BOSTON — Tuukka Rask made 23 stops and posted a point for a career-best 20th straight game Saturday night, leading the surging Boston Bruins past the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-1.
David Pastrnak and Torey Krug each scored on a power play in the second period, and Patrice Bergeron added his team-leading 22nd goal for Boston. Tim Schaller had an empty-netter as the Bruins collected at least a point for the 20th time in 21 games, moving four points ahead of Toronto for second place in the Atlantic Division.
Rask hasn’t lost in regulation since Nov. 26. He improved to 18-0-2 in his last 20 starts, and had an assist on Schaller’s goal.
The Maple Leafs had their four-game winning streak stopped and lost in regulation for the first time in seven games against Boston after going 5-0-1.
Mitchell Marner was credited with a goal for Toronto after Boston defense- man Charlie McAvoy redirected Marner’s shot into his own net. McAvoy was in the lineup for the first time since a heart procedure nearly two weeks ago.
Trailing 1-0 and on a power play, the Maple Leafs tied it at 8:03 of the first period, helped by McAvoy. Positioned in front of his own net, the rookie tapped Marner’s shot – it was going fairly slowly after it hit Boston forward Sean Kuraly’s stick and was heading wide – into the net to the right of Rask as the goalie was attempting to control the puck.
CANADIENS 5, DUCKS 2: Defenseman Jeff Petry scored two goals as Montreal won at home to end a three-game losing streak.
SENATORS 4, FLYERS 3: Mike Hoffman scored the only goal among 12 players in the shootout at Philadelphia.
BLUES 1, SABRES 0: Carter Hutton stopped 27 shots, and Carl Gunnarsson banked in a shot off the crossbar with 5:41 left for St. Louis at Buffalo, New York.
ISLANDERS 4, BLUE JACKETS 3: Jordan Eberle and Brock Nelson scored early in the third period, and Jaroslav Halak made 46 saves as New York rallied at home.
JETS 3, AVALANCHE 0: Connor Hellebuyck stopped 25 shots for his fifth shutout of the season as Winnipeg won at home.
PANTHERS 3, RED WINGS 2: Jonathan Huberdeau scored with 7.7 seconds left to lift Florida at Sunrise, Florida.
NOTES
CAPITALS: Forward T.J. Oshie was fined $5,000 for cross-checking Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang in the neck.
TRADE: Nashville acquired forward Mark McNeill from Dallas for defenseman Andrew O’Brien.
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