BOSTON — Loui Eriksson scored the go-ahead goal with 7:34 left in the third period and Tuukka Rask stopped 39 shots to lift the surging Boston Bruins to a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday night for their ninth win in 12 games.
Patrice Bergeron scored a first-period, power-play goal for the Bruins, who have collected points in 14 of their last 16 games (10-2-4).
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WHO: Canadiens at Bruins
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
TELEVISION: NBCSN
John Tavares had a power-play goal in the first period for the Islanders, who have lost four of five. Former Bruin Chad Johnson made 34 saves.
Eriksson scored the winner out of a scramble in front when he spun around and sent a backhand shot under Johnson’s left arm.
The teams were scoreless in the second in a contest with many scoring chances and open-ice breakouts.
Tavares one-timed a rebound past Rask from the bottom of the left circle 9:06 into the game for his team-leading 24th goal.
Bergeron tied it 4:06 later when he collected Michael Grabner’s errant clearing pass in the slot and fired a wrister over Johnson, who was on his stomach after making a save.
Both goaltenders made nice stops early in the second. Rask flashed his left pad, robbing Anders Lee’s close bid, and Johnson made two good saves on Carl Soderberg, who cut in front for a shot and then had a rebound chance.
The Bruins had an excellent scoring chance early in the third, but Daniel Paille’s backhander sailed over the wide-open side of the net to Johnson’s left at the end of a 2-on-1 break.
Seconds later, the Islanders went on a power play after Brad Marchand was whistled for high sticking, but Rask made a pair of stops.
The New England Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski emphatically spiked the pregame ceremonial puck – as he does with the football when he scores a touchdown – causing it to bounced over the protective glass and into the stands.
PREDATORS 3, RANGERS 2: Mike Ribeiro scored with 7:14 left in the third period, Pekka Rinne made 30 saves and host Nashville bounced back from a rare home loss on Thursday.
KINGS 4, LIGHTNING 2: Justin Williams had two goals and Los Angeles snapped Tampa Bay’s franchise-record 10-game home winning streak.
CANADIENS 6, DEVILS 2: Tomas Plekanec and Dale Weise each scored twice and P.K. Subban assisted on three power-play goals as the Montreal won at home.
BLUE JACKETS 4, SENATORS 1: Curtis McElhinney stopped 34 shots and Columbus scored four goals in the third period to win in Ottawa.
MAPLE LEAFS 5, OILERS 1: Richard Panik scored in place of scratched David Clarkson, James Reimer maybe 32 saves in place of ill Jonathan Bernier, and host Toronto won for the first time since Jan. 9.
SABRES 3, STARS 2: Jhonas Enroth made 38 saves and Chris Stewart assisted on all three goals for Buffalo in its first victory at home in more than a month.
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