‘A lot of emotions’: Michael DiPietro earns first NHL win with Bruins
Michael DiPietro has waited a long time for this puck. The former Windsor Spitfires' goaltender earned his first NHL win Saturday as the Boston Bruins rallied past the Anaheim Ducks 4-2 at Honda Center. DiPietro turned aside 25 of 27 shots.
“He was probably the biggest factor why we won today,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said afterward.
The Amherstburg native, who earned the NESN Player of the Game, gave up two goals in the final minute of the first period, then shut the door the rest of the way, stopping all 13 shots he faced over the final 40 minutes.
The 27-year-old kept the game puck, according to the Boston Globe.
Watch DiPietro’s post-game interview: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1C7t93APag/
The win comes more than seven years after his NHL debut. His first start came as a member of the Vancouver Canucks in February 2019 where he played just three games before being traded to Boston in October of 2022 in a deal for Tecumseh's Jack Studnicka.
He spent the last two seasons shining in the AHL with the Providence Bruins, winning 60 games. Last season he went 34-8-1 with a .930 save percentage and a 1.91 goals-against average and was named the league’s most valuable player.
That run no doubt opened the door to win becoming the backup behind Boston's #1 Jeremy Swayman this fall, after the Bruins traded Joonas Korpisalo to the New York Rangers. DiPietro made his first start as a Bruin earlier this month, a 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild.
Watch NESN crew break down DiPietro's first win: INSTANT REACTION: Frederic Brunet Scores First NHL Career Goal, DiPietro Earns First NHL Win
“I just like winning games. Doesn’t matter how,” DiPietro told the Globe in September.
Windsor fans know that feeling. DiPietro backstopped the Windsor Spitfires to the 2017 Memorial Cup and was named the tournament’s top goalie. The Vancouver Canucks drafted him 64th overall that summer.