Bruins vs. Sharks: Swayman Starts as Boston Looks to Extend Point Streak
Jeremy Swayman starts for Boston, which brings a seven-game point streak and a 6-3 win over San Jose into Saturday’s rematch at TD Garden.
Boston has a chance to close its home stand with another strong result and keep its early-season momentum rolling. The Bruins host San Jose on Saturday night with points in seven straight games, a first meeting already won 6-3 and Jeremy Swayman confirmed as the starter.
The Bruins enter at 8-2-1, leading the Atlantic Division with 17 points through 11 games. Their numbers show why they’ve climbed to the top: Boston is scoring 3.82 goals per game, fourth in the NHL, while allowing 2.00, the league’s second-lowest rate. Their last regulation loss came at TD Garden on Oct. 5.
San Jose is 6-4-1 and arrives at the end of a six-game road trip. The Sharks have gone 3-1-1 on the trip, with consecutive wins over Montreal and Ottawa. They’ll get a chance to finish that stretch by evening the season series, after Boston took the Oct. 13 meeting.
Boston’s focus is on consistency
Coach Marco Sturm said the Bruins need to carry their recent energy into another game. Before Thursday’s 6-0 win over Nashville, he described the team’s morning skate as having “good jump.” The challenge now is sustaining that approach after the day off and with a home game following the team’s return from the road.
“Well, consistency, I would say,” Sturm said. “That’s the one thing we’ve been working on all year long. A few days ago, we touched on coming back from the road, having a good mindset coming in. Yesterday, [had] a day off, so I think our mindset shouldn’t change at all, so that’s why I say consistency. And, you know, we have a good thing going on right now, so we just want to continue to do that.”
The start to this season marks a change from the same point last year, when Boston went through a six-game losing streak in October. Casey Mittelstadt said the Bruins have benefited from time together on the road, particularly as new players get to know the group. A successful trip, in his view, has helped build confidence.
“I think at this time last year we had a little bit of a losing streak, and, you know, it was hard,” Mittelstadt said after morning skate. “I think confidence was down, but I think it’s kind of the flip side this year. You go on a long road trip and get to spend time with the guys; it helps the new guys get in the room, and to do well on that road trip gives you a lot of confidence as a team.”
Sturm confirmed that Boston will make no other lineup changes from Thursday’s win. That gives the Bruins a chance to build on a complete performance while facing a Sharks team that has found results late in its trip.
Expected Bruins lineup
Forwards
JJ Peterka – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak
Marat Khusnutdinov – Fraser Minten – Morgan Geekie
Casey Mittelstadt – Elias Lindholm – James Hagens
Tanner Jeannot – Matt Poitras – Mark Kastelic
Defensemen
Hampus Lindholm – Charlie McAvoy
Frederic Brunet – Mason Lohrei
Line source: Morning skate
Starting goalie
Jeremy Swayman is confirmed to start. He is 6-1-1 with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage.
Source: Confirmation
Expected Sharks lineup
Forwards
Collin Graf – Macklin Celebrini – Will Smith
Ivar Stenberg – Michael Misa – Kiefer Sherwood
Mason Marchment – Ty Dellandrea – Tyler Toffoli
Barclay Goodrow – Zack Ostapchuk – Adam Gaudette
Defensemen
Darnell Nurse – Michael Kesselring
Sam Dickinson – Jacob Trouba
Nolan Allan – Dmitry Orlov
Line source: Morning skate, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now
Starting goalie
Yaroslav Askarov is listed at 3-4-0, with a 3.43 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage. His start is unconfirmed.
Special teams and schedule
Boston’s power play is converting at 22.6 percent, 12th in the NHL, while its penalty kill is at 80.6 percent, tied for 15th. San Jose has the stronger power play so far at 25.7 percent, good for sixth; the Sharks’ penalty kill also sits at 80.6 percent, tied for 15th. Special teams could be a key separator if the game stays close, particularly with San Jose’s power play ranking among the league’s best.
The teams have one meeting left after Saturday. Boston won the first game 6-3 at San Jose on Oct. 13; the rematch is set for Oct. 24 at TD Garden.
Boston’s next games are Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Carolina at 8:00 PM; Thursday, Oct. 29, at St. Louis at 8:00 PM; Saturday, Oct. 31, against Chicago at 1:00 PM; Monday, Nov. 2, against Vegas at 7:00 PM; and Thursday, Nov. 5, at Pittsburgh at 7:00 PM.
How to watch
Start: 7:00 PM
TV: NESN
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub
