BUFFALO – The Boston Bruins rookies opened the 2025 Prospects Challenge on Friday afternoon with a 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Trailing by a goal in the third period, Boston tied the game on a goal by free agent invite and Merrimack College commit Mavrick Lachance of Sherbrooke of the QMJHL

But the Pens scored the game-winner on a breakaway in the final minute.

Here is a hat trick of notes from the day.

ZAJICEK SHINES

Playing his first game in North America, Simon Zajicek was a bright light for the Bruins.

The 24-year-old goalie from Czechia stopped 30 of 32 shots and kept the score close. 

“It was a pretty good game for me,” he said. “The guys blocked a lot of shots.”

In addition to some fine saves, Zajicek black-and-gold pads drew some positive comments.

Coincidentally, the team Zajicek played for last season, HC Litvinov, also has black and gold as its colors. He didn’t have to get new pads, he just stuck with the ones he was already wearing.

Asked about his style of play, he said, “Probably I’ve got good feet, I think. I can read the game.”

Zajicek signed with the Bruins as a free agent after going 15-13 with a .930 save percentage and a 2.12 goals-against average in the Czech league last season.

Jamie Langenbrunner, Bruins assistant general manager, player personnel, liked what he saw from Zajicek on Friday.

“He looked calm. He looked poised. He looked like a seasoned pro. He’s a guy that our goalie group said had some intrigue in him. We’re excited to see where it goes,” he said.

LITTLE GUY PLAYS BIG

Dylan Edwards was the shortest player on either team at 5-foot-8, but he didn’t play like it.

A free agent invite from Erie of the OHL, Edwards was around the puck all day.

After throwing a hard hit in the first period, Edwards was called on to fight by Quinn Beauchesne of the Penguins.

Edwards absorbed some punches in the bout, which he said was the third of his career, but he continued to seek out body checks at every opportunity.

“Right away after that hit, I knew someone was coming so I was prepared and ready to go,” he said. “Typically not my game, but I’m willing to do whatever I gotta do out there.”

Coach Ryan Mougenel was impressed.

“He’s trying to make some noise. I like that. There was a lot of good things that kid did,” he said.

The number of NCAA schools scouting the Prospects Challenge reached double figures on  Saturday and some of the recruiters surely noticed Edwards, who turned 20 in July.

While his focus this season will be on helping Erie have a good season, Edwards said he has talked to NCAA schools and is open to the idea of playing college hockey down the road.

NEWEST BOURQUE

Like his famous father Ray and his brother Chris before him, Ryan Bourque is now a Bruin and he couldn’t be happier about it.

Bourque, the new assistant coach in Providence, was on the bench in Buffalo. He replaces Matt Thomas, who left the organization to take over as head coach at the Rochester Institute of Technology, his alma mater.

The opportunity with the Bruins “means the world to me. Growing up, it’s obviously an organization that (is) family. It’s a huge part of my life.

“My dad and my brother were part of the organization. I was the only missing link. To get the opportunity meant a lot and I had to jump on it,” he said.

Bourque, who coached Cushing Academy to a prep school championship last season, played for a number of coaches in his pro career.

He points to former Providence captain Brent Thompason, his coach in Bridgeport, as someone who had a lasting impact.

“His demeanor, his intensity, his compete. He’s really a guy that maybe you wouldn’t expect him to be as detailed as he was, but he was extremely detailed and passionate,” he said.

“He just always had his players’ backs. He really cared about the person before the player. That’s an important thing when it comes to pro hockey, especially.”

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Ryan Mougenel on Fraser Minten, who along with Brett Harrison and Riley Duran wore an “A”  for the Bruins on Friday:

“The one thing about Fraser is he’s got a lot of pride. For a guy that’s played (25 NHL games) to play as hard as he did today says a lot about the character, the person. I liked his leadership. Did some things, didn’t do some things. It’s part of getting your game in a good place.”