BOSTON – Chris Kelly’s offense has been a pleasant surprise for the Boston Bruins.

Kelly scored two second-period goals and Tim Thomas stopped 40 shots, lifting the Bruins to their 11th win in 12 games with a 4-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night.

Zdeno Chara also scored for Boston, which overcame a 2-0 deficit to earn a point in its 12th consecutive game, its longest stretch since 2004.

But it was Kelly’s two goals that turned what was a poor start into another victory.

“Everyone wants to get more points,” he said. “No one wants to be a defensive forward in the NHL.”

Kelly has nine goals this season, and six goals and three assists in his last eight games.

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“He’s doing the right things,” said linemate Rich Peverley, who set up the first goal with a short-handed rush from his own end. “He’s getting in the right position to score goals.”

Boston Coach Claude Julien also is impressed by Kelly’s start.

“We knew he could provide us some (offense),” he said. “To this point he’s probably exceeded what we expected from him.”

Evander Kane and Dustin Byfuglien scored 39 seconds apart in the first period for the Jets, who lost for just the second time in six games.

Thomas won his eighth straight start as the Bruins rebounded from a shootout loss to Detroit on Friday.

Kelly tied the game with a short-handed goal at 7:28 of the second period. He scored after a strong rush by Peverley, who stole the puck from Zach Bogosian at the Bruins’ blue line, then cut down the left wing and around Byfuglien before getting a shot on Pavelec.

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Kelly raced in and banged in the rebound.

The Bruins grabbed the lead when Benoit Pouliot set up Kelly in the slot for a one-timer.

Thomas made a pair of nice pad saves with about three minutes left, first on Bryan Little’s backhand bid from in close, and then Kane’s rebound.

“It was just reaction,” said Thomas, who had a season high in saves. “The backhand pulled me wide and half of the net was still open. I’ve learned from experience that I leave the five-hole open when I try to cover the other half.”

 


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