BSJ Game Report: Bruins 4, Sharks 3 - B’s hold off late surge from San Jose

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 4-3 win over the Sharks, with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

SHORT SHIFT

Despite a late scare, the Bruins took care of business on Sunday afternoon — with four different players finding the back of the net in what was an eventual 4-3 win at TD Garden. 

Brad Marchand, Derek Forbort, David Pastrnak and Jake DeBrusk all scored for the Bruins, who improve to 3-1-0 on the season. Linus Ullmark earned his second win in as many games with the B's — stopping 23 of the 26 shots that came his way. 

Despite Boston holding onto a 4-1 lead with under eight minutes to go in regulation, the Sharks cut things awfully close — with Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier both beating Ullmark off of deflection goals to make it a one-goal game. 

Ultimately, DeBrusk’s second-period strike proved to be the game-winner — with Boston holding off the Sharks over the final couple of minutes of regulation to preserve the victory. 

TOP TAKEAWAYS

B’s avoid a tough result 

The Sharks justifiably didn’t generate a whole lot of preseason hype entering the 2021-22 campaign, with San Jose squeezed by a number of hefty contracts and not a whole lot of established young talent in the pipeline. 

But thanks to a strong start in net from Adin Hill and a few unlikely contributors, the Sharks entered Sunday’s matinee with a lot of momentum on their side — looking to go 5-0-0 to open the year for the first time since the 2013-14 season.

Well, that optimism went south in a hurry, as Boston delivered a couple of haymakers off of tallies from Marchand and Forbort to build a two-goal cushion less than four minutes into regulation. 

San Jose might be able to draw a silver lining out of this one thanks to their third-period rally, but Bruce Cassidy didn’t have much in terms of criticism for his club following the win. 

"I wouldn't say they unraveled. I think we gave up nothing," Cassidy said. "They had two deflections that happened to find their way in, so I didn't mind the way we played. We could have extended the lead — it was 4-1. Power play was good. No odd-man rushes. San Jose is good at that, they've always been good at tips — so to me, there were just two tips that guys were not really in bad spots. I mean, we can always do stuff better — manage the puck. But it wasn't, to me, a barrage or anything like that. Those are things that happen periodically, but no way you're losing games if that's the best they got in the third period."

Despite those two deflected pucks, the Bruins held a 14-4 edge in scoring chances over the Sharks over the final two periods of play. 

Providence products get a look

With Nick Foligno, Craig Smith, Anton Blidh and Curtis Lazar all ruled out due to injury on Sunday, the B’s dipped down to their pool of talent in Providence — with both Jack Studnicka and Oskar Steen drawing into the lineup. 

Steen, slotting in on the third line next to DeBrusk and Erik Haula, injected some much-needed energy into a group that needed a shot in the arm — with the 23-year-old forward also recording his first career NHL point off of his primary helper on DeBrusk’s goal.

Studnicka, meanwhile, was put in a bit of a tough spot. While the case could have been made that Studnicka should have earned some looks with Taylor Hall and Charlie Coyle in a spot-six spot, he was slotted down on the fourth line and spent most of the afternoon chasing the puck in the D-zone. 

In Studnicka’s 9:54 of 5v5 ice time, just 20 percent of his faceoffs started in the offensive zone. It’s better to be up in the NHL ranks than toiling away down in Providence, sure. But giving Studnicka a slew of D-zone shifts isn’t exactly playing to his strengths. 

FOUR UP

Bergeron Line: Ho hum. Another dominant, two-way masterclass from the top line in hockey — with the trio each registering two points apiece in the win. This marks the 30th time in which Bergeron, Marchand and Pastrnak all recorded 2+ points in the same game. 

Oskar Steen: A strong season debut for Steen — who recorded his first career NHL point with that crafty feed in front of DeBrusk in the second period. Along with getting on the stat sheet, Steen was a spark plug on the forecheck, constantly moving his feet and hovering around Grade-A ice. 

Jake DeBrusk: Getting on the board will do wonders for your confidence, but DeBrusk was also much more engaged on a reworked third line — nearly earning himself a couple more Grade-A bids by driving hard to the net. 

Derek Forbort: After a couple of so-so outings on Boston’s third pairing, Forbort was rock solid down both ends of the ice — helping keep the Sharks off the board during PK situations and over those frantic final minutes of regulation. He may not be regarded as offensive conduit on the blue line, but the veteran also added a goal and assist in the victory. 

ONE DOWN

Fourth Line: Bit of a muted showing from the Frederic-Studnicka-Kuhlman line, who, granted, did spend most of the contest treading water in Boston's own end. Frederic eventually dropped the gloves with Jacob Middleton, but was also out on the ice for two 5v5 goals against. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

Well, that’s one way to start the game. Just a vintage shift from Boston’s top line, with Marchand snapping the puck past Hill despite being surrounded by four Sharks skaters.

LOOSE PUCKS 

Great to see Jake Thibeault — the Milton Academy senior and Fitchburg native — make an appearance over at TD Garden this afternoon. Thibeault suffered a major spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed below the waist while playing for the U18 Boston Bulldogs last month. 

Proceeds from the 50/50 raffle at TD Garden on Sunday will support Thibeault and his recovery. 

QUOTE OF NOTE

“I don’t think I’ve played my best hockey. … I think I can be better.” - Brad Marchand

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will head back on the road later this week — opening a back-to-back slate with the Panthers and Hurricanes on Wednesday night in Florida. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.