in the third to force OT.

“It was spirited, there was a lot of good energy. The guys competed, which we wanted to see,” said coach Ryan Mougenel.

“I thought a lot of the nerves were out compared to the first game, but (there were) a lot of really good things. You could see a little bit of the separation from guys that have played (in the AHL), like (John Farinacci), and I thought Riley Duran was excellent.”

Here are notes on four players.

JACKSON EDWARD

Edward isn’t one of those players who lets his performance speak for itself. While walking the walk as an aggressive defender on the ice, he also talks the talk.

Sitting near ice level for Friday’s game against Pittsburgh, I heard Edward going at it verbally with the Pens players virtually nonstop. There was less chatter on Saturday, but Edward still directed a fair number of chirps in the direction of Columbus players.

“I just think it’s more fun when you get into the game. I’ve always been competitive. I just like to get into it,” he said after assisting on a third-period goal that tied the score.

Earlier in the game, Edward drew a roughing penalty for horse-collaring a Columbus player and throwing him to the ice.

Mougenel likes what he’s seen and heard so far from the former London Knights defenseman, who is ticketed for Providence this season.

“I think that’s a little bit of his game, for sure. I like the physicality, I like that he has juice. He plays the game with confrontation and I like that. As he goes along he’s going to have to realize that he has to back it up and that’s a whole ‘nother conversation, but he’s involved. He makes noise. I like it and we welcome it. He’s not dry toast,” he said.

Edward acknowledges there will be lessons to learn as a first-year pro.

“I still think I’m defining my game. I think I have tool sets in different areas of the game. I think that’s the main thing this year in pro is going to be defining my game. I think I defend well, I like playing (against) top lines. I can bring some offense and I think I have some to unlock. I like playing aggressive,” he said.

RILEY DURAN

Playing on a line with Farinacci and Brett Harrison, Duran turned in his second strong game in a row.

The former Providence College winger played well in the AHL after turning pro last spring and that’s continued in Buffalo.

“He looks faster in pro than he did in college, he plays faster. He plays with, not a reckless abandon, but there’s a tenacity. ‘I don’t have to worry about what’s happening behind me, I’m going to do my job.’ It’s freeing for him,” said Jamie Langenbrunner, Bruins assistant general manager, player personnel.

“He’s been very impressive here. He was impressive when he stepped into Providence, played well in the playoffs. He got a big opportunity playing pretty high in the lineup and really took it. He’s extremely strong in battles. His motor doesn’t stop.

“His ability to get in on the forecheck is something we desire in our group and you don’t have to ask him twice to do it. He gets there and causes the D to be under a little bit of duress, which is important. And he’s making enough plays. He’s a guy that’s probably ahead of where we would have placed him coming in and that’s great.”

JOHN FARINACCI

After playing 79 NCAA games across three years at Harvard, Farinacci played a total of 75 games in Providence as a first-year pro last season. He had a good start, but appeared to run out of gas in the second half.

“I won’t say it was unexpected that he was going to hit a wall,” said Langenbrunner.

To be more prepared for his second year, Farinacci trained all summer at Warrior Arena with head performance coach Kevin Neeld and his staff. Early returns are very positive.

“He’s had a really strong first two days here and been a very effective player. He looks stronger in battles, winning a lot of one-on-one battles. He looks stronger over the puck. He’s learning what it means to be a pro and being over the puck instead of reaching and getting away with it. I think in general even his first step maybe looks a little bit better. That’s an area that we knew and he knew that he has to focus on,” said Langenbrunner.

BRETT HARRISON

After scoring once on Friday, Harrison added another on Saturday.

His decision to spend the month of August in Boston preparing for the season is paying dividends.

“I’ve been skating there, working with (skills and skating coach Tom Ford). I feel a lot quicker and a lot stronger. I’m not getting pushed off in battles. That’s helped. And just the confidence, being in Boston a month early has gotten me used to all the guys. Skating with all the NHLers, I’ve gained confidence with them and I’ve just brought that on the ice here. I feel good. My body feels good,” Harrison said.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

New Jersey native John Farinacci on the late Johnny Gaudreau

“Growing up, I had a Johnny Hockey T-shirt from when he was at BC. In those days, I think every kid from New Jersey wanted to be like him.”

BUFFALO – It was a bumpy ride for the Boston Bruins rookies in the opener of the Prospects Challenge on Friday.

The Bruins squandered a 3-1 first period lead on the way to a 6-3 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins prospects.

“I thought (the Pens) got through the neutral zone extremely easy. We didn’t get a lot of skin on guys, watched them skate by us. Those are all fixable, teachable moments. We’ll be better at it tomorrow,” said coach Ryan Mougenel.

Goal scorers for the Bruins were free agent Markus Vidicek (Halifax) and Providence Bruins John Farinacci and Brett Harrison.

“I really liked a lot of the guys that were in Providence last year,” said Mougenel, mentioning Farinacci, Harrison and Riley Duran, who bull-rushed the net leading to Harrison’s goal.

Here are quick hits on three players.

FREDERIC BRUNET

A play in the third period put an exclamation point on the progress Brunet has made over the last 12 months.

The second-year defenseman took out a Pens player hard along the boards and when the player pushed back, Brunet added a stiff arm that earned him a roughing penalty.

A year ago in Buffalo, Brunet wouldn’t have made such a physical play. He hadn’t yet signed his entry-level deal. His lack of confidence was evident.

Now, after spending a year in Providence, Brunet’s confidence is growing.

“Just that play showed – I got a penalty, I’m not proud of it – but just taking the guy out, having that mindset, that physicality, is a huge step,” said Brunet, who wore an “A” for Friday’s game.

“I approach it the same as last year – I want to prove myself, leave a good image. The difference is my confidence, to make better plays, hold onto the puck a little more, have confidence to not force it and make some plays that maybe last year I didn’t have. I’m here to compete like last year but the difference is confidence.

“I’m working a lot on my defense right now. I define myself as a hybrid D-man,” combining strong offense and defense.

“I really want to work on my physicality. It’s really a big thing in my game. If I can do that, maybe I can show I’m ready for the next step,” he said.

TREVOR KUNTAR

Kuntar was in the thick of the action throughout the game, from a hard finish on Pittsburgh’s Rutger McGroary on the boards in the first period to a scrum in the closing minutes that landed him in the box.

“You don’t have to tell Kuntar twice that you have to play harder, that’s for sure. It’s built into him,” said Mougenel.

“He’s easy to sell to (Jim Montgomery): This is what he is, this is what he does. He plays hard every shift. There’s a market for that. There’s not a lot of guys like that around. He recognizes that, he’s a smart kid. He’s another kid you root for. “

Kuntar put up 20 points and 113 penalty minutes as a rookie pro.

“He’s got to build a little bit more finish into his game, for sure. He got a lot of opportunities to score last year in Providence. First-year player, what did he have, 10 (goals)? Probably should have had 15 with some of the looks he had. Just rounding out his game, he’s got to be a guy we rely on on the PK,” said Mougenel.

If and when Kuntar reaches the NHL, penalty killing would be a handy skill to have.

“He’s going to have to kill penalties at the NHL level, I think. That’s going to be a little bit of his DNA up there,” said Mougenel.

DREW BAVARO

Early in the game the rookie from Notre Dame made a slick play at the offensive blueline and fired a shot that was tipped in by Vidicek for Boston’s first goal.

That was the good news. The bad news was a third period turnover that resulted in a three-on-one for Pittsburgh, which they capitalized on for their sixth goal.

With the Bruins trailing by two goals at the time, you can understand Bavaro’s decision to take a chance.

“I hold myself to a high standard, so you never want that to happen, but in terms of how the game was going, I knew we had to make a push there,” he said.

“It was a little bit of a high-risk play, but if things are cleaned up a little bit that’s still a play I can execute. Maybe a little less fluff, as Moug likes to call it, getting that thing to the net, that’s a strong point in my game. Making that extra pass worked (in the first period) but it doesn’t always work. You learn from it.”

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Mougenel on Fabian Lysell and Georgii Merkulov heading into NHL training camp next week:

“I do think they’re in a really good spot to push (to make the big club). They’ve got the right staff for those guys. Monty has a ton of patience for young players. They’vd got Chris Kelly, who is really good at the details and (coaching players) to value what’s important in the NHL. Then you’ve got Joe Sacco, who is great for those young players, too. When (Lysell and Merkulov are) ready to graduate, they’ll be in good hands.”