February 19 – The Boston Bruins snapped a four-game losing streak on Monday afternoon, defeating the visiting Dallas Stars 4-3 thanks to a goal from Charlie McAvoy in the eighth round in the shootout and a career-high 43 saves from Jeremy Swayman.
For the game-winning shootout goal, McAvoy beat Stars goalkeeper Jake Oettinger with a backhand shot. In regulation, he also had two assists.
The Bruins also had goals from David Pastrnak and Justin Brazeau in addition to Jesper Boqvist’s goal and assist. On March 31, 2022, Brazeau became the first player from the Boston Bruins to score in his NHL debut since Marc McLaughlin.
In the second quarter alone, Swayman made 21 stops; during the shootout, he made seven.
With goals from Wyatt Johnston, Ryan Suter, and Esa Lindell, and a shutout from Oettinger, Dallas extended their winning streak to five games (3-0-2).
During the first three rounds of the shootout, Brad Marchand of Boston and Jason Robertson of Dallas both scored.
Dallas possessed a 46-30 edge in shots on target.
There were 9:16 seconds left in the third, and the Stars were up 3-2. Following a turnover by Brad Marchand, Lindell raced all the way up ice and snuck a wrist shot past Swayman from the right circle.
With 1:45 remaining, Pastrnak’s one-timer off a McAvoy feed to the left circle forced overtime, just after Swayman was substituted for an additional attacker.
Just 4:01 into the first period, Anthony Richard’s feed to a galloping Boqvist set up the Bruins’ fourth line, who deflected the puck into an open side of Oettinger’s net after racing down the right side and into the slot.
At 11:14, Johnston received net-front position for a deflection, and Dallas knotted the game after Boston scored on just its second attempt. Thomas Harley’s powerful shot from the top of the right circle resulted in the tip-in goal.
At 1:04 of the middle period, Suter gave Dallas its first lead, easily defeating Swayman with a shot from the top of the left circle following a successful faceoff for Roope Hintz.
With Brazeau’s historic goal, the Bruins responded with a game-tying goal in just 28 seconds. Boqvist created space below the goal line, gave the ball to Brazeau through the crease, and the forward finished with a deft touch.