Bruins run Sharks out of building for blowout win
Oct 29, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle (13) celebrates with left wing Danton Heinen (43) and defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) after a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period at TD Garden. (Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports)
By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
The Bruins continued their winning ways on Tuesday, and in absolutely brutal fashion, as they made Martin Jones and the Sharks look downright foolish in a 5-1 beatdown at TD Garden.
This night started off like how most nights have for the Bruins this month, with David Pastrnak ripping an absolute power-play bullet home to give the Black and Gold a 1-0 lead. These shots have become almost automatic goals for No. 88, and this was no different, as an excellent dish from Patrice Bergeron had San Jose’s league-best penalty kill spinning without a prayer.
David Krejci, who made his return to the Boston lineup after missing the last five games with an upper-body injury, mimicked Pastrnak on Boston’s second goal and scored from a one-time bomb on the power play to put the Bruins up 2-0 after the first.
It was just the start of what was a fantastic night for Krejci, as the veteran Boston pivot looked healthy for the first time all year and was a factor in the offensive zone throughout the night, with the puck sticking to his blade throughout the evening.
Krejci also came through the slap-pass that fed Charlie Coyle for Boston’s third goal of the evening, just seconds after the B’s power-play opportunity had expired.
The Bruins did not stop at three, though, as Chris Wagner capitalized on what was a beautiful breakaway for his first goal of the season, while Brandon Carlo has an unblocked wrist shot that got through traffic and beat Jones upstairs to make it 5-1.
A bird's eye view.@chriswags23 | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/AB90q6VO3Y
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 30, 2019
Stopping at five almost seemed like the Bruins showing mercy, all things considered, as they entered the offensive zone without a lick of resistance from the Sharks throughout the night, and hammered 34 shots on goal in the opening two periods of play.
With the game decided, the nastiness between these teams picked up in the third period, as Brett Ritchie and Barclay Goodrow dropped the gloves in a spirited bout, while Brad Marchand and Logan Couture appeared to be on the verge of doing the same before the referees stepped in and stopped them from hugging it out.
But the would-be main event scrap eluded us throughout the night, as Zdeno Chara and Evander Kane did not tangle despite what felt like constant conflict following Kane’s targeting of Charlie McAvoy in the third period. The two fought last year when Kane tried to go at Chara from behind, if you recall, and it didn’t seem like Kane had interest in a rematch.
This game would have been an absolute bloodbath — seriously, we’re talking about seven or eight goals from the B’s — had it not been for the play of Jones throughout the night, as the ex-Bruin-for-a-weekend made 36 saves in a losing effort for San Jose.
Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask, meanwhile, had an easy night in the Boston crease, with just 17 shots thrown his way on the way to his sixth win in seven starts this season.
In total, 11 Bruins players finished with at least one point in the win.
The Bruins will return to the ice Saturday night against the Senators.
