The long road has been a winning road for the Boston Bruins.
After overcoming slow starts to sweep a three-game California swing, Boston starts its trek back east with eyes on a six-game win streak as it makes a Tuesday night stop in Dallas to meet the Stars.
The Bruins brushed off a first-minute deficit Saturday to win 4-1 over the still-winless Los Angeles Kings, with Marat Khusnutdinov netting the deciding goal with 6:24 remaining.
“Obviously we are a little bit more mature than last year, even though we have more younger guys, but they’ve been playing really well,” Boston captain David Pastrnak said of playing in close games. “I think (with) the calmness and the inside confidence, the healthy confidence, we know what to do.”
Coach Marco Sturm has gotten contributions from up and down the lineup lately, including both goaltenders — Jeremy Swayman and Michael DiPietro — and 22-year-old center Matt Poitras, who set up Khusnutdinov’s game-winner for his fifth point in five games.
With top-line center Pavel Zacha sidelined Saturday by an upper-body injury, Fraser Minten took his spot between David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie. Poitras also got a bump on the line chart as a result, and Sean Kuraly centered the fourth line.
Zacha returned to join the team’s Monday afternoon skate in Dallas.
On defense, Saturday gave Jonathan Aspirot a chance to step in, as veteran Nikita Zadorov was benched after taking a double minor penalty during Friday’s 4-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. He was credited with three blocked shots and five hits in 17:58 of ice time.
“It’s not easy to be out that long. I thought he was outstanding today,” Sturm said of Aspirot. “He was blocking shots, he was aggressive, he was mean, he won a lot of battles. He was excellent.”
The Stars have banked all four of their early-season wins in back-to-back pairs and three in Jake Oettinger shutout fashion after blanking the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 on Saturday. Arttu Hyry scored two goals, while Oettinger made 19 saves.
Now, coach Glen Gulutzan hopes that Dallas can carry its success back home, where it has lost two of its first three games while going 3-1-1 on the road. The Stars will play their next six games at American Airlines Center through the end of October.
“We’re pretty good on the road,” Gulutzan said. “I think one area of improvement for us is our home record and how we start at home, so that’s one area that we’re going to harp on this week.”
Oettinger has been outstanding through six outings (.952 save percentage) backstopping a team that is scoring only 2.38 goals per game. Oettinger leads the NHL with three shutouts, one shy of his total from last season.
“Guys have played well in front of me. I feel like my game is in a good spot,” Oettinger said. “Yeah, guys have played really well, committed to playing good defense, and that’s what happens.”
On Tuesday, he will likely be up against his U.S. Olympic teammate and fellow Hockey East product in Swayman, whose .934 save percentage is also a top-10 mark in the NHL.
Dallas could have forward David Perron in the lineup for his season debut as early as Tuesday after he signed a one-year contract on Friday. The 38-year-old played 65 regular-season games for the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings last season.
Perron participated in the Stars’ Monday practice, as did Roope Hintz after leaving Saturday’s game with a hand injury after blocking a shot.