Linus Ullmark earned his second shutout of the season, making 31 saves for Boston against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, April 2nd. It was the Bruins’ second straight win after a 3-1 setback to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, March 27th, and the Predators’ third consecutive loss. The scoring began in the third period, with Charlie Coyle scoring the first goal, and it has only continued since then. Boston will play the Hurricanes in Carolina, hoping to extend their winning streak to three games.
Bruins lineup vs. Predators:
Marchand – Coyle – Debrusk
Heinen – Zacha – Pastrnak
Van Riemsdyk – Geekie – Frederic
Beecher – Boqvist – Brazeau
Lindholm – McAvoy
Lohrei – Carlo
Shattenkirk – Peeke
Ullmark
Swayman
Predators lineup vs. Bruins:
Forsberg – O’Reilly – Nyquist
Zucker – Sisson – Glass
Jankowski – Novak – Evangelista
Smith – McCarron – Sherwood
Josi – McDonagh
Stastney – Schenn
Lauzon – Carrier
Saros
Lankinen
The Bruins and Predators played a full 40-minute game without scoring in either the first or second period. However, the Bruins were on a roll in the third period, fighting for a 3-0 victory, when Charlie Coyle opened the scoring and helped the team blank the Predators.
Justin Brazeau left in the first period with an upper-body injury. Coach Jim Montgomery stated that more details on the extent of his injuries would be available in the following days.
Charlie Coyle scored late in the third period, at 6:42, for his 24th goal of the season and a 1-0 lead. He scored on a breakaway, defeating Juuse Saros with a backhand-to-forehand deke while shorthanded. The play began when Linus Ullmark sent the puck up the ice to Brad Marchand, who found Coyle entering the zone. Pavel Zacha, David Pastrnak, and Danton Heinen completed the tic-tac-toe passing play on rush at 2:42. Zacha’s 19th goal of the season brought his point streak to four games (two goals and four assists). Pastrnak scored the game-winning goal with 1:24 remaining in regulation to secure a 3-0 victory. This was Pastrnak’s 35th multi-point game of the season, the most for a Bruins player since Adam Oates (46) in 1992-93.
Linus Ullmark on the Bruins’ shutout victory and how this stretch at the end will help him make the playoffs: “It’s not just good vibes from me; you have to look at the team game we had in front of me as well. We played for 60 minutes and demonstrated that we do not get frustrated easily. We stayed with it, and we did an excellent job penalty-killing,” – “It’s all about winning games and doing everything you can to aid the team whenever you get the chance. We support each other every night and every day throughout practice, attempting to improve. The coaches will determine who does this, but for me, it’s all about the next one. I’m not sure if we’ll be able to find peace after this victory. Then on to the next one.”
Notes:
– This was Linus Ullmark’s second shutout of the season and the ninth of his NHL career.
– Both David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha had a goal and an assist.
– The Bruins now lead the Atlantic Division by four points over the Florida Panthers.
– Juuse Saros recorded 29 saves for Nashville.
– The Nashville Predators have a three-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings for the Western Conference’s first wild card into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
– The Predators lost in regulation in Nashville for the first time since February 15th, when they fell 9-2 to the Dallas Stars.
– Alexandre Carrier returned to the lineup after missing the previous three games with an upper-body injury. In 19:22 of ice time, he was minus one.
