Matt Grzelcyk had a goal and four assists as the Boston Bruins recorded a 7-3 road win over the Washington Capitals on Monday.
Down 2-0 in the first period, the Bruins rebounded to score the game's next six goals, all within a 15-minute stretch spanning the first and second periods.
It was a milestone night for Grzelcyk, who had never before recorded even three points in a game during his six NHL seasons.
David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand each scored two goals and added an assist for the Bruins. It was the second consecutive two-goal game for each of the two Boston forwards.
Craig Smith had a goal and an assist, while Anton Blidh and Taylor Hall each had two assists. Erik Haula also scored for Boston.
The Bruins are 5-1-0 since the NHL restarted play following a COVID-19 shutdown. Three of those wins have come away from home, and the Bruins are 9-1-1 in their last 11 road games.
The Capitals are 0-2-2 in their past four games.
Conor Sheary scored twice for Washington, and T.J. Oshie added the Capitals' other goal.
Sheary's goals came in the first 13 minutes, with the forward capitalizing on loose pucks in front of Boston's net. A fortunate bounce off the endboards led to Sheary's first goal, and his next tally came on a quick snap-shot following a Bruins turnover.
Penalty trouble erased Washington's early lead, as the Capitals were whistled for four minors within the last seven minutes of the first period. The Bruins struck twice during a 5-on-3 power play, with Pastrnak and Marchand each scoring within a 40-second span.
Grzelcyk assisted on both power-play goals and then scored the opening marker of a dominant second period for the Bruins. Boston relied on crisp passing and odd-man rushes to collect four goals on just 11 shots in the frame.
Capitals goaltender Zach Fucale allowed four goals on 16 shots before being lifted at 7:53 of the second period. Vitek Vanecek stopped 12 of 15 shots in the relief outing.
Boston's Linus Ullmark saved 27 of 30 shots.
Bruins forward Trent Frederic didn't play in the third period due to an upper-body injury.
--Field Level Media
Boston | Washington | |
Matt Grzelcyk 5 | Points | Conor Sheary 2 |
Brad Marchand 2 | Goals | Conor Sheary 2 |
Matt Grzelcyk 4 | Assists | Nic Dowd 1 |
Brad Marchand 1 | Power Play Goals | N/A |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Linus Ullmark .900 | Save Percentage | Vitek Vanecek .800 |
Linus Ullmark 27 | Saves | Vitek Vanecek 12 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Boston | 31 | 7 | 2-4 | 2-2 | 6 | 44 |
Washington | 30 | 3 | 0-2 | 2-4 | 8 | 33 |