Halak leads Bruins to 1-0 win in the desert

GLENDALE, Ariz — It’s been a while since the Coyotes beat the Bruins.

The last time Arizona came out of the matchup victorious was October 8, 2010, on an entire different continent. It stayed that way on Saturday night, with the Bruins taking a 1-0 win in Glendale to take their second straight road contest.

The Bruins (2-0-0) have allowed just one in their first two games this season, facing the two teams tied with the third fewest goals a season ago. They’ve taken advantage of that, with only three goals of their own so far, and just two of them during five on five play.

Jaroslav Halak made 35 stops against an Arizona club that’s tallied just once in its first two games of the season.

David Krejci made his return after missing the Bruins opener in Dallas on Thursday night. He played over 15 minutes, centering his usual second line.

The offense was sparked by the top line this time, however, and the one tally in the opening frame was all they needed.

Unlike the first game where the Bruins needed just over a minute to jump out ahead, it took 18:41 to find the scoreboard. Arizona blocked six shots in the opening 20 minutes, and the Bruins sluggish opening to the contest didn’t help.

Halak was tested early and he stopped all 11 shots he saw in the first period, including a breakaway from Vinnie Hinostroza with 8:20 left in the frame. He kept it scoreless, giving the Bruins a chance late in the frame.

Patrice Bergeron fed Brad Marchand from the corner, and the winger used a short side snipe to put the Bruins ahead 1-0 going into the first intermission.

Both goalies swapped excellent saves in the second period. It appeared Marchand would bury his second of the evening when a big rebound from a David Pastrnak shot bounced off Darcey Keumper, but the Coyotes goalie stopped the shot from the slot with 12:45 left in the frame.

On the other end, Halak denied Clayton Keller at the doorstep to preserve the Bruins lead just over a minute later.

Arizona had a chance to knot things up on the power play just 48 seconds into the third with Karson Kuhlman in the box for interference, but the Bruins killed that penalty before coming up short on a man advantage of their own a few minutes later.

The Bruins survived the late onslaught from the Coyotes, stopping 13 third period shots. Their four-game road trip continues with their third contest on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2LPYfEL