BSJ Game Report: Bruins 3, Stars 1 - Ullmark, defense clamp down against Stars

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 3-1 win the Stars, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Ullmark, defense stand tall: It wasn’t pretty, but two points were still two points at the end of the night for the Boston Bruins.

After relying on their offense to keep them afloat in the early going — and later needing extra periods of action to secure victories over the Ducks and Wild — the Bruins went down another avenue to best the Stars on Tuesday, with the B’s defensive unit and another stellar showing from Linus Ullmark helping protect a one-goal lead for most of the third period. 

"I think we're finding different ways to win every night,” Jim Montgomery said of Boston’s 3-1 win over Dallas. “I didn't think tonight was a very good offensive game for us. I thought there were plays to be made that even our elite offensive players weren't seeing. But I thought that our checking is really improving and we won with defense and of course Linus was really good in net again tonight."

After Taylor Hall gave Boston the lead for good with a one-timer strike at 18:57 in the second period, the B’s gutted things out the rest of the way, with Ullmark (30 saves on 31 shots) excelling as the last line of defense right away.

You could make the case that the Bruins have still not posted that sought-after 60-minute effort quite yet this season. But beyond that barnburner against the Senators, the Bruins have had at least one facet of their roster (offense, defense, goaltending) do more than enough to put the team in a position to win. 

"We haven't won a game doing that,” Montgomery said of protecting the third-period lead. “We've kind of surrendered leads and then we end up winning in overtime or we pull away late, but it's nice to close out a game where Dallas — I give them credit, they played really hard at the end of a three in four and they pushed us and they tested us and I like the way that we shut things down in the last four minutes.”

Carlo returns as B’s defense continues to steady itself: The Bruins are still eagerly awaiting Charlie McAvoy’s return — but even without their franchise D-man, the B’s D corps is starting to settle into more of a groove, especially with more reinforcements on the way.

Matt Grzelcyk’s return from offseason shoulder surgery has already paid dividends when it comes to transition play and O-zone production (three points in three games for the Charlestown native), but Boston’s D-zone structure and PK unit received a much-needed lift when Brandon Carlo got the green light to play. 

Carlo, back on the ice for the first time since Oct. 15 after suffering a concussion, logged 18:29 of ice time (2:59 PK TOI) and, along with Derek Forbort, helped clear pucks out of danger down low, especially during those frantic final minutes of action. 

"I thought he was a beast tonight,” Montgomery said of Carlo. “It's great to have him back. We've been able to have some success without Carlo and Grzelcyk and McAvoy still is gonna be out for a while, but it's nice that we have players coming back, because it just makes us better.”

THREE UP

Krejci Line: Once again, Boston’s second line did a lot of the heavy lifting in the offensive zone on Tuesday, with David Pastrnak rifling home a power-play tally in the first period before Hall added his fourth goal of the year in the closing minutes of the second period. So far this season, the Hall-Krejci-Pastrnak trio has combined for 11 goals and 26 total points through seven games. 

Penalty kill: An already stout PK unit received another lift with Carlo back out on the ice, with Boston going a perfect 3-3 against Dallas’ man advantage and limiting them to just three shots on goal.

Linus Ullmark: Yes, Boston’s D corps made some significant strides in this one, but Ullmark was once again the B’s most valuable player out on the ice — stopping 30 of the 31 shots that came his way. Ullmark is now 5-0-0 on the season with a .936 save percentage. 

TWO DOWN

Trent Frederic: You have to wonder if Trent Frederic is the next bottom-six forward on Boston’s depth chart that’s due to sit for a game. The winger struggled to gain traction against Dallas in this one — eventually getting knocked for a delay of game penalty in the third shortly after turning the puck over. 

A.J. Greer: Granted, Frederic might have some company when it comes to those bottom-six forwards looking to gain some traction, as Greer struggled to really make much of an impact back on the fourth line. Greer ultimately logged just 8:47 of ice time in the win with one giveaway. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will close out this homestand on Thursday with a matchup against the Red Wings. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. at TD Garden.