The Boston Bruins could have used a bounce-back win after being "embarrassed" on their home ice against the Washington Capitals last month.
Jake DeBrusk, David Pastrnak, Jeremy Swayman and Kevin Shattenkirk combined to provide it.
The B's needed some extra time to get things done, but it was well worth the wait for fans of high blood pressure. Boston and Washington were locked in a tie at the end of regulation, and just one minute into the extra period, it looked like the latter would receive the extra point.
Hampus Lindholm was called for a double minor seconds into the extra period -- cutting T.J. Oshie open with his stick. The Bruins killed off all four minutes of the penalties, with Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, Danton Heinen and Swayman all making tremendous plays to get it to a shootout.
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It was in the shootout that Pastrnak (of course) and Shattenkirk (wait, what?) put the Caps to bed.
DeBrusk scored the first shootout goal for the Bruins, which was matched by Capitals' Dylan Strome. Pastrnak scored the second shootout goal for Boston, trickling the puck past Washington goaltender Charlie Lindgren after firing his trademark no-look wrister into the guy's poor elbow. Shattenkirk, with Boston desperately needing a goal to regain the advantage in the shootout, surprised many by firing one past Lindgren on the Bruins' next turn in the order.
You can watch Pastrnak's goal here.
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Swayman followed that up with a glove save on Connor McMichael, finishing the job and securing a much-needed victory for the B's.
It's almost playoff time, and this game served as a great reminder of that.
Featured image via Perry Nelson/USA TODAY Sports Images
