Bruins, Canes Win as 2024 NHL Playoffs Begin

Johnny Beecher (Michigan) tallied his first career NHL playoff goal, and Jeremy Swayman (Maine) won his first NHL postseason start by making 35 saves in the Boston Bruins' 5-1 victory over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night. Boston now leads the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, one game to none. Charlie McAvoy (Boston University) set up two goals for the Bruins.

In the only other game from the first day of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the host Carolina Hurricanes outlasted the New York Islanders, 3-1, in a matinee affair to take a one game-to-none lead in that Eastern Conference matchup. Jack Drury (Harvard) notched one assist for the Hurricanes, while Anders Lee (Notre Dame) assisted on the Islanders lone goal.

The playoffs continue today as four other series get underway, including two in the Western Conference.

Three "Bs" Leave Michigan for Pro Hockey

The exodus of players from Michigan's 2021-22 NCAA Frozen Four team continued recently. 

Undergraduate forwards Johnny Beecher (Boston), Brendan Brisson (Vegas) and Thomas Bordeleau (San Jose) have all signed professional contracts, ending their time with the Wolverines.

Beecher, a junior from Elmira, N.Y., finished his college career with 19 goals and 20 assists for 39 points in 81 career games. He has since reported to Providence (AHL), where he has played in two games to date.

Brisson, a sophomore who led the Wolverines with 21 goals this season, has reported to Henderson (AHL) where he has tallied three goals and six points in his first three games. The Manhattan Beach, Calif. native ended his college career with 31-32—63 points in 62 NCAA outings.

Bordealeau, a sophomore from Terrebonne, Quebec, concluded his Michigan career with 20-47—67 points in 61 contests, and initially joined San Jose (AHL) after turning pro. He recorded an assist in his first AHL appearance, and notched three assists over two games before recording his first NHL assist in his first NHL outing with the parent Sharks. 

Earlier this month, Michigan lost sophomores Matty Beniers (Seattle), Owen Power (Buffalo), and Kent Johnson (Columbus) to the NHL clubs that drafted them. All were chosen in the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, with Power going first overall, Beniers second, and Johnson fifth. All three have since made their NHL playing debuts, and also recorded their first NHL points.

Michigan went 31-10-1 overall in 2021-22, won the Big Ten tournament championship, and then claimed the NCAA Allentown (Pa.) Regional to advance to the Frozen Four in Boston. The Wolverines then fell, 3-2, in overtime to eventual national champion Denver in the national semifinals.