B’s power play keeps clicking
Krug scores twice, Bruins thrash Wild
BRUINS 6 WILD 1
ST. PAUL, Minn — The Minnesota Wild are likely sick of Torey Krug.
The Bruins defenseman netted two goals and an assist en route to a 6-1 win in Minnesota on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center, one night after the B’s toppled Winnipeg in a spirited affair. The second contest of the back-to-back was less physical, but the Bruins were challenged less, outshooting the Wild 34-26 and carrying the pace from the opening whistle.
After a dry spell of four games without a power-play goal, the Bruins man advantage found its way again over the past two games, with both goals against the Jets and three more against the Wild.
Along with another perfect penalty kill for the second straight night, special teams has had a strong couple of games right out of the all-star break.
Krug, though, was Minnesota’s biggest nemesis on Saturday.
The defenseman streaking down the slot and putting it in the net is a familiar sight for the Wild – he did it last time they played on Nov. 23, but that was a game winner in overtime.
On Saturday, he simply opened the scoring. Off a pass from Par Lindholm — in the lineup for Sean Kuraly via coaches decision — Krug deked through the slot and lifted a backhander past Devan Dubnyk to put the Bruins ahead 1-0 with 7:32 left in the opening frame.
Krug’s second goal of the game — and seventh of the season — came on the B’s first power play 4:39 into the second period. The blueliner fired from the circle and it deflected into the net off Dubnyk for a 2-0 lead.
The B’s defender contributed to the next goal as well, also on the man advantage. Krug slid the puck to Brad Marchand, who fired in his 22nd goal of the season top shelf, blocker side 5:55 into the second to go ahead 3-0.
David Pastrnak’s magical season continued as he notched his 38th goal of the season — matching his career high from a year ago — on the Bruins third power-play goal of the night. He collected a loose puck around the crease and fired in the B’s fourth goal through traffic 15:29 into the second.
It was also Pastrnak’s 29th point over his last 20 contests, while the 38th goal came in the Bruins 53rd game of the season, after he achieved the same number last year in 66 games.
Anders Bjork scored his ninth of the season with 1:58 left, collecting the puck off a Joakim Nordstrom shot for the Bruins fifth goal. Jake DeBrusk followed up to make it 6-1 with his second goal in as many nights. He was left open alone and took a cross ice pass from Karson Kuhlman.
Jaroslav Halak made 24 saves in his first game back from the break after he
played in five contests in a row prior while Tuukka Rask was injured. Mats Zuccarello snapped the shutout with 5:29 left for the Wild.
Even with a large lead late in the game, the Bruins penalty kill played some of the best it has all year, with Anton Blidh — an addition to the lineup with Danton Heinen banged up — sprawling to block shots and rookie Jeremy Lauzon putting in another impressive performance, and being rewarded with 3:33 of ice time while the team was shorthanded.
The Bruins return home for a quick contest at TD Garden with the Canucks before hitting the road again for one game in Chicago.