The Sharks faced long odds playing in Boston
on Sunday night. Those odds resulted in a gut-punch loss to the superior
Bruins. San Jose had few opportunities to score, and the Bruins converted with
skill plays that the Sharks had no answer for in a 4-0 loss at TD Garden. David
Pastrnak, Hampus Lindhold and Charlie McAvoy each had a goal and an assist to
lead Boston.
This was essentially over before the game reached the
midpoint. Boston established a big lead, and the Sharks never really pressured
Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark.
Lindholm staked the Bruins to a 1-0
lead 7:16 into the game gathering a Todd Marchand feed as he skated down the
slot. The Bruins defenseman sidestepped Mikey Eyssimont then took a stride
toward the net before snapping a shot that found the top left corner for his
6th goal of the season.
Joona Koppanen was whistled for holding at
15:36, but the Sharks could not muster a single shot against the NHL's top
ranked penalty kill.
McAvoy scored a highlight reel goal 4 minutes
into the 2nd period after collecting a drop pass from Pastrnak at center ice.
The Bruins forward carried the puck across the bluline and nutmegged Timo
Meier, slipping the puck between his skates and slipping past him. McAvoy then
powered to the goal before cutting from left to right and sliding the puck past
Jame Reimer.
Nick Foligno pushed the Bruins lead to 3 goals just under
4 minutes later. Lindholm snapped a shot from the blueline, into a pack of
players. Foligno got a stick blade on the shot, lifting it past Reimer for his
7th goal of the season.
San Jose had little bite in the period,
generating a paltry 6 shots on goal. None of which challenged Bruins goaltender
Linus Ullmark.
Mario Ferraro added to the Sharks woes by taking an
elbowing penalty 1:25 into the 3rd period. David Pasternak converted on the
ensuing power play with a one-timer from the left dot after the Sharks
overloaded the right side of the rink and forgot about the Bruins leading goal
scorer. McAvoy carried thepuck out of the tight corner then zipped a pass
through the slot to Pastrnak on the off wing.
Jeremy Swayman replaced
Ullmark in net after the Bruins starting netminder lost a skate blade. Swayman
spelled Ullmark for 2:48 making one save in that span.
Game
Notes: * Timo Meier took exception to Brandon Carlo's bear hug 27
seconds into the game. The two dropped the gloves which is uncustomary for the
Sharks leading goal scorer.
* Tomas Hertl continues to struggle
offensively. The Sharks forward has scored 1 goal in his last 11 games after
his 2-goal night against the Flyers back on December 29th.
* Erik
Karlsson was held scoreless for the second consecutive game. that has only
occurred three times this season.
* The Sharks recorded 34 hits in the
game, led by Jaycob Megna who was credited with 8 hits in the game.
*
The Sharks continue on to Detroit, where they will play the Red Wings on
Tuesday