Strong Start Paces Bruins to Win Over San Jose

BOSTON - Brad Marchand has four goals and seven points in four games.
The 33-year-old leads the Bruins in scoring and has the sixth-most points in the NHL. Statistically, it's hard to have asked for a better start from the winger, who has surpassed the 85-point plateau in four of the last five seasons - and hit 69 in 53 games last season.
But there is a reason why Marchand has turned himself into one of the game's elite all-around players: he is always striving to be better.

"I just think that sometimes things go your way. You get bounces at the right time. I actually don't think I've played my best hockey. Regardless of the points, I think I can be better and manage pucks better, felt tired a few games," said Marchand, who has scored in three of four games this season.
"I still think I can be better than what I've been…points are part of it obviously. I want to be happy with where I'm playing and how I'm playing and I'm not quite happy enough yet with how things have been."
If Marchand still has more to give, that's great news for the Bruins - and a scary development for the rest of the league - as the winger looked just fine on Sunday afternoon when he notched a goal and an assist in Boston's 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks at TD Garden.
Marchand started the scoring when he finished off a pretty sequence with Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak just 28 seconds into the contest and followed up with the primary helper on Derek Forbort's first as a Bruin just under two minutes later. The early tallies helped Boston build a three-goal lead heading into the third period - an advantage that was nearly squandered as San Jose struck for two quick goals in the closing minutes of the final frame.
But, despite the late flurry from San Jose, the Black & Gold held on for the victory, their third in four games to begin this season.
"I thought our start was excellent," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "I wouldn't say they unraveled [in the third period]. I think we gave up nothing. They had two deflections that happened to find their way in. So, I didn't mind the way we played…we can always do stuff better -manage the puck - but it wasn't to me a barrage or anything like that. Those are things that happen periodically. No way you're losing games if that's the best they've got in the third period."

DeBrusk Notches Another

Jake DeBrusk's strong start to the season continued Sunday as he gave the Bruins a 4-1 lead at 5:41 of the second period with what turned into the eventual winning tally. The winger collected a floating feed from Oskar Steen, before ripping one far side past the glove of Sharks goalie Adin Hill for his second goal of the season.
"I thought Jake played well," said Marchand. "He seems to have that extra step in his game this year, which is great to see. He's such a dangerous player when he's moving his feet and attacking the way he is, and getting in on forechecks, and turning pucks over. Need that to continue.
"He's such a dangerous player. He can kind of make something out of nothing like he did on that goal there. It's great to see that he's continuing his good play. Happy to see him bouncing back this year."

Steen Picks Up His First

Steen was recalled from Providence before the game - along with Jack Studnicka - with both Nick Foligno (upper-body) and Craig Smith (undisclosed) unable to play. The 23-year-old, playing in just his fourth NHL game and first this season, showed promise alongside DeBrusk and Erik Haula and picked up his first career point with his helper on DeBrusk's second-period marker.
"The puck was following him tonight," Cassidy said of Steen, who registered one shot on goal in 10:40 of ice time. "He's got to learn to shoot the puck coming off the wing. He did once late in the period, but other times he had opportunities. He's deferring, we talked about that. The young guys, at some point, got to attack the net and be selfish when the pucks on their stick in terms of getting it to the net and he'll have to go through that. He worked hard; he was in good spots."
Studnicka, meanwhile, played 11:10 and centered Trent Frederic and Karson Kuhlman on Boston's fourth line.
"Studs, I didn't notice him as much, so probably was good defensively if that's the case," said Cassidy. "Offensively, I don't know if their line - I think Kuhly had a few good rushes there, so he made a few plays. We'll look at it. I think they came up and did their job."

Forbort Locks It Down

It was an eventful day for Forbort, who picked up his first goal as a Bruin in the first period when his floater from the left point found its way through Hill. The burly blue liner also assisted on DeBrusk's goal with a strong outlet pass through the neutral zone to Steen and blocked three shots in 20:31 of ice time.
But his most important work may have come in the closing minutes when he helped the Bruins lock down their victory with some important shutdown work with San Jose's net empty.
"Yeah, he's gonna have to play in those situations," said Cassidy. "He's a good guy to clear the front of the net. I thought he managed the puck well. Went up to the forwards - they could have done a better job to give us a little breathing room, to be perfectly honest with you there…we made it interesting with their goalie out. But he had a good game tonight. He obviously moved the puck a little cleaner and got rewarded with a hit on the net."
Forbort, who stands 6-foot-4 and clocks in at 219 pounds, said he thrives on being relied upon in crucial situations at the end of a game.
"It's gonna be hectic out there. You've just got to keep your head," said Forbort. "I love it. Being out there with a one-goal lead, the goalie pulled, it's kind of my favorite time to play hockey."

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