The Boston Bruins weren’t going to let this game slip away.
The Bruins and Dallas Stars traded early goals in the first period at TD Garden, but neither could add the winning tally in regulation sending the game to overtime. With just 31 seconds remaining in OT, Brad Marchand played the role of hero, potting a goal to seal the 2-1 win Monday night.
Every member of the first line contributed, with David Pastrnak and Marchand scoring while Patrice Bergeron added an assist.
Tuukka Rask made 24 saves, helping the Bruins improve to 8-4-2 on the season, while Dallas fell to 8-5-1.
Here’s how it all went down:
STARS STRIKE FIRST
Radek Faksa gave his team the 1-0 lead in the first with a shorthanded goal after Dallas went down a man due to an interference call.
Faksa made easy work of Torey Krug before letting the puck fly behind from behind the faceoff circle, blistering it past Rask.
PASTA STAYS HOT
Pastrnak did what he does best and scored his 12th goal of the season with the B’s still on the power play not even two minutes later. Bergeron passed it off to Pastrnak who finished it off with a one-timer as he was falling to the ice to tie the game 1-1.
SILENT SECOND
Despite not scoring in the middle period, Boston certainly had plenty of opportunities. Krug and Noel Acciari were victims of the goal post, while the referees blew an early whistle on a Bruins rush to the net, calling the play dead after they thought Anton Khudobin had control of a loose puck. The call eliminated what would have been an Anders Bjork go-ahead goal.
The Bruins dominated the Stars throughout the period despite being outshot 9-8.
SCORE REMAINS TIED
Despite a hard-fought third period by both teams, the game would need overtime to decide the winner. Each team had solid scoring chances, including a giveaway by Rask with just under seven minutes remaining. But the goalie denied the Stars to keep the game tied.
MARCHAND WINS IT
It was a nail-biting overtime, with both teams exchanging scoring chances.
The Bruins went on the power play after the Stars were whistled for too many men on the ice with just 1:44 left in the sudden-death overtime. But just nine seconds later, Dallas went down two men after it was called for cross-checking.
It looked as if the game was headed for a shootout, but Brad Marchand sniped the puck past Khudobin from a tough angle to give Boston the 2-1 win.
UP NEXT
The Bruins continue their homestand Thursday night when they welcome the Vancouver Canucks to TD Garden. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET.
This Bruins Wrap is presented by Plainridge Park Casino.
