Everything you need to know from the Bruins' 3-2 win against the Oilers, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
B's grind out a win over high-flying Oilers: The Bruins didn't have much luck slowing down Connor McDavid, but they still managed a 3-2 victory over the Oilers on Monday in Edmonton.
McDavid secured both Oiler goals, who now has 50 total on the season, yet the B's used markers from Tomas Nosek, Nick Foligno and Pavel Zacha to claim their seventh win in a row.
Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman stopped 22 of 24 Oilers shots for his 15th win of the season in his 25th game. Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner finished with 25 saves.
David Pastrak couldn't match McDavid in goals, but No. 88 recorded the primary assist on the deciding goal for his 80th point this season.
McDavid kicked off the early scoring frenzy with his 49th goal of the year to put the hosts out in front, 1-0, just 2:17 into the game. The Bruins allowed McDavid to get behind their defensemen and the 2015 first-overall selection pocketed the game-opening goal.
Nosek knotted up the score at 1-1 just 13 seconds later after collecting a pass from Garnet Hathaway alone in front of the Oilers' net. Hathaway and Dmitry Orlov picked up assists for their first points in Black and Gold sweaters.
The pace of play leveled out a bit following Nosek's goal with about eight minutes of uninterrupted action. It wasn't until the five-minute mark that the B's took over on the scoreboard.
Foligno and Charlie Coyle linked up on a 2-on-1 and the former Blue Jackets captain flicked it in to put the Bruins on top, 2-1, at 15:06.
The second period saw the B's and Oilers trade power play chances as a trio of hooking calls were called in succession, and McDavid struck again during a 4-on-4 opportunity to tie at 2-2.
McDavid sprang into the B's defensive zone after a line change and deked around Swayman for his 50th goal at 12:20.
It appeared the score would hold into the second intermission, but Zacha chipped a loose puck into the top corner as the Bruins went back on top, 3-2, about 30 seconds before the middle buzzer sounded.
The Oilers pressed in the final period, but a four-minute penalty by the Oilers with 4:30 remaining gave the Bruins a favorable avenue to the final horn.
THUMBS UP
Zacha scored the game-winner on Monday and continues to be a tremendous fit on the B's second line. Up to 14 goals on the season, Zacha has found his scoring touch since signing a four-year extension on Jan. 14 with nine goals since then. The former Devil earned his 40th point in the process with his extra-effort tally.
Zacha with the dive shot! #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/Tk4GOtzn5U
— NESN (@NESN) February 28, 2023
THUMBS DOWN
Oilers forward Klim Kostin was involved in two high sticks on both David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron, resulting in nearly identical cuts next to their eye. Both occurred during the third period, with the second instance against Bergeron resulting in a double-minor penalty.
Before that, it appeared Kostin caught Krejci with an elbow, but after review, Kostin's momentum pushed Krejci's stick into his face.
AROUND THE ATLANTIC
The Senators slowed down the Red Wings playoff push with a 6-2 win Monday. Claude Giroux grabbed four points for the victors while Thomas Chabot (goal, two assists) and Brady Tkachuk (goal) played well for the Sens.
Detroit trails the Penguins by three points for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Bruins will stay in Alberta and finish its four-game road trip with a matchup against the Flames on Tuesday night. The B's beat the Flames, 3-1, back on Nov. 10 at the TD Garden.
Puck drop is set for 9 p.m.