BOSTON — Even a season-high 49 shots on goal were not enough to power the Bruins past the red-hot Edmonton Oilers.
Cam Talbot played the game of his life in the Edmonton net, and Andrej Sekera scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Oilers a 3-2 victory.
The win, which extended the Oilers’ winning streak to six games, was their first in Boston since 1996.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Sekera scored just 41 seconds into overtime to sweep the season series with the Bruins. Boston earned a point in each of the teams’ two meetings, however, losing in a shootout earlier this month at Rexall Place.
Jordan Eberle, who scored Edmonton’s first goal of the night, finished with three points to lead all scorers.
MARCHAND MANIA
Marchand was an offensive force for the Bruins, setting a new career high for shots on goal with nine in 17:44 of ice time. His ninth whistled over Talbot’s right shoulder for Boston’s second goal, tying the game a 2-2 with less than five minutes remaining in the third period.
The goal was Marchand’s team-leading 15th in 27 games this season. His career high is 28, which he set in 76 games during the 2011-12 season.
Landon Ferraro, who earned a late-game promotion from the fourth line to the top unit, and Patrice Bergeron assisted on the goal.
EARLY HOLE
The Bruins came flying out of the gate but could not crack Talbot, who made a career-high 47 saves in the win. The Oilers then rewarded their goaltender for his hard work by putting two goals past Boston netminder Jonas Gustavsson.
Eberle scored the first off a deflection off the end boards, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins took advantage of a Zdeno Chara stumble to pot the second.
Matt Beleskey, one of the Bruins’ most active skaters in the opening frame, blocked Nugent-Hopkins’ initial shot, but the 2011 No. 1 draft pick gathered his own rebound and fired it into the back of the net.
HARD WORK PAYS OFF
Beleskey’s intensity yielded results in the second period.
Shortly after leveling Eric Gryba with a huge hit in front of the Edmonton crease, the Bruins winger went hard to the net and somehow was able to wedge puck between Talbot and the left post for Boston’s first goal of the night.
David Krejci and Chara were credited with assists. Beleskey finished with six shots on goal in the loss.
The Bruins dominated the second period from a possession standpoint, outshooting their visitors by a massive 18-3 margin and holding Edmonton without a shot on goal until the 16:39 mark of the frame. The Oilers also went more than 12 minutes without so much as a shot attempt.
That onslaught produced just one goal, however, and the Oilers entered the final 20 minutes leading 2-1.
BAILED OUT
The Bruins caught a break early in the third when an early whistle wiped away a clear goal by Eberle. Officials mistakenly believed Gustavsson had covered the puck, prompting them to blow the play dead before the Oilers winger could roof what would have been his second goal of the night.
TOP-HEAVY
The top line of Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Brett Connolly spearheaded Boston’s offensive attack, accounting for 17 of the team’s 49 shots on goal. The unit also excelled in its own end, limiting Edmonton’s potent top trio of Taylor Hall, Leon Draisaitl and Teddy Purcell to zero points and just one shot on goal apiece.
Frank Vatrano (six shots, four hits) and Ferraro (assist, three shots, five hits) also turned in strong performances.
LINEUP NOTES
The Bruins employed the same line combinations and defensive pairings as they did in Saturday’s win over the Florida Panthers, with the only change coming in net. Winger David Pastrnak, who has missed the last 19 games with a fractured foot, participated in morning skate but did not play.
UP NEXT
The Bruins kick off their second home-and-home of the season Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden.
Thumbnail photo via Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
