Rookie Heinen scores twice to boost Bruins past Sharks

BOSTON -- The decision to call up Danton Heinen from the American Hockey League on Thursday worked out perfectly for the Boston Bruins.
Heinen scored his first two NHL goals, and Anton Khudobin made 36 saves to lift Boston to a 2-1 win against the San Jose Sharks at TD Garden.

Heinen had no points in eight NHL games last season, but the 22-year-old forward had three assists in three games for the Bruins (4-3-1) this season before he was sent down to Providence on Oct. 17.
He scored shorthanded at 9:41 of the first period to give Boston a 1-0 lead.
"It was pretty cool," Heinen said. "Obviously, it's something you dream of your whole life and you're kind of just going into shock for a bit there. It was awesome."
WATCH: [All Sharks vs. Bruins highlights]
The Sharks (4-5-0) tied it 1-1 when center Joe Thornton scored on the power play at 10:40 of the second period, backhanding the rebound of a Tim Heed shot pasy Khudobin.
It was the 1,398th point of Thornton's NHL career, tying him with Jari Kurri for 20th in League history.
"We were pushing and pushing, but we couldn't get one past him at the end," said Thornton, who was selected by the Bruins with the No. 1 pick in the 1997 NHL Draft. "But the boys fought hard. I liked our game, but it didn't work out for us in the end."

Heinen scored his second goal to put the Bruins ahead 2-1 at 13:27 of the second.
After defenseman Brandon Carlo's slap shot deflected wide, the puck rebounded off the end wall to Heinen, who was waiting near the left post to stuff it in Sharks goaltender Martin Jones.
Khudobin made 15 saves in the third period, including five during a 6-on-4 with Carlo in the penalty box after being called for slashing at 17:28 and Jones on the bench for the extra attacker.
The win provided some redemption for the Bruins and Khudobin after they squandered a three-goal lead in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.
"[Khudobin's] always going to have a bit of ... energy, for lack of a better word, in there, and more movement than most. But I thought he was very composed and under control for his game," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Puck play was solid. Very focused, seemed like he was taking those details in terms of positioning. Like I said, he's not your typical technically robotic goaltender. But I thought it was a very good bounce-back game for him."

Goal of the game

With the Bruins killing a delay of game penalty on Sean Kuraly, defenseman Kevan Miller won a puck battle behind Khudobin and passed ahead to David Backes. After Backes hit Heinen in stride to exit the Boston zone, Heinen gave the puck back to Backes at the San Jose blue line and drove the net to score on the rebound of Backes shot. "It was kind of a 2-on-2 so I figured if I could get it through -- I know the feeling: You're on the power play and you're thinking about getting that puck however you can, getting back up ice -- maybe you get a little garbage there, and that's exactly what it was," Backes said. "But the kid gets his first goal, and I couldn't be happier for him."

Save of the game

With the Sharks on a 6-on-4 advantage, Khudobin squeezed Logan Couture's tip from the high slot into his midsection and froze the puck with 1:11 remaining.

Highlight of the game

Sharks forward Tomas Hertl took a slap shot from the top of the right circle that Melker Karlsson tipped. Khudobin made the save in traffic and held on with 3:19 left in the third to make sure there wasn't a rebound for Karlsson.

They said it

"[Anton Khudobin] knocked the net off. No question, it's a penalty. They just missed it. The goalie made it seem like someone hit him." -- Sharks forward Logan Couture on the Bruins' net coming off its moorings with 1:17 remaining
"Both of his goals are that sort of play where he goes to the net, finding that little bit of space and he's got the finish and he brought it out tonight." -- Bruins forward David Backes on Danton Heinen

Need to know

Thornton has six points (two goals, four assists) during his five-game point streak. ... Goaltender Tuukka Rask, who wasn't in the lineup for two games because of a concussion, was medically cleared and backed up Khudobin. Rask is scheduled to start Saturday. ... Heinen joined Jake DeBrusk, Charlie McAvoy and Anders Bjork as Bruins who have scored their first NHL goal this season.

What's next

Sharks:At the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; SN, MSG-B, NBCSCA, NHL.TV)
Bruins:Host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NESN, FS-W, NHL.TV)