Rask Remains Undefeated, Bruins Beat Panthers 2-1
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Goalie Tuukka Rask remained undefeated as the Boston Bruins held off the Florida Panthers 2-1 on Tuesday night at the BB&T Center.
Rask, who made 32 saves, is 5-0-0 this season, allowing just six goals. Boston's three backup goalies are a combined 0-4-0 this season, allowing a total of 18 goals.
The Panthers went 0-for-7 on their power play. They had a two-man advantage, including a pulled goalie, for much of the final three minutes, but could not get the equalizer.
Boston's goals came on a penalty shot by Brad Marchand in the first period and a short-handed marker by Dominic Moore in the second.
Marchand, who posted his fourth goal of the season, entered the game leading the NHL in primary points -- goals or first assists -- at even strength.
That helped give the Bruins (5-4-0) their second straight win, a mini-streak that has coincided with Rask's return from an apparent hamstring injury.
The Panthers (4-5-1) finally got on the scoreboard with 4:35 left in the third period on the first NHL goal for Denis Malgin, a 19-year-old rookie right winger. Malgin beat Rask high to the stick side after a great pass from defenseman Keith Yandle.
Florida then had their final power play with 3:20 left in the third period and also pulled goalie Roberto Luongo, giving the Panthers a two-man advantage. But it wasn't enough, sending Florida to its fourth loss in its past five games.
Panthers right winger Jaromir Jagr played in his 1,639th NHL game, tying him Dave Andreychuk for sixth in league history.
Boston opened the scoring with 16:07 left in the first period. Marchand drew a penalty shot when he was in alone on a breakaway before getting hooked from behind by Reilly Smith. On the penalty shot, Marchand beat Luongo by lifting a backhand shot over the goalie's glove.
That was the Bruins' last shot on goal of the first period. The Panthers had a 13-3 advantage in shots on goal. In addition, Panthers rookie defenseman had a breakaway with five minutes left in the first period, but the puck wouldn't settle, and he missed wide left.
The Bruins made it 2-0 with 13:44 left in the second period. The Panthers had a power play, but a Florida turnover allowed Moore to come in and score on an extreme angle from the left circle.
NOTES: Panthers RW Jonathan Marchessault, 25, has been named the NHL's Third Star for October, tying for the league lead with six goals and adding five assists in nine games. He had seven goals and 11 assists in 45 games last season for the Tampa Bay Lightning. ... Bruins RW David Pastrnak, who leads Boston with five goals, sat out the second of a two-game NHL suspension for a high hit against the New York Rangers. ... Bruins rookie D Brandon Carlo, considered a shutdown defender, ranks second on the team in minutes played. Carlo, 19, wasn't supposed to make the team for another two years. ... Florida scratched LW Shawn Thornton and D Steven Kampfer. ... Boston scratched D Joe Morrow and C Sean Kuraly.
