Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy celebrates after scoring in the second period Sunday night against the San Jose Sharks. Steven Senne/Associated Press
BOSTON — Defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy scored highlight-reel goals, Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman combined for a shutout, and the NHL-leading Boston Bruins beat the San Jose Sharks for the 11th straight time, 4-0 on Sunday night.
The Bruins won their fifth straight game and improved to 22-1-3 at home this season, including a victory at Fenway Park as the home team in the Winter Classic.
Ullmark, named a first-time All Star, made 17 saves and improved his record to 25-2-1. He had a relatively easy game before leaving 8:01 into the third period because of a skate-blade issue, and backup Jeremy Swayman stopped a breakaway before Ullmark returned 2:28 later.
David Pastrnak had his team-leading 36th goal and Nick Foligno also scored for Boston, which hasn’t lost to the Sharks since falling 3-2 at home on March 15, 2016. Brad Marchand added two assists.
James Reimer stopped 18 shots for the Sharks, who were shut out for the first time this season.
Lindholm took a pass from Marchand near the blue line and cut down the center, shifting around Michael Eyssimont before firing a wrist shot over Reimer’s left shoulder to make it 1-0 at 7:16 of the first period.
In the second period, McAvoy charged down the slot, flipped the puck past forward Timo Meier and collected it himself before shifting to his right and slipping it around Reimer at 4:08.
Foligno redirected a Lindholm shot to make it 3-0 at 6:46 of the second. Pastrnak’s goal came on a power play.
Playing the second game of an eight-game trip, the Sharks didn’t reach double digits in shots until late in the second.
MAKE-A-WISH NIGHT
Before the game, the Bruins surprised 10-year-old Tanner Dikan, who was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease, with a one-day contract, making him an honorary team member. He got to announce the starting lineup to the players in the dressing room before the game.
NICE TOUCH
The Bruins had a video tribute with current and former players congratulating assistant equipment manager Matt Falconer, who worked his 1,000th game.
NOTES: Boston forward Tomas Nosek missed the game because of a fractured left foot. He’s expected to be sidelined for four weeks. … Sharks standout defenseman Erik Karlsson was held without a point in the teams’ first meeting, too – a 4-2 win by Boston on Jan. 7 in San Jose. … Meier and Boston defenseman Brandon Carlo fought 27 seconds into the game. Carlo headed straight to the locker room after the fight, pointing to his left shoulder area when telling the linesman he needed to leave. He did return shortly after and served the rest of his 5-minute major.
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