Bruins Easily Skate Past Avalanche, Win 6-2
DENVER (AP) -- Milan Lucic and Brad Marchand each scored twice, Tim Thomas stopped 32 shots and the Boston Bruins took advantage of two goals going in off skates of Colorado defensemen in a 6-2 win over the Avalanche on Saturday.
Mark Recchi and Patrice Bergeron added goals as the Northeast Division leaders won for the third time in four games. David Krejci, Bergeron and Marchand each contributed two assists as well.
Paul Stastny and Kevin Shattenkirk scored for the Avalanche, who entered the game as the fourth-highest scoring team only to be held in check by Thomas.
Peter Forsberg skated on the Pepsi Center ice before the game as he contemplates a comeback. The former NHL MVP said he wants to return if his chronically injured right foot can handle the grind. The 37-year-old will skate with the Avs in practice next week before making a decision on his future.
Colorado pulled goaltender Craig Anderson before the start of the third period after he surrendered four goals on 28 shots. Peter Budaj stepped in and stopped 10 shots the rest of the way, allowing just the goal that was credited to Bergeron after it went in off of John-Michael Liles' skate.
Earlier in the game, a goal credited to Marchand caromed off the right skate of Ryan O'Byrne.
The Bruins broke open a tight game with two goals in the second period as Recchi and Lucic scored on defensive breakdowns by Colorado.
Lucic's two goals gives him a team-leading 19 this season.
Bruins center Marc Savard was hurt on a check into the boards early in the second period and didn't return. He stayed down on the ice for a few minutes before being helped to the dressing room holding a towel to his head. He was hit by former teammate Matt Hunwick early in the second period.
The Bruins didn't reveal the extent of the injury.
The Avs took the early lead when Stastny scored the 100th goal of his career 2 minutes into the game. He became the eighth player in Avalanche history to reach the century mark.
The Bruins got a lucky bounce to tie it up midway through the opening period when Recchi's centering pass deflected off the skate of O'Byrne and past Anderson.
Lucic put Boston up for good moments later as he swatted a loose puck into the net on a power play.
Forsberg spent nearly 45 minutes working out on the ice Saturday morning with Ryan O'Reilly, who's currently out with a shoulder injury.
Afterward, Forsberg said the foot that's required double-digit surgeries "definitely feels better."
The Avs certainly could use him with forward Tomas Fleischmann out for the season due to blood clots in both lungs. Fleischmann is one of the team's top scorers.
To fill that void, the team recalled T.J. Galiardi from Lake Erie of the American Hockey League. Galiardi had been sent down to the minors, but was summoned to return after one game.
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