BOSTON — The San Jose Sharks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday.
William Eklund finished as the game’s second star, as the Sharks winger had a goal and an assist. Eklund featured in two pretty plays, including a goal that could be considered for the NHL’s goal of the year.
At 8:20 of the third period, Eklund danced around a defender and cut to the front of the net. After Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman stopped his first shot, Eklund flew through the air and batted the puck out of the air, going bardown for a highlight reel finish.
“Late in the shift came one on one, and just trying to beat my guy and end up batting it out over the air,” Eklund said postgame. “I see the puck, of course. Was it on purpose to get it bardown? I don’t know. I try to hit it, and I hit it this time.”
San Jose Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said Eklund’s goal had a little Bobby Orr to it. Orr, a Hall of Fame Defenseman, scored one of the most iconic goals in Bruins and hockey history. He flew through the air for an OTGWG to win the Stanley Cup.
“A little bit of [Bobby Orr]. I mean, that’s a goal that you’ll see on highlight reels for a long, long time,” Warsofsky said. “That’s one of the nicest goals that I’ve seen.”
Eklund was a game-time decision due to a lower-body injury. The Sharks winger gutted it out and played through the pain, and was rewarded for his hard work.
“It’s going to be like that during the season. You’re going to play through stuff, and you’re not going to feel 100% every night,” Eklund said. “You just got to push through it.”
Eklund and Michael Misa got the game’s first goal after the duo finished a pretty 2-on-1 passing play to give the Sharks the lead.