In Boston, the San Jose Sharks showed satchels of confidence on Sunday afternoon, but it was quite enough to overcome a dreadful start to their game with the Bruins.
Boston scored three first period goals and an early strike in the middle frame to take a 4-1 lead.
“I didn’t think we looked mentally fresh,” Sharks head coach Bob Boughner said. “We’ve played a lot of hockey. We showed battle, but when you’re chasing the game, it’s tough to show structure. The Bruins are a heavy team. We got better as the game went on, but we were chasing today.”
Two goals by San Jose in the third period came up short of a full rally in a 4-3 win for Boston.
Brad Marchand, Derek Forbort and David Pastrnak scored for a 3-0 lead in the first period.
“I thought our start was excellent,” Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “You always want to get in front at home, especially that way, playing the right way.”
Jasper Weatherby finally got the Sharks on the board in the 17th minute of the first.
Linus Ullmark made 23 saves for the Boston win.
“As you get going and you become more familiar with your [defense] partner, everything gets easier,” Forbort said. “You’re thinking less and you can just kind of make plays and roll with it. It just takes time.”
Jake DeBrusk scored early in the middle frame to seemingly put the Bruins on cruise control.
A goalie change by the Sharks settled them down the rest of the way.
It was the first loss of the season for the Sharks.
“I wouldn’t say we unraveled,” Said Cassidy. “They had two deflections that happened to find their way in. … Those things happen periodically. There’s no way you’re losing games like that if that’s the best they got in the third period.”
Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier scored in the third period in a span of 1″55, but it wasn’t enough for the Sharks.
“It was a tough game, probably the toughest so far this season,” Hertl said. “Next time we just have to get on them. We gave up too many freebies. … We can play against anybody if we play the right way.”
Adin Hill got the start for San Jose but was pulled after the Bruins scored their fourth goal in the second period.
“Battling back at the end was important,” Boughner said. I think we just got those goals too late. … You wish you had 5 more minutes on the clock.
James Reimer stopped the Boston offense cold with 20 saves, and gave San Jose a chance to rally.
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