SAN JOSE – Joonas Donskoi’s third period power play goal proved to be the decider as the Sharks beat a first place club for the second straight game on Tuesday at SAP Center, 3-2 over the Boston Bruins.
Donskoi went to the front of the net and got his blade on a low Joel Ward offering to sneak it through Tuukka Rask at 6:37. It was his first goal in 15 games.
Boston had its chances late. David Krejci had a breakaway, but the center couldn’t sneak his attempt past James Reimer with 4:05 to go. Torey Krug had a great look as time expired from between the circle, too, but Reimer was there to deny the defenseman’s wrist shot.
The Sharks, who also downed the Capitals at home on Saturday, have won seven in a row against teams that are currently in the top three of their respective divisions.
San Jose remains five points behind the Kings for first place in the Pacific Division after Los Angeles won in Dallas on Tuesday night, and moved to just one point behind the Ducks.
The Bruins, beginning a four-game road trip, lost for the first time in regulation in eight games (5-1-2). They are 23-8-3 overall on the road.
After Melker Karlsson’s goal on a clever feed from Donskoi opened the scoring at 8:44, the Bruins grabbed a 2-1 lead before the first intermission.
Krejci tied it at 11:26, sliding home a juicy rebound off a David Pastrnak shot off of Reimer’s pad.
A shorthanded goal, the Bruins’ ninth, put them in front. Brent Burns turned the puck over to Loui Eriksson in the neutral zone, and could get back in time to prevent Eriksson from flinging it past Reimer at 17:46.
Burns made up for the error with a second period goal, the only score of the middle frame. His shot looked destined to go wide, but Adam McQuaid inadvertently bounced it past Rask with his stick at 11:46.
The goal was Burns’ 26th, surpassing Sandis Ozolinsh for the most all-time in one season by a San Jose defenseman. He later assisted on Donskoi’s goal, tying Ozolinsh’s franchise-record 64 points in 1993-94.
Just before the goal, the Sharks caught a break when Brad Marchand couldn’t control a loose puck after defenseman Brenden Dillon took a tumble. Boston’s leading goal scorer could have had a breakaway had he grabbed control, but instead Burns tallied the equalizer moments later.
The Sharks hit a pair of posts in the second, when Patrick Marleau rang one off of the iron with 10:20 left and Logan Couture did the same with about 10 seconds to go.
The Sharks won the first meeting against Boston on Nov. 17 at TD Garden, and have won three in a row overall against the Bruins.
San Jose is 9-3-3 in its last 15 home games, and 14-15-3 overall.
Special teams
The Sharks went 1-for-4 on the power play while allowing their sixth shorthanded goal-against. They are 3-for-15 on the power play over the last six games.
Boston failed on its only advantage midway through the third, when Donskoi went off for holding the stick.
The penalty that led to the game-winning goal came on Jimmy Hayes for checking Justin Braun in the head at 5:11. The Sharks defenseman was shaken up, but stayed in the game.
In goal
Reimer, who entered with a .930 save percentage in 16 career games against the Bruins, made 21 stops to improve to 2-1 with San Jose. He was making his third start in teal on what was his 28th birthday.
Rask fell to 3-3-0 in his career against San Jose, allowing three goals on 27 shots.
Lineup
Tommy Wingels was cleared to return from a sprained left shoulder after missing the past 12 games, but was a healthy scratch.
Up next
The Sharks will make a quick trip to battle the Coyotes on Thursday night, and open a six-game homestand with the Rangers on Saturday afternoon.
Instant Replay: Sharks win back-and-forth battle with Bruins
Tuesday, March 15, 2016 - 9:30pm
