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B's end slide with perfect 'get right' game |
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Ty Anderson
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Sometimes, the NHL schedule lines just the way you need it to and at the exact moment.
That was indeed the case for the then-slumping Bruins on Thursday night, as the Bruins welcomed the league-worst Sharks to Boston, and ended their three-game slide (their longest losing streak since the 2021-22 season) with a 3-0 shutout victory over San Jose.
Following a scoreless opening frame, a Matt Poitras interception on an attempted defensive-zone clear by the Sharks extended Boston’s possession, and it was Poitras who fed Danton Heinen for a slick rip, good for the versatile winger’s third goal of the season.
With the goal, Heinen is up to three goals and seven points through 14 games with the B’s, and has now recorded a point in five of his last six outings for the club.
“Danton Heinen’s a real good hockey player,” Jim Montgomery said after the win. “He’s playing real good hockey for us, he’s making plays all over the ice, [and] he’s making those around him better.”
The Bruins then doubled that lead behind a Jake DeBrusk finish that began with some dazzling neutral zone movement from Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak to help spring DeBrusk.
The Heinen and DeBrusk tallies headlined what was a dominant second period for the Bruins, as the Black and Gold outshot the Sharks by a staggering 18-6 mark, and really seemed to completely take over the game once they had a goal to their name (and early in the period).
“I thought we got better as the game went on,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand, who recorded four shots on goal in the win, offered following the B’s victory. “We started to play more the way that we need to to win games, so it’s a good step for us.”
The Bruins would add an insurance marker behind a third-period, power-play goal from Zacha, and that was more than enough of offensive support for Jeremy Swayman on a night that saw him stop all 26 shots thrown his way for his second shutout of the 2023-24 season.
Swayman’s performance was relatively mild — and by that I mean it was probably as ‘clean’ a 26-save shutout you’ll see this season, and it didn’t necessarily require Swayman to stand on his head — but it was also the perfect bounce back after the Bruins gave him a relatively quick hook in Columbus amidst a 17-for-19 performance that seemed to indicate that Swayman simply didn’t have ‘it’ that night.
And with the victory, the Bruins extended their win streak over the Sharks to a whopping 13 times, which has officially tied the Bruins with Minnesota’s 13-game win streak over the Ducks for the longest active win streak over one franchise.
Up next, Bruins will take their act to Toronto for a Saturday night showdown with the Maple Leafs.
B’s get what they need from this one
I’m not sure we need to make anything more out of this one other than it was the perfect ‘get right’ game for a team that needed a ‘get right’ game in the worst way imaginable. I mean, just think about it: The Sharks came into this game dead last in wins, points, goals per game, goals against per game, and without a single road win on the 2023-24 campaign to date. If the Bruins lost this game, then it’d be fair to start wondering if something was indeed deeply flawed or broken with this team.
One thing I did love from this game, though, was the Bruins’ willingness to defend themselves, especially after what we discussed and couldn’t ignore following Monday night in Columbus.
When Givani Smith tagged Brad Marchand with a board that the Bruins didn’t like, Trent Frederic made sure that he had to answer to him, and dropped the gloves in what was a spirited bout. You also saw the Bruins have a team-wide commitment to revenge during that original Smith-Marchand incident, as all five Bruins on the ice were grabbing on to any and every Shark in sight in search of some justice.
And this is where I am (and where I’ve been) in regards to team toughness. It’s not about the personnel (though that’ll always help) as much as it’s about your team’s willingness to do it. Sometimes that’s as good as having a heavyweight because that puts everyone on notice.
Trying to make what’s what about B’s interest in Patrick Kane
Well, it didn’t take all that long for Patrick Kane to make his decision, and spoiler alert, it wasn’t the Bruins. No real surprise there, to be honest. Like I said, for Kane to land with the Bruins, it was going to require Kane wanting to be a Bruin. And as much as Kane’s camp played things close to the vest throughout this process, that kind of rumor never came close to surfacing.
But what should we make of the Bruins’ interest in Kane’s services?
It could honestly be as simple as the Bruins thinking that a talent like Kane, even at 35 years old and coming off hip resurfacing surgery, is worth exploring no matter your own situation. Or it could be our first glimpse into what the Bruins believe they need between now and the 2024 trade deadline.
Now, if it’s scoring they seek, it is worth noting that the free agent market still has some potentially interesting options as far as veteran forwards. Phil Kessel (14 goals, 36 points in 82 games with Vegas last year) is still looking for work. Same for Zach Parise (21 goals with the Isles last year).
Some other notable names on the free agent market: Eric Staal, Jesse Puljujarvi, Josh Bailey, Nick Ritchie, and now Corey Perry. As you’d imagine, not all potential free agent adds are created equal.
But I do wonder just how interested the Bruins would be in exploring the free agent market versus dipping into the trade market, especially considering Boston’s lack of draft capital, as well as their cap situation that would likely make any sizable trade a money-in, money-out kind of move.
Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. He has been covering the Bruins since 2010, and has been a member of the Boston chapter of the PHWA since 2013. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, HockeyBuzz.com or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter/X: @_TyAnderson.
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