by Patrick Donnelly / NHL.com Independent Correspondent

BOSTON — David Pastrnak broke a tie late in the third period to help the Boston Bruins defeat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 at TD Garden on Sunday.

Pastrnak scored off a cross-crease pass from Brad Marchand on the power play at 16:36.

Marchand had a goal and an assist, Patrice Bergeron had two assists, and Anton Blidh scored for Boston (11-7-0). Linus Ullmark made 36 saves.

Conor Garland and Tanner Pearson scored for Vancouver (6-14-2), which has lost nine of 10 (1-8-1). 

Jaroslav Halak made 39 saves in his first game against the Bruins since signing with the Canucks as a free agent in the offseason after playing the past three seasons for Boston.

Pearson gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead on the power play at 3:33 of the first period. Ullmark made the save on Brock Boeser‘s redirection in front of the crease, but Pearson scored on the rebound.

Blidh tied it 1-1 with his first of the season at 5:51, scoring on the rush with a shot from above the left face-off circle. 

Garland had a goal overturned at 17:23 that would have given Vancouver the lead, but Boston successfully challenged for offside. He then gave the Canucks a 2-1 lead at 12:31 of the second period with a wrist shot from the left circle. 

Marchand tied it 2-2 at 8:45 of the third. Pastrnak’s one-timer hit the post before Marchand found the loose puck after a scramble in front. 

Blidh left the game after being hit from behind by Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson at 15:23 of the third. Ekman-Larsson was assessed a boarding penalty, and Pastrnak scored on the ensuing power play.