Defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy on Sunday scored highlight-reel goals, and Linus Ullmark made 17 saves as the NHL-leading Boston Bruins beat the San Jose Sharks for the 11th straight time, 4-0.
The Bruins won their fifth straight game and improved to 22-1-3 at home this season, including a victory at Fenway Park as the “home” team in the Winter Classic.
“Our bench was really motivated by it,” Boston’s first-year coach Jim Montgomery said of the McAvoy and Lindholm goals. “When those two guys, you have two studs out there that are making plays like that, not only what it does for our bench, but it deflates the other team.”
Photo: AP
Ullmark, named a first-time All-Star, improved his record to 25-2-1. He had a relatively easy game before leaving 8 minutes, 1 seconds into the period with a skate-blade issue. Backup Jeremy Swayman made one stop in relief before Ullmark returned 2:28 later.
“I have no clue,” Ullmark said of what happened to his skate. “I had some skate issues before the game, but we took care of that... A flat tire, that’s for sure. That was weird. I was just happy they didn’t shoot.”
David Pastrnak had his team-leading 36th goal and Nick Foligno also scored for Boston, who have not lost to the Sharks since falling 3-2 at home on March 15, 2016. Brad Marchand added two assists.
James Reimer stopped 18 shots for the Sharks, who were shut out for the first time this season.
Lindholm took a pass from Marchand near the blue line and cut down the center, shifting around Michael Eyssimont before firing a wrist-shot over Reimer’s left shoulder to make it 1-0 at 7:16 of the first period.
In the second, McAvoy charged down the slot, flipped the puck past forward Timo Meier and collected it himself before shifting to his right and slipping it around Reimer at 4:08.
“I thought they were a little flat-footed. I had some speed going through there,” McAvoy said.
Foligno redirected Lindholm’s shot to make it 3-0 at 6:46 of the second. Pastrnak’s goal came on a power play.
Before the game, the Bruins surprised 10-year-old Tanner Dikan, who was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease, with a one-day contract, making him an honorary team member.
Elsewhere, the Devils defeated the Penguins 2-1, the Jets downed the Flyers 5-3, the Kings beat the Blackhawks 2-1 and the Coyotes crushed the Golden Knights 4-1.
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