In Boston, Jeremy Swayman made 26 saves to lead the Bruins to a 3-0 win over the visiting San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
The win snapped a three-game skid for Boston.
“That second period was the biggest indicator of [returning to our identity],” Swayman said. “Hitting guys, keeping pucks deep in possession. Obviously, defense, blocking shots, boxing guys out, making my job easy, and that’s what we do best is stick to our identity. And that’s big for us.”
The Sharks dropped to 5-16-2.
“Just too many turnovers, really,” Sharks coach David Quinn said. “I thought we had a good first period. I thought we played with pretty good tempo. I thought our puck play was good. You know, played smart hockey, played with the right intentions and I thought it really got loose in the second period. I thought our turnovers really hurt us and really ignited their game.”
After a scoreless first period, Danton Heinen hit for a goal at 1:39 of the middle frame for 1-0 lead to the Bruins,.
“Danton Heinen is a really good hockey player, and he’s playing real good hockey for us,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “He’s making plays all over the ice. He’s making those around him better.”
The Bruins pushed the advantage to 2-0 at 8:10 of the second on a strike by Jake DeBrusk.
“We just kind of got away from our game plan a little bit,” the Sharks’ Nico Sturm said. “I thought we played an exceptional first period for it being a road period. … And then, it’s the inconsistencies. Obviously, it’s just kind of been the story of the season. Obviously, in the NHL you need a full 60 minutes to win a hockey game. I thought the third [period] was better again, but yeah, second period cost us the game for sure.”
Boston improved to 15-4-3.
“I thought we got better as the game went on,” Boston’s Brad Marchand said. “We started to play more the way that we need to to win games, so it’s a good step for us. Good to get back in the win column and follow it up again on Saturday [against the Toronto Maple Leafs.]”
Pavel Zacha hit for a power play goal at 6:37 of the third period for the 3-0 final.
Mackenzie Blackwood made 34 saves in the loss.
“Nobody wants to take the shot, everybody try passing,” the Sharks’ Tomas Hertl said. “We have zero shots on a 5-on-3, it’s a tough situation. We have to be quick, put something on the net because we have two extra guys, so we should get the rebound and stuff, but we couldn’t even get a shot.”
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