The Boston Bruins will return from a two-game trip looking to produce their second straight win, hosting the Seattle Kraken in a Sunday clash of teams concluding busy back-to-back weekends.
After losing five of its previous six games (1-4-1), Boston found its game in a much-needed Saturday win, shutting out Philadelphia 3-0 on the strength of two even-strength goals and Joonas Korpisalo’s 20 saves.
“The effort was the No. 1 thing,” Boston coach Jim Montgomery said. “We were on our toes. We were looking to play north. We were looking to play connected.”
Putting together that kind of effort consistently will be Boston’s next challenge, but Saturday certainly was an encouraging start — a game after being embarrassed in an 8-2 Thursday loss at Carolina.
On Saturday, Matthew Poitras scored in the first period and Justin Brazeau tallied in the second before captain Brad Marchand iced the game with an empty-netter. It all led to Korpisalo’s first shutout as a Bruin, his second straight game allowing one or fewer goals.
“It’s about understanding that every single day we come in, and to win in this league you need to be really detailed and be willing to work and be prepared to win battles and to compete hard,” Marchand said. “As long as we do that every day, we’re going to win more games than we lose.”
Montgomery also was pleased with the type of goals his team scored.
“The 5-on-5 goals that we got are the kind of 5-on-5 goals that we’re going to have to score, where it’s at the goal line, we outnumber people, and we find someone in the slot and/or we crash the net,” Montgomery said.
The Kraken come to Boston for the fourth contest of a five-game trip following consecutive losses, including a 3-0 setback at Ottawa on Saturday.
Like the Bruins’ struggles before Saturday, it has been all about a lack of effort in recent defeats.
“We need to ramp that up. We have a whole other level we need to get to here,” Kraken forward and team captain Jordan Eberle said. “Execution, power play — need to find ways to score on that — and then simplify shooting and get stuff around the net. It’s a tough time to score right now, and we’ve got to find ways to do it.”
Seattle was shut out for the second time this season, but it regained some manpower on defense as Brandon Montour — who netted his first career hat trick in an 8-2 Tuesday win at Montreal — returned following the birth of his second child.
Vince Dunn (upper body) also remains on long-term injured reserve, which has allowed 22-year-old Ryker Evans to get extra run on the blue line.
Seattle coach Dan Bylsma’s advice was simple: “Never try to be like Vince and never try to be like Brandon. Just be yourself,” he said.
Behind the blue liners, Philipp Grubauer made the start in Seattle’s goal at Ottawa, meaning now-No. 1 Joey Daccord likely will start in his native Massachusetts for the first time since signing a five-year, $25 million extension last month.
Fellow Boston-area product Matty Beniers had a four-game point streak intact prior to Saturday. Six of his seven points this season have come during that stretch.
The Kraken swept last season’s head-to-head series with Boston, posting a 4-1 win at TD Garden on Feb. 15 in which Beniers had a goal and two assists and Daccord made 36 saves.
A similar type of performance would be welcomed.
“There better be” an increased sense of urgency in Boston, Bylsma said.
–Field Level Media
