BSJ Game Report: Bruins 3, Sharks 1 - Anton Khudobin wins again

Everything you need to know from the Bruins' win over the Sharks Saturday night at SAP Center in San Jose. 

HEADLINES

Backstop not backup: In his second consecutive start, Anton Khudobin was solid again and helped the Bruins to victory with a 37-save performance. At this point, Bruce Cassidy should stick with Khudobin, especially since he helped the team earn four out of a possible six points on the west coast trip. The Bruins return home for a few days of practice before heading out on the road again to face the Devils on Wednesday night in New Jersey. Again, got to stick with Khudobin.

Loud and clear: After being a healthy scratch a week ago, rookie forward Jake DeBrusk has been a completely different player. Scratch that: he's been exactly the type of player the Bruins knew he could be. His relentless energy has been a major factor for the Bruins and he finished with one goal and one assist for two points against the Sharks, including a plus-2 rating. He was winning 50/50 puck battles, one-on-one situations and was impacting the game at both ends of the ice.

Earning his spot: During the offseason, when Don Sweeney & Co. created a lineup blueprint there were two options to have on Patrice Bergeron's wing -- Anders Bjork and Danton Heinen. Bjork earned the spot out of training camp, but he suffered an upper-body injury and has been sidelined the last three game. Enter Heinen. He was promoted from the bottom six and has taken full advantage of his opportunity with Bergeron and David Pastrnak. Heinen scored a goal and was a plus-1 against the Sharks. Once Bjork is healthy, it's going to be tough for him to regain that spot in the top six as long as Heinen continues to play the way he has of late.

TWO UP

Charlie McAvoy: The rookie defenseman is going to find himself in this category plenty of times during his career. He's been an absolute beast the last few games. It's evident he's feeling a lot more comfortable, especially on the offensive side of the game. He's moving the puck with laser-like precision and his physical play has been top-notch. This is the type of game he expects from himself and he's been producing. He finished with a plus-3 against the Sharks and 25:54 of ice time.

Kevan Miller: Buy a round or two for Miller because he deserves it. After struggling against the Anaheim Ducks during the first game of this road trip, he's been solid the last two games. When he's focused it equals a solid performance and that's what he's given the Bruins. Not only did he finish with an end-to-end assist and a plus-1 rating, he blocked three shots at critical moments to help secure the win. It's the type of performance the Bruins needed from him with Torey Krug out of the lineup for the second consecutive game.

ONE DOWN

Brandon Carlo: It was a tough first period for Carlo and he's been fighting the puck of late. To his credit, he finished strong and provided a big-time block late in the game with the Bruins clinging to a two-goal lead. It's actually good for the second-year defenseman's development that he's not playing with Zdeno Chara. It means Carlo has more responsibilities and he'll be better off in the long run.

TURNING POINT

Bruce Cassidy's decision to make DeBrusk a healthy scratch last week was because he wasn't using his legs. Meaning, he wasn't active. He wasn't getting to the areas that make his successful. He was losing 50/50 puck battles. DeBrusk produced the turning point against the Sharks when he split the defense that includes Brent Burns and attacked the net with reckless abandon. San Jose goalie Aaron Dell made the initial save, but Peter Cehlarik crashed the net and drove home the rebound for his first NHL goal that tied the game at 1-1.

https://twitter.com/mkmolnar/status/932098804073025536

UP NEXT

The Bruins return home for a few days of practice before heading back on the road to face the Devils on Wednesday at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.