Everything you need to know from the Bruins' 4-2 win against the Sharks, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
B's take seventh straight game on the road with win in San Jose: The Bruins always seem to find a way this season.
Against the Sharks in San Jose on Saturday, the B's used a familiar script as a couple of goals from David Pastrnak sealed their 4-2 victory. The Sharks were circling in the second period following a pair of power play opportunities, but Pastrnak turned the tide toward the Bruins with a power-play goal of his own at 16:45.
Pastrnak's second of the night and 29th of the season put the game away for the visitors in the third after a pretty passing play from linemates Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron.
It's almost like these three have played together before. pic.twitter.com/5MP3zw9PGm
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 8, 2023
Marchand rounded out the match with the most points among Bruins (31-4-4) skaters (goal, two assists), while Craig Smith netted his first goal since Oct. 27 during the first period.
All-Star goalie Linus Ullmark turned in another sparkling performance with 22 saves. The Swedish netminder also won his 10th road game of the season in his 12th road appearance.
B's head coach Jim Montgomery gave the team a new look with an 11-forward, seven-defensemen lineup as A.J. Greer didn't play due to illness. Jakub Zboril made his first appearance in the lineup since Nov. 23.
The Bruins scored early in the game on a beautiful deke from Marchand to make it 1-0 Bruins. Marchand's memorable move pushed his point streak to five games.
Smith doubled the B's lead later in the first, before Sharks' Logan Couture gave the hosts life with his 15th of the season shortly after Smith's tally.
Former UMass defenseman Mario Ferraro knotted the score, 2-2, in the second after multiple lengthy shifts in the defensive zone finally took their toll on the Bruins. San Jose scored just after their second straight power play of the period expired.
The Sharks' momentum didn't last long as Pastrnak made his mark on the game with his first goal less than two minutes after San Jose's equalizer.
Pastrnak's insurance strike in the third capped off a terrific night for Boston's first line as the trio combined for seven points.
THUMBS UP
The only member of the first line not to score, Bergeron still produced a pair of helpers as the backbone of that unit on Saturday. Bergeron's great vision set up Pastrnak in the final frame for the fourth goal of the matchup.
Bergeron also passed Phil Esposito on the Bruins' all-time career points list for third-most with 1,014 points. Ray Bourque (1,506) and Johnny Bucyk (1,339) are the only names with more points than the current B's captain.
THUMBS DOWN
Despite having more rest with the extra defender in the lineup, Connor Clifton didn't make the most of it with a forgettable showing. Clifton essentially caused San Jose's tying goal in the second with a giveaway in the defensive zone.
The right-shot defenseman was involved physically with six hits, but the B's need Clifton to be reliable on that third defensive pair. Saturday night, Clifton was shaky at best.
Only Zboril (6:47) had less ice time than Clifton, who finished with 15:47 time on ice.
AROUND THE ATLANTIC
It was a wild one in Buffalo as the Sabres pulled out a 6-5 win against the Wild in overtime. Victor Olofsson secured the game-winner in extra time while Rasmus Dahlin led all skaters with five points.
The Sabres are just four points away from the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference following the victory.
The Wild got a pair of points each from Calen Addison, Joel Eriksson Ek and Ryan Hartman in the interconference thriller.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Every now and then Marchand can make an opposing defenseman look silly. He did just that and then some prior to his dazzling opening goal.
Brad Marchand is absurd pic.twitter.com/8xIb3RzQje
— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) January 8, 2023
LOOKING AHEAD
The B's will have a quick turnaround in Anaheim on Sunday with puck drop set for 8:30 p.m. The Ducks are at the bottom of the Western Conference standings with only 28 points through 40 games.
Troy Terry leads Anaheim in all offensive categories while goalie John Gibson is struggling with a 3.81 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage in 26 appearances.