BOSTON — Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand each had a goal and an assist to help lead the Boston Bruins over the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 on Thursday night.

Boston won for the fifth time in seven games and kicked off their toughest stretch of the season with a victory. The Bruins now prepare to face the Washington Capitals, the NHL’s points leader, on Saturday, before heading out on the road for six of the next eight games.

Ryan Spooner and Loui Eriksson also had goals for Boston. Tuukka Rask made 25 saves and newcomer Lee Stempniak – acquired from New Jersey on Monday – notched two assists.

Jonathan Toews and Tomas Fleischmann scored for Chicago, which has dropped three of its last five and 6 of 10, but the Western Conference leaders remained two points ahead of Dallas and St. Louis, who were idle.

Bergeron got the Bruins started just 1:18 into the game when he roofed a shot over the shoulder of Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling for his 25th of the season.

Toews scored a power-play goal to tie it at 1 with 5:46 remaining in the first, but Marchand scored the first of three unanswered goals for Boston when he slapped one past Darling for his team-leading 33rd goal with 22 seconds remaining in the period.

Spooner and Eriksson capped the scoring for Boston, who won consecutive home games for the first time since Dec. 20.

Fleischmann cut the Bruins’ lead to 4-2 with 50 seconds remaining in the second when he beat Rask over the left shoulder.

Darling made 21 saves for Chicago, which has a tough stretch of its own as the Blackhawks face Detroit, St. Louis and Dallas in their next three games.

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