Bruins down Sharks for 13th consecutive time

Field Level Media|published: Thu 30th November, 22:02 2023

Nov 30, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Jakub Lauko (94) checks San Jose Sharks defenseman Matt Benning (5) along the boards during the first period at TD Garden. credits: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Jeremy Swayman produced a 26-save shutout and the Boston Bruins scored twice in the second period en route to a 3-0 win over the visiting San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

Pavel Zacha registered a goal and an assist while Danton Heinen and Jake DeBrusk each scored for the Bruins, who curbed a three-game losing streak that dropped them from the No. 1 overall spot in the NHL standings.

Adding to the Boston offense, David Pastrnak dished out two assists.

Swayman made 11 stops in the third period to finish off his 11th career shutout and his second this season. It was his 100th career NHL game.

The victory was Boston's 13th straight against San Jose, which is tied for the longest active win streak by one team against another franchise. The Minnesota Wild have won 13 in a row against the Anaheim Ducks.

The Sharks, who have now been shut out four times this season, had won back-to-back games and taken points from three straight.

Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 33 shots in the San Jose net.

Boston had a 36-26 shot advantage and went 1-for-4 on the power play. San Jose was scoreless across five man-up opportunities.

After holding a slight first-period advantage, Boston turned up the pressure and took the lead during a much more eventful middle frame during which it posted a dominating 18-6 shot count.

Bruins captain Brad Marchand's new linemates struck for the opening goal 1:39 into the second period. Matthew Poitras dished a short backhand pass to Heinen, who let a wrister go from the bottom of the right circle.

DeBrusk doubled the Boston lead at 8:10 of the middle period, cutting down the slot with Zacha's feed and sliding a backhand shot five-hole on Blackwood.

Two fights late in the second period helped to re-energize the TD Garden crowd, and a full two-minute, five-on-three edge that San Jose was unable to capitalize on did the same early in the third.

Zacha buried Pastrnak's saucer feed for a power-play goal at 6:37 of the third, extending Boston's edge to 3-0.

—Field Level Media

Latest