Jaroslav Halak is proving he’s back at the top of his game after some tough seasons. The veteran goaltender made 37 saves, leading the Boston Bruins to a commanding 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night.
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy praised Halak’s performance, saying, “We’ve seen his quality since day one. I didn’t expect him to be near the top of the league in goals-against average or save percentage, but the team plays confidently in front of him.”
With regular starter Tuukka Rask away on personal leave, Halak played both games over the weekend, allowing just two goals while securing back-to-back wins.
“I slept well last night,” Halak said after the game, referencing the comfort of playing at home. Halak, who struggled with the New York Islanders two years ago and even spent time in the minors, is now among the league leaders in goals-against average and save percentage, with only one regulation loss this season.
David Pastrnak continued his scoring streak, netting another goal, while Danton Heinen, Jeremy Lauzon, and Brad Marchand also found the back of the net, as the Bruins secured their fourth win in six games. Halak remains undefeated in three starts against the Golden Knights, conceding just five goals in those matchups.
Cody Eakin scored the lone goal for Vegas, and Malcolm Subban made 33 saves, but the Golden Knights struggled throughout, dropping their third game out of four on the road. Subban pointed to the team’s penalty issues: “We ran into trouble with all those 5-on-3s. We didn’t get the results we needed.”
Pastrnak sealed the game with a power-play goal, his league-leading 16th of the season, with just under four minutes left in regulation. Boston had seven power-play opportunities, including three two-man advantages.
Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant acknowledged his team’s struggles, saying, “We had some solid games on this road trip, but tonight wasn’t one of them.”
Heinen opened the scoring just under three minutes into the game with a tipped shot. Lauzon capitalized on a mistake by Subban behind the net, scoring his first career goal with just over two minutes left in the first period.
Brad Marchand extended the Bruins’ lead to 3-0 just 58 seconds into the second period, flipping the puck past Subban while on his knees. Eakin managed to get Vegas on the scoreboard midway through the second period, converting a pass from Alex Tuch.
Game Notes:
- Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo missed the game with an upper-body injury.
- Vegas forward Max Pacioretty remained off the scoresheet and has just one goal in his last 11 games.
- Bruins captain Zdeno Chara has recorded a point in only one of his last 14 games.
- The Golden Knights have now lost eight of their last 11 road games.
Up Next:
- Golden Knights: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.
- Bruins: Begin a four-game road trip in Colorado on Wednesday night.