The Boston Bruins scored two early goals on Thursday night and outshot the visiting Detroit Red Wings 34-15 in route to a 5-2 win at the TD Garden to keep Boston alive for the second wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Boston scored two goals on their first four shots. David Pastrnak scored at 1:25 of the first and just 1:19 later Brad Marchand scored his 37th of the year to make it 2-0.
The Bruins got a powerplay goal from Torey Krug, his fourth goal on the year, to make it 3-0 5:02 into the second. Alexey Marchenko put the Wings on the board 1:57 later to cut the lead to 3-1.
Boston would bounce Detroit starting goal Jimmy Howard from the game in the first 45 seconds of the third period on goals by Lee Stempniak and Loui Eriksson made it 5-1 Bruins. A late goal by Detroit right winger Andreas Athanasiou made it 5-2 with 1:23 left.
Tuuka Rask made 13 saves to earn the win in net. Howard stopped 21 for Detroit on 26 Boston shots. Petr Mrazek stopped all eight shots he faced in relief of the starter.
Boston (42-30-9) now has 93 points and will host the Ottawa Senators Saturday in the season finale. Philadelphia is one point behind Boston with 92 points, losing in overtime to Toronto Thursday night 4-3. Philadelphia has two games remaining with Pittsburgh and the New York Islanders. Detroit (41-29-11) has 91 points and has one game left Saturday on the road against the New York Rangers. Boston can still potentially miss the playoffs with a loss to Ottawa and if both the Flyers and Red Wings win their remaining contests.
