Recap: Marchand stays hot as Bruins hand Sharks first loss

For the second consecutive game, the Boston Bruins handed a team its first loss of the season.

Boston defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-3 on Sunday afternoon to improve to 3-1-0 on the year. All three members of the first lines recorded two points and Linus Ullmark made 23 saves in the win.

The Bruins jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. The Sharks did make it close late in the game thanks to two lucky deflections, but it wasn’t enough to tie the game.

1st period

How to get off to a good start. Step 1- score a goal 28 seconds into the game.

The first line completed a perfect passing play, with Patrice Bergeron collecting a pass from David Pastrnak behind the net and finding Brad Marchand open in the slot, who ripped it by Adin Hill.

Step 2 to a good start – score another goal less than three minutes later.

Derek Forbort got his first as a Bruin on an innocent shot from the point that Hill misread. Not sure if he was screened in front or not, but he was late to react to the blocker side and before you knew it, it was 2-0 Bruins.

Late in the period, the Bruins took advantage on the power play. Mario Ferraro whiffed on a clearing attempt and Bergeron wasted no time sending it over to Pastrnak at the dot for the one-timer.

The Sharks were able to get on the board before the end of the period. Rookie Jasper Weatherby scored his second career NHL goal on a shot short side on Ullmark. I’m not sure if Ullmark just was surprised by the shot or what, but it was a weak goal to allow.

2nd period

Jake DeBrusk extended Boston’s lead back to three goals just over five minutes into the second frame, elevating a shot over the glove of Hill. It came off a pass from Oskar Steen, who was called up for the game. The assist made it Steen’s first NHL point.

3rd period

It seemed like the Bruins were going to cruise to an easy win, but a couple of lucky bounces all of a sudden made it a game.

Under seven minutes to go, Marc-Edouard Vlasic put a shot on net and Tomas Hertl had an insane tip to put it past Ullmark to cut the lead to two.

Absolutely nothing Ullmark can do there. The puck is going wide and Hertl redirects it perfectly into the net.

The Sharks made the Bruins sweat a little bit more when two minutes later, Logan Couture sent a shot on net that again changed direction. This time, it was courtesy of Timo Meier.

Again, not on Ullmark. The shot is going high and deflects down in between his legs at the last second.

Despite the small comeback, it wasn’t enough and the Bruins handed the Sharks their first defeat of the loss.

Notes

• Another game where Marchand just dominated. He’s up to four goals and three assists through four games this season. And he said he hasn’t even played his best hockey yet. League better watch out
• It was extremely good to see Pastrnak score his patented one-timer PP goal from the slot again
• Bruce Cassidy said it perfectly after the game. Even though they let up two in the third to make it a one-goal game, it wasn’t necessarily like the Sharks had the Bruins on their heels. Two lucky bounces and boom, it’s a hockey game. Why the game goes
• Another solid outing from Ullmark. Weak goal on the Weatherby shot, but could not blame him at all for the next two. He’s starting to settle in and I think he’s starting to slowly grow on B’s fans (the reasonable ones I should say)
• Good for Oskar Steen. First NHL point for him. He’s not exactly regarded as a top prospect, but could fill a role in the future in the bottom-six
• Cliffy Hockey baby. After getting healthy scratched on Friday, Clifton came out with a chip on his shoulder. Three hits including a big one on Andrew Cogliano that led to a scrum with Nick Bonino
• Trent Frederic with Bruins’ first fighting major of the season. Only really go two punches in but good to see him drop the gloves. It’s a part of his game and what will make him effective in the lineup
• Speaking of that fight, what a stache on Jacob Middleton.
• Tomas Hertl looked pretty good. Just a comment on a solid player. Nothing to do with the fact that he’s a UFA this summer, has talked about wanting out of San Jose and could be the perfect second-line center. Nope, just a coincidence

Up next for Boston is back-to-back games down south as the B’s take on the Florida Panthers Wednesday in Sunrise before heading up to Raleigh to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. It’s a tough two-game stretch followed by another matchup with the Panthers on Saturday in Boston.

These next three games will be extremely telling where the Bruins are at. A couple of days off will certainly help this team who is hurting a bit in the early goings. But they’ve taken care of business so far and put themselves in a good spot to start the season.