The Sharks played arguably their best game of the current 5-game road trip in Boston in a matinee game at TD Garden, but like so many other games this season, their inability to hold 3rd period leads was on full display. San Jose blew a 3-2 lead in the final frame, allowing the Bruins to score a pair of goals to erase that lead and add a pair of empty net goals to accent a 6-3 loss. It was the 14th consecutive loss to Boston, the longest active streak in the NHL.

San Jose rolled into Boston with a cadre of players and coaches that have Massachusetts roots, but they were unable to finish the job in front of friends and family.

Those friends and family got a first hand look at the Sharks penchant to buckle when it matters. The loss was the 35th of the season for Sa Jose in 49 games. San Jose falls to 8-5-2 when leading to start the 3rd period.

Boston native Will Smith summed it up best following the game.

"We played not to lose rather than play to win," said the Sharks rookie. "We have to figure out how to change that."

Yaroslav Askarov had his hands full early it he contest but he handled the load well. A Morgan Geekie chance rang off the post in the first 4 minutes of the contest, then the Sharks goaltender made a highlight reel save off the Bruins centerman 4 minutes later off a 2-on-1 break.

The Bruins used a tip to get one past Askarov at 9:21. Jordan Oesterle fired a shot on net from the right point, but Vinni Lettieri got a stick blade on the puck, redirecting it to the upper right corner for his 2nd goal of the season.

Barclay Goodrow tied the game at 13:16 after Nico Sturm beat Andrew Peeke to a puck behind the Bruins net then slid it out front. Goodrow was cutting down the slot and was able to lift Sturm's feed past goaltender Joonas Korpisalo for his 4th goal of the season.

Boston reclaimed the lead 7:01 into the 2nd period after Henry Thrun as sent off for tripping. Pavel Zacha setup the goal with a feed to David Pastrnak who circled around the back of the net with the puck and fired a shot on goal from the right side. The puck hit Jake Walman in the skate, deflecting into the net for an unlucky carom.

Will Smith, one of the many Sharks with Boston roots knotted the game at 2-2 at the 8:52 mark when he snapped a shot from the right circle. Smith carried the puck into the Bruins zone and moved in on Korpisalo, before lifting a shot past the netminder for his 7th goal of the season.

A Cody Ceci tripping penalty put the Sharks in a dangerous situation at 12:35. The Bruins controlled the Sharks zone for an eternity as San Jose couldn't clear the puck. When Mario Ferraro's stick snapped, things got really precarious.

San Jose killed the penalty, but the Sharks were still stuck in their own end. Smith was one of three replacements who were able to make it onto to the ice and he promptly got to a puck and fed it up ice to Fabian Zetterlund.

Zetterlund carried it up the right side then sliced toward the slot, uncorking a shot while positioned between three Bruin defenders. Korpisalo made the initial save, but the puck kicked right back to the Zetterlund, who pumped a return chance home for his 13th of the year and the Sharks first lead of the game.

The Sharks had Korpisalo dead to rights after the Bruins netminder found himself flat on the ice, but a Celebrini chance hit a body out front. Then Korpisalo made a crazy glove save while laying on the ice.

Former Sharks draft pick Charlie Coyle tied the game 8:22 into the 3rd period after the Sharks struggled to clear the puck. The Bruins forward snapped a 10-game goal drought by sliding to a low spot inside the right circle, then one-timed a Matthew Poitras fee out of the right corner.

Coyle then really stung the Sharks with 5:49 left in regulation by skating the puck around the right side then flipping it at Askarov from the end line. The puck hit the Sharks goaltender in the right pad before deflecting over the goal line. It was an unfortunate deflection that had no juice on the shot.

The Sharks pulled Askarov with 2 minutes left in regulation, but they fumbled the execution, yanking their goaltender when Boston had possession of the puck. That resulted in an empty netter for Brad Marchand.

For whatever reason, Ryan Warsofsky felt his team had a chance to overcome a 2-goal deficit on the road against a seasoned team, so he pulled Askarov again with under a minute to play. That simply helped Elias Lindhol pad his personal stats with another empty net goal.

Game Notes:

* Nikolai Kovalenko was moved off the injured reserve and joined the team in Boston. He was scratched for the game, but looks ready to go for the Sharks final game on their 5-game road trip in Nashville on Tuesday.

* Several Sharks had New England roots, including Macklin Celebrini (Boston University), Will Smith (born in Boston, Boston College), Henry Thrun (born in Southborough Mass., Harvard University), Mario Ferraro (UMass Amherst), Colin Graf (born in Lincoln Mass.), GM Mike Grier (Boston University), head coach Ryan Warsofsky (born in North Marshfield Mass., Curry College).

* Boston native Will Smith earned the third star of the game and earned a cheer at the end of the game for his 2-point game.

* Macklin Celebrini was held scoreless for his 2nd consecutive game. He now trails Lane Hutson for the rookie scoring lead by 6 points. Hutson has 3 goals and 35 assists to Celebrini's 13 goals and 19 assists.

* The Bruins announced the passing of former coach Tom McVie. He was associated with the Bruins organization for more than 30 years, also serving as a scout and team ambassador.