David Pastrnak scored twice, and Brad Marchand collected a goal and two assists to lead the league-leading Boston Bruins to a 4-2 road victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
Craig Smith also scored, while Charlie McAvoy and Patrice Bergeron each collected two assists for the Bruins, who are unbeaten in regulation in 13 games (10-0-3). Goaltender Linus Ullmark made 26 saves, 13 of them in the third period.
Logan Couture and Mario Ferraro replied for the Sharks, who have only two wins in 10 games (2-5-3). Goalie James Reimer stopped 25 shots. Defenseman Erik Karlsson was held off the board and saw his team-record point streak snapped at 14 games.
With the score tied 2-2 late in the second period because the Bruins wasted a two-goal lead, Pastrnak stepped up. He restored Boston’s edge with 3:15 remaining in the middle frame by unloading a shot from the slot for the power-play marker.
Pastrnak notched his second of the game — 29th of the season — at 9:00 of the third period. He first won a battle along the end boards to give his team possession of the puck and then headed to the net for a return pass from Bergeron to bury.
Marchand’s performance gives him nine points (3 goals, 6 assists) in a five-game streak.
Marchand opened the scoring on his team’s first shot 63 seconds into the clash. Marchand gained the puck in his own zone and held off three defenders from the blue line to the net before lifting a backhand shot for his 12th goal of the season.
Smith doubled the lead with his first goal in 19 games and second of the season. During a rush into the zone Smith received the puck in the high slot and fired a top-corner wrist shot at the 5:32 mark.
To their credit, the hosts pulled even. Couture gave the Sharks a much-needed goal 85 seconds later when he redirected Alexander Barabanov’s pass for his 15th goal of the campaign.
Ferraro tied the clash with his second of the season when his point shot banked in off a defender with 5:05 remaining in the second period.
–Field Level Media
