The Boston Bruins continue to set a record-threatening pace.
Pavel Zacha’s late second-period goal stood up as the game winner as the Bruins continued their spectacular season with a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night. With the victory they became the fastest team to record 46 wins in NHL history, needing just 59 games to do so.
“We have a lot of guys in our locker room that know how to play the right way and know how to end games,” said Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery, whose team improved to an impressive 32-0-2 record when leading after 40 minutes.
“I think we’re proud of our process and what it’s allowed us to do and be, but I still think there’s room to grow,” Foligno said. “I still think there are little areas we can get better in. I’m not trying to sound tacky, it’s just the reality of our team.
“I don’t think anyone is satisfied here, I think we’re really excited about our group, but I think we all know there is more to do. That’s the mindset that’s allowed us to have the success we’ve had.”
Connor McDavid scored twice to reach 50 goals on the season for the Oilers (32-21-8), who have lost two straight, but have still managed to go 11-4-6 in their last 21 outings.
WATCH | Oilers’ McDavid reaches 50-goal plateau for 1st time in career:
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Edmonton captain Connor McDavid scores his 50th goal in his 61st game of the season.
“It’s disappointing, obviously,” McDavid said. “They’re the best team in the league. I thought we played them hard and gave ourselves a chance to win.
“It’s good for our confidence to know that we can play with them. That’s the league’s best and we played with them. That’s a good sign.”
There was a quick start to the scoring in a spirited first period.
McDavid took a long stretch pass from Leon Draisaitl up the left boards before cutting in and beating Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman through the legs 2:17 into the opening frame for his league-leading 49th goal.
WATCH | Zacha leads Bruins past Oilers:
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NHL-leading Boston edges Edmonton 3-2 with Pavel Zacha’s game-winning goal late in the second period.
The Bruins responded just 13 seconds later as a defensive giveaway ended up with the puck being deflected in front to Nosek, who sent his fourth of the season past Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner.
Boston took the lead with just under five minutes to play in the first on a nice give-and-go play with Charlie Coyle making a deft feed to Foligno, who beat Skinner stick-side for his 10th.
Edmonton tied it at 12:20 of the second period with the teams playing four players aside as Klim Kostin came out of the box and hustled to feed the puck to McDavid who undressed Swayman with a deke to record his 50th goal in his 61st game of the season. Only Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri have hit the mark faster in Oilers’ history. It was also McDavid’s eighth goal in the last four games.
“He just drives our team,” said Oilers forward Zach Hyman. “He is the best player in the world. He is humble about it. He has really taken a step in regards to attacking the net more and taking it on himself and I think you see the results.”
WATCH | McDavid scores twice as Oilers come up short against Blue Jackets:
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Connor McDavid had his second straight four-point game but the Oilers couldn’t complete the comeback after trailing by as many as four.
Boston made it 3-2 with just 30 seconds to play in the second, as Zacha made a diving poke to beat Skinner’s own poke-check attempt and chip it over his shoulder and into the net for his 14th.
Kostin, who was assessed a major penalty for a hit on David Krejci before a review showed that it was the Boston forward’s own stick that hit him, negating any penalty, then took a double-minor for high-sticking Patrice Bergeron late in the third to prevent Edmonton from tying the game, as the third remained scoreless.
The Bruins are right back at it on Tuesday, as they finish a four-game swing against Pacific Division teams in Calgary against the Flames.
The Oilers play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, the second game of a three-game homestand.