Defenseman Burns sparks Sharks offense
NEWARK, N.J. — The stat line on Brent Burns reveals all one needs to know about the San Jose Sharks’ victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Burns scored the tying and winning goals, played a game-high 25:46 minutes, took 11 of the Sharks 38 shots and blocked three shots in his own end.
It produced a 4-1 victory on Sunday, snapping the Sharks’ four-game losing streak.
The extraordinary has become the norm for the NHL’s leading offensive defenseman.
“He’s the best player on the ice every night,” said teammate Joe Thornton, who also scored a goal. “It doesn’t matter who you play. It’s very impressive to watch.”
Burns has 24 goals and his 59 points are only two behind overall leader Connor McDavid.
“No, not really,” Burns said in his usual low-key fashion when asked if he focused on the scoring title. “I think you look at everything. You’re looking at other guys on your team, the other guys you’re playing. We hear about it all the time from you guys about stats.”
Kevin Labanc added two assists for San Jose. Tomas Hertl had an emptynet tally late in the third period.
Martin Jones made 21 saves as San Jose bounced back from a 2-1 overtime loss to Philadelphia on Saturday.
PA Parenteau scored for the Devils and Corey Schneider made 34 stops as New Jersey lost for the eighth time in the last nine home games.
Burns wiped out the Devils’ lead with his second-period tallies.
The defender ripped a wrist shot over Schneider’s glove at 2:27 to knot the score.
Burns unleashed another of his laser wristers, this time off the left post and into the net, at 7:46 to give the Sharks the lead.
“Both were kind of the same,” Burns said. “Good work down low by the forwards getting it up to the blueline. Then it’s just traffic and shooting.”
WILD 6, RED WINGS 3: In St. Paul, Minn., Zach Parise scored twice and Devan Dubnyk made 30 saves to help Western Conference-leading Minnesota beat Detroit.
Charlie Coyle added a goal and an assist, and the Wild scored three power-play goals in four chances. Minnesota
leads Chicago by five points and has played two fewer games than the Blackhawks. BRUINS 4, CANADIENS 0: In Boston, Tuukka Rask posted his first career regular-season home win over Montreal by making 25 saves for his sixth shutout, 39-year-old Zdeno Chara had an impressive move on his short-handed goal and the Bruins improved to 3-0 under interim coach Bruce Cassidy.
Adam McQuaid, David Krejci and Frank Vatrano also scored for Boston, which won for the sixth time in eight games. Rask entered 0-9-3 at TD Garden during the regular season against Montreal.
CANUCKS 4, SABRES 2: In Buffalo, N.Y., Alexandre Burrows scored a goal and got under the Sabres’ skin with his pesky play, lifting Vancouver.
Burrows scored the go-ahead goal five minutes into the second period and also had an assist.
ISLANDERS 5, AVALANCHE 1: In New York, Anders Lee scored two of New York’s three third-period goals to lead the Islanders past NHL-worst Colorado.
Nick Leddy had a goal and two assists, Ryan Strome and Jason Chimera also scored, and Jean-Francois Berube stopped 25 shots. New York improved to 7-0-2 in its last nine at home.
PREDATORS 5, STARS 3: In Nashville, Tenn., Filip Forsberg scored a short-handed goal 6:02 into the third period and the Predators overcame a three-goal deficit to beat Dallas.
Roman Josi scored twice and Calle Jarnkrok had the tying goal 4:40 into the third.