B's Extend Points Streak With Win Over Sharks

BOSTON - Brad Marchand notched a goal and two assists and David Krejci added a goal and a helper to pace the Bruins to a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night at TD Garden.
Jake DeBrusk also chipped in his 20th goal of the season and Jaroslav Halak made 19 saves for his fourth straight win as Boston broke through with three second-period goals to extend its points streak to 14 games.
"At this time of the year, just focusing game by game," said Krejci. "Obviously we know where we are at in the standings, and that's where we want to be, but we know that it's going to be a battle. Hockey in March is one of the hardest months of the season so we'll take it game by game."
More notes and observations from the Bruins' win over the Sharks:

PULLING AWAY: After San Jose opened the scoring at 12:47 of the first peroid, Boston went on to score four unanswered goals, including Krejci's tying power-play tally to get the Bruins on the board just 1:52 after the Sharks.
Charlie McAvoy followed up with his fifth of the season off a slick feed from Marchand, and just 37 seconds later DeBrusk picked up his 20th of the season to give the Bruins a 3-1 lead. Marchand's nifty shorthanded goal put Boston ahead 4-1 with 7:32 remaining in the second.
"We added a couple bodies up front, accomplished players in the league," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, whose team was playing its first game at TD Garden after a five-game road trip. "I think our guys were excited to have everyone on the ice. And you just don't know coming out of the road trip…I thought, give credit to the guys in the room. They were ready to play, on-time start."

WASTING NO TIME: The Bruins' new-look line of DeBrusk, Krejci, and Marcus Johansson - acquired from the New Jersey Devils at Monday's trade deadline - appeared to gel quickly as the trio displayed some pretty puck movement on DeBrusk's goal in the second.
"I think this is such a good team," said Johansson, who picked up a helper on the tally for his first point as a Bruin. "You can just go out and play. You don't have to think too much, and playing with Jake and Krech, too, is a lot of fun. I think those guys are unbelievable hockey players, and they made it really easy for me, so I enjoyed it."

TURNING 20: DeBrusk's goal was his 20th of the season, extending his career-high. He now has six goals and five assists over his last seven games.
"It's a good feeling obviously," said DeBrusk, who had 16 goals last season during his rookie campaign. "It comes in a win, so that's nice. You set goals before the year and I think you guys asked me before Day 1 if I thought I was going to score 20…well, I got 20."
There was one downside to the night, however, as DeBrusk was down a tooth after the game, the result of a high stick in the first period. The double-minor on Timo Meier led to Krejci's power-play marker just nine seconds into the man advantage.
"Just missing one," said DeBrusk. "Thankfully it was fake already…apparently the girls like it, but I don't know."

HEY, SHORTY: Marchand's shorthanded goal in the second period was the 25th of his career, tying him with Rick Middleton for the most in Bruins history.
"Anytime you get a personal record like that, they're fun, but secondary," said Marchand. "It's more on the group winning games and feeling good in here. But, those are always fun to be part of and to see happen."

HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT: Early in the third period, 6-foot-9 Zdeno Chara and 6-foot-2 Evander Kane dropped the gloves after an altercation in back of the Bruins net. Chara delivered two big hits on Kane, who jumped Chara from behind and dragged him to the ice.
Chara quickly made it to his feet and pounded on Kane, leaving the forward bleeding from the bridge of his nose. Big Zee was given five minutes for fighting and two minutes for elbowing, while Kane received a total of 27 penalty minutes, including an instigator and a game misconduct.
"I was just playing hard and finishing my check," said Chara. "It's something that happens during games. It's a physical game, maybe some frustration on his part, I'm not sure. I can't really speak for him. Just obviously bracing myself for a check and it just happened."

HOMECOMING KING: Weymouth native Charlie Coyle, who grew up attending games at TD Garden, played his first tilt on home ice in front of dozens of family members and friends.
"There were a few signs out there and just pretty cool to be on that side of it," said Coyle. "A lot of excitement building up and I just tried to stay calm and treat it as another game."
Coyle also took part in the ceremonial puck drop, which included the family of fallen Weymouth police office Michael Chesna on First Responders Night.
"Zee, he knew they were from Weymouth so he said, 'You should go take it,'" said Coyle. "That was pretty classy by him and it was a great honor to do that so hats off to Zee for that."

THAT HURTS: Late in the third, Noel Acciari took a puck to the mouth/jaw area, leaving him bloodied. He was forced to retreat to the dressing room and did not return.
"I don't have an update," said Cassidy. "I guess you're always worried…I didn't think it was his eye. It looked like his mouth, so you're always worried if it's a jaw. I haven't heard yet, so it might be one of those lacerations, your teeth. Our team's getting uglier every game with these plays."

MAKING AMENDS: Marchand called Johansson following Monday's trade to clear the air on an incident involving the two last season. Marchand was suspended five games for an elbow to Johansson's head during a January game at TD Garden. Johansson, who suffered a concussion on the hit and missed nearly 30 games, said on Tuesday morning that he was appreciative of the call and looking forward to being Marchand's teammate.
"It was a very bad hit and also with how everything played out after, so I just wanted to touch base and have a conversation," said Marchand. "I heard a lot of great things about him as a teammate and as a guy. I just wanted to have that conversation early, but he's very mature about the situation and handled it great.
"It was great to talk to him and great to meet him today. Obviously what he brings to the group, we're excited to have him here."