Bruins Rally Past Devils in Third

BOSTON — Patrice Bergeron scored two goals and Brad Stuart snapped a tie early in the third period as the Boston Bruins beat the Devils 5–3 last night.

Brad Boyes added a goal and two assists, and Petr Tenkrat also scored for the Bruins, who broke a two-game losing streak.

Boston scored three power-play goals and defeated New Jersey at home for the first time since March 12, 2003, despite squandering leads of 2–0 and 3–2.

Following a holding call on New Jersey's Paul Martin in the opening minute of the third period, Stuart corralled a rebound just outside the crease and slapped the puck through a crowd and past backup goalie Scott Clemmensen to put Boston up 4–3 at 2:17.

Bergeron added an empty-net goal in the final minute.

Tim Thomas, who returned after missing Boston's 4–3 loss at Montreal on Tuesday with the flu, stopped eight of his 26 shots in the third period. That helped the Bruins improve to an NHLbest 12–3–2 in one-goal games. Thomas has won six of eight decisions.

Patrik Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Mike Rupp scored for the Devils, who lost their second straight after winning five in a row. Clemmensen, making his second start of the season, stopped 40 shots in place of Martin Brodeur, who was given the night off.

New Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, who signed a $52 million, six-year contract Thursday a month after the team bid $51.11 million for negotiation rights to the Japanese ace, dropped the ceremonial opening puck to a standing ovation.

The Bruins kept the applause going by taking a 2–0 lead in the opening 1:25 on goals by Boyes and Bergeron. But New Jersey tied it by the end of the first period despite being outshot 15–7.