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Tuesday night’s matchup between the Bruins and the Penguins had all the makings of a fantastic game, as Boston headed down to Pittsburgh sporting an 8-1 record after getting off to one of the hottest starts in the NHL to face off against a squad that had yet to lose on its home ice this season.
It’s safe to say the contest lived up to the hype. Sidney Crosby opened up the scoring 30 seconds into the game before the Bruins scored two unanswered goals—including Jakub Lauko’s first tally in an NHL uniform—to head into the locker room with a 2-1 lead at the end of the first intermission.
LAUKS TO LIKE HERE. @NickFoligno | @jakub_lauko pic.twitter.com/gjhJerB8nZ
— x – Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 2, 2022
The Penguins proceeded to post four unanswered goals of their own by the midway point of the second period. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, the Bruins refused to go down without a fight, as the team managed to tie things up by the end of regulation before walking away with a 6-5 victory after Hampus Lindholm went coast-to-coast to net the game-winner in overtime.
Lauko’s first career goal was a bit of an afterthought based on the unbridled chaos that unfolded after he scored. However, it was arguably the highlight of the night when you consider what it meant to him.
Bruins rookie Jakub Lauko is giving the puck from his first NHL goal to the mother of Ondřej Buchtela, a friend and former teammate who lost a battle with cancer
When the dust finally settled, Lauko had the chance to talk to the media and revealed he won’t be holding onto the puck that was retrieved after he scored his first NHL goal.
Instead, the rookie center said he’ll be sending it back to his native Czech Republic thanks to a promise he made to Ondřej Buchtela, his friend and former teammate on Piráti Chomutov of the Czech Extraliga who died of heart cancer in 2020 at the age of 24.
Jakub Lauko said last night that his first goal puck is going to the family of his friend Ondrej Buchtela, who passed away from cancer two years ago.
"It’s gonna go to his mother because I promised to him and his family as well [that I'd make it to the NHL]." pic.twitter.com/u51Pt6MVYq
— x – Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 2, 2022
Here’s what he had to say:
“I made a promise to my dying friend two years ago that I’m going to make it to the NHL for him.
I think my dad and my mother may be disappointed a little bit, but it’s going to go to his mother because I promised him and his family as well, so it’s gonna go to him.”
What a story.