BOSTON, MASS- The Boston Bruins got a goal from Patrice Bergeron early in the first period and then another one from Brad Marchand late in the opening frame to break a tie and the Bruins never looked back, beating the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 at a sold out TD Garden Thursday night.
With the victory, Boston head coach Claude Julien tied Art Ross for most career victories as coach of the Bruins with 387.
Bergeron scored his 25th goal just 1:18 into the game as he skated behind the Hawks net and then wristed one short side that beat Chicago netminder Scott Darling to make it 1-0. Jonathan Toews evened up the score on the powerplay at 14:14 to make it 1-1, before a late goal by Marchand at 19:38 made it 2-1 Boston. For Marchand, that was goal number 33 on the season, third in the NHL.
Ryan Spooner scored at 2:31 of the second period, his 12th, to make it 3-1 before Loui Erickson scored his 24th to make it 4-1 at 15:24. Thomas Fleischmann scored his 11th on the year at 19:10 to make it 4-2 and end the scoring on the night.
Tuuka Rask made 25 saves on the night for the Bruins (36-23-6) while Darling made 21 for the Blackhawks (40-21-5). Boston is now tied with 78 points with the Tampa Bay Lightning for second place in the Atlantic Division, just two points behind first place Florida. Newcomers John Michael-Lilles and Lee Stempniak also scored their first points since joining the Bruins. Stempniak got an assist on the Bergeron goal while Lilles also got an assist when he sent a perfect saucer pass on a two on one to Erickson who tipped it past Darling on the Bruins fourth goal.
Chicago next heads back home to host the Detroit Red Wings Sunday evening at 5 p.m. while Boston will host the NHL-leading Washington Capitals (98 points) on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
