Bruins improve to 6-1; beat Stars behind Hall, Ullmark

BOSTON (AP) — Taylor Hall scored the tiebreaking goal late in the second period, Linus Ullmark stopped 30 shots and the Boston Bruins beat the Dallas Stars 3-1 on Tuesday night to improve to 6-1.

It was the third straight game-winning score for Hall, who had an overtime goal to beat Minnesota on Saturday after collecting the lone tally in a shootout against Anaheim last Thursday.

David Pastrnak added a power-play goal and an assist, and Patrice Bergeron had an empty-netter with 27 seconds to go for the Bruins, who remained unbeaten at home at 5-0 in coach Jim Montgomery’s first season running the team.

“We haven’t won a game doing that,” said Montgomery. “We kind of surrendered leads, then we ended up winning in overtime or we pull away late. It’s nice to close out a game. ... Dallas pushed us, they tested us. I like the way we shut it down the last four minutes.”

Wyatt Johnston scored for Dallas (4-2-1), which dropped its second straight game. Jake Oettinger made 26 saves.

“It's not easy; the second night of a back-to-back,” Oettinger said. “Guys played really well in front of me.”

In a matchup of two of the league’s better teams early in the season, Boston took the lead in the second and made it stand with steady defensive play and another solid effort by Ullmark, who made his third straight start.

“I don't want to talk about me,” Ullmark said. “I want to talk about the team. It's not just me. We're doing this together. I've got guys in front of me blocking shots left and right.”

With 63 seconds left in the second, Hall one-timed Pastrnak’s cross-ice pass into the net from the right faceoff circle for his third goal (not counting his shootout winner) in the last three games, moving the Bruins ahead 2-1.

“It wasn't an easy shot,” Pastrnak said. “It was a hard pass from me. Credit to him getting it off.”

Ullmark made a nice stop on Luke Glendening at the end of a 3-on-1 break with just over 15 minutes to play in regulation. Then added a right-pad stop on Joe Pavelski’s shot from the slot with about 90 seconds left.

Coming off a loss in Ottawa on Monday night, the Stars tied it at 1 on Johnston’s goal 1:48 into the second. Both Bruins defenseman (Derek Forbort and Connor Clifton) ended up behind the net trying to get to the puck, but it popped out front where Johnston slipped it past Ullmark from just above the crease.

“I think every game and every day I've been getting more confident and more comfortable,” said 19-year-old rookie Johnston. "It's obviously a big adjustment from Juniors. As the days and games go on, I'm getting more comfortable.”

With Johnston in the box serving a roughing call on Colin Miller who also got a major for fighting, Boston took the lead when Pastrnak one-timed a soft pass from Hampus Lindholm over Oettinger’s left shoulder from the left circle 12:49 into the game.

HOT GOALIES

Both goaltenders entered with 4-0 records and solid goals-against-averages. Oettinger was second in the league at 1.25 and Ullmark came in with a 2.33 mark.

NOTES

Boston defenseman Brandon Carlo returned after missing the last four games with what he confirmed was a concussion. With him back, forward Jakub Lauko was sent to Providence of the AHL. ... Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen was sidelined with an undisclosed upper-body injury. ... Lindholm’s next game will be the 600th of his NHL career.

UP NEXT

Stars: Host the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

Bruins: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

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