Zajicek had several outstanding stops against the Penguins.
Bruins forward Dylan Edwards impressed, and engaged in a fight, against the Penguins’ rookies at the Prospects Challenge. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
BUFFALO — Simon Zajicek looked sharp Friday.
The Bruins’ rookie goalie made a hockey statement — and fashion statement — in his first appearance in Black and Gold threads.
Zajicek popped out of the locker room at KeyBank Rink at LECOM Harborcenter wearing gold pads with black accents before the Bruins faced the Penguins at the Prospects Challenge.
“Well, considering I do all my shopping at Costco, I can’t really say anything about style,” Bruins coach Ryan Mougenel said through laughter following Zajicek’s 30-save performance in a 2-1 loss. “But he looks like he’s going to be a good goalie for us.”
Zajicek, who signed a free agent deal in May, didn’t have the pads custom built for Boston, however. His old team, HC Litvinov in Czechia, also sported black and gold.
He did get a lot of positive feedback when he pulled them out of the bag for the first time at rookie camp at Warrior Arena.
“Yes. Good comments,” Zajicek said. “My previous team has the same colors. So, good for here, too.”
Zajicek had several outstanding stops against the Penguins. The 6-foot-2-inch, 187-pounder was strong on his skates and against the iron, holding the fort against the chaos in the crease.
Among his beauties was a blocker stop on Ryan Miller, a kick save on Ben Kindel breakaway after the center had split the Bruins defense, and point-blank dandies on Jordan Charron and Kale Dach.
“I thought he was awesome,” said Mougenel, who coaches AHL Providence. “He seems like he reminds me a lot of, and it’s unfair, but he reminds me of a lot of the personality of Dan Vladar, who was a fantastic kid for us. They’re both Czech and he seems like he loves the game. He’s full of life, so that’s encouraging and I look forward to working with him.”
Zajicek (pronounced ZAH-yee-chek) had other suitors but decided to take Boston’s offer — an entry-level deal with a $872,500 salary cap hit.
“I am glad I came here to Boston,” said Zajicek, who said he received no specific instructions upon landing at camp. “I just wanted to make sure I got here and go 100 percent, so that’s it.”
The Bruins have a vacancy in Providence, where there is nobody behind Michael DiPietro.
“Probably I got good speed,” Zajicek said when asked for a self-scouting report. “I think I can read the game, so that’s probably it.”
Zajicek allowed goals to Ville Koivunen during a delayed penalty in the first period and to Avery Hayes on a breakaway with less than 30 seconds left.
Camp invitee Mavrick Lachance scored the Bruins’ goal on a pretty no-look shot in the third.
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Dylan Edwards was one of the Bruins’ most impressive players. The 5-8, 170-pounder can really buzz and also provided some buzz in a bout with 6-foot, 183-pound defenseman Quinn Beauchesne, who came calling after Edwards buried Kindel with a blindside check.
“Well, initially [getting in a fight] wasn’t on my bucket list coming in, but right away right after that hit I knew something was coming so I just prepared and was ready to go,” said Edwards, who gave up size, but hung tough.
“I’m probably one of the smallest guys on the ice, but I know that I was working hard out there and that hit came and I know I got to hold my own.”
Edwards said he had a couple of fights under his belt from his time with Erie in the Ontario Hockey League.
“I was pretty comfortable with what I was doing, but typically that’s not my game, but I’m willing to do whatever I got to do out there,” said Edwards.
“Yeah, he’s trying to make some noise. I like that. There’s a lot of good things that kid did. He’s been great all camp and I know he played in Erie, and he played for a mentor of mine and Stan Butler, who definitely taught him the right way to play, so that was good to see,” said Mougenel.
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Bruins president Cam Neely and general manager Don Sweeney were on hand for the game. Likewise for assistant GMs Evan Gold (who also serves as Providence’s GM) and Jamie Langenbrunner … The Harborcenter Zamboni driver wore a Josh Allen Bills home-blue game jersey. Because of course he did … The Bruins will practice Saturday morning and wrap up the weekend when they take on New Jersey’s rookies (the little Devils?) Sunday.
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