Final: Bruins 2, Sharks 1

Despite being medically cleared to play, the Bruins, the medical staff and Tuukka Rask all agreed it would be best to give the recently concussed goaltender at least one more full practice before he starts again. So, Anton Khudobin started his third consecutive game and he led the Bruins to a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks Thursday night at TD Garden.

The Bruins recalled forward Danton Heinen from Providence. Prior to tonight, he had played three games for the Bruins this season, and played well, but was sent back to the P-Bruins to continue his development. He scored a pair of goals, including his first-ever NHL tally to give Boston a 1-0 lead in the first period on a shorthanded goal.

Here's a video of Heinen prior to the game talking about his recent call up from Providence. 

 



Untitled from Boston Sports Journal on Vimeo.

Also, David Krejci remains sidelined with back issues and is listed as week-to-week. He's scheduled to be re-evaluated on Sunday before the team travels to Columbus to face the Blue Jackets on Monday.

Observations from third period

Khudobin proved he does have the ability to settle down at the most opportune time. That wasn't the case during Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres after Boston held a 4-1 lead. Unlike that game, Khudobin wasn't erratic in the third period against the Sharks and finished with a victory. He was tracking the puck better and was fundamentally sound in the third period. It also helped that the defense was solid in front of him. He also came up big when San Jose had a power play late in the period. Another indication he was calmly focused was he was staying in his crease when the Sharks would rim the puck late in the game.

David Backes admitted on Wednesday that he's off medication for his bout of diverticulitis, but it's an issue the medical staff will monitor moving forward. He's playing like he's more comfortable on the ice. With Krejci sidelined, Bruce Cassidy decided to put Backes in the middle between Jake DeBrusk and David Pastrnak and the veteran kept pace with the youngsters. Backes was especially solid on the penalty kill all night.

With the Bruins holding a 2-1 lead with 7:15 remaining in regulation, the game suddenly became a bit chippy and it was good to see captain Zdeno Chara step in and make his presence felt after a whistle, getting in the face of Sharks' Brenden Dillon.

Despite allowing a power-play goal, the Bruins' penalty-killing unit was crucial en route to victory.

Observations from the second period

Joe Thornton ties the game at 1-1 with a power-play goal and he's now tied for 20th all-time in the NHL with 1,398 points, joining Jari Kurri.

Heinen has been all over the net tonight. As a result, he has two goals and has injected life into the Bruins. His second goal was a perfect example of how crashing the net can result in good things.

Observations from the first period

Frank Vatrano is playing with urgency tonight. He's buzzing out there and it's good to see. He produced his best play of the season to this point early in the period on the forecheck. Sharks goalie Martin Jones went behind the net to play the puck when Vatrano, in an all-out sprint, beat Jones to the puck and forced a turnover that turned into a quality scoring chance for the Bruins. Vatrano's strength is getting the puck on net, which he hasn't done successfully this season, but he was better in the opening period. Overall, it was his best period of the season.

Sean Kuraly turned a great defensive play into a poor defensive decision that led to the Sharks' first power play of the game. He forced a turnover in the defensive end, controlled the puck before flipping it into the seats for a delay-of-game penalty. Fortunately, the Bruins' penalty-killing unit provided a shorthanded goal when Heinen scored his first NHL goal to give Boston a 1-0 lead. He attacked the net with reckless abandon after David Backes dumped the puck in from the neutral zone.

https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/923698459537940480

Charlie McAvoy has been solid to start his first full season in the league. It's evident he's comfortable jumping up into the play and he's been showing his physical game, which he did in the waning minutes for the opening period. He absolutely yardsaled the Sharks' Joakim Ryan with a massive body check in front of the penalty box.

https://twitter.com/myregularface/status/923695964208078848

Anders Bjork took a Torey Krug shot off the right hand early in the period and it was clear that the rookie forward was in some discomfort. Bjork didn't miss a shift.

David Pastrnak's 200-foot game is improving. He had a partial breakaway attempt stifled on a good defensive play by Dillon. In transition, San Jose created a chance at the other end of the ice, but Pastrnak got back and broke up a potential scoring chance.

Paul Postma has been solid.

Khudobin made two huge saves on one shift with the Bruins holding a 1-0 lead. He stoned the Sharks' Kevin Labanc on two quality chances. The fans gave Khudobin a huge ovation.

I'm becoming a fan of Kenny Agostino on the power play. He also stifled a possible shorthanded goal by San Jose when he got back and broke up the chance late in the period.

Here are projected line combinations and pairings vs. Sharks

Forwards

Marchand-Bergeron-Bjork

DeBrusk-Backes-Pastrnak

Schaller-Kuraly-Heinen

Agostino-Nash-Vatrano

Defense

Chara-McAvoy

Krug-Miller

Postma-Carlo

Goalies

Khudobin

Rask