Mark Stuart collected the puck and backed up to the right point, where he sent the puck toward the net. It deflected toward the left circle, and Patrice Bergeron banked the puck into an open net to give Boston an extremely important victory.
If the Bruins play like this throughout their last six games, they'll be a lock for the playoffs.
Overtime, 1:56, 0-0: Great, great hit by Mark Stuart, who drove all the way through Ilya Kovalchuk as the sniper tried closing on the puck down by the pipe.
Overtime, 4:30, 0-0: This four-on-four format will favor the highly-skilled Devils, and that theory will really be in effect in a shootout. It might be tough the rest of the way for the Bruins.
End of regulation, 0-0: David Krejci took a quick slap shot with five seconds remaining in the third period, but Marty Brodeur swallowed it up. The Bruins have truly been the better team in this game, so it's got to be tough for them not to get a victory in regulation. But they've got one point and have a chance for two after the quick intermission.
Third period, 0:50, 0-0: The Devils killed the penalty, and there's going to be a sprint for these two points.
Third period, 1:21, 0-0: Nothing yet for the B's, but they're really battling here. They've been doing this all night, bringing back flashes of last season's squad.
Third period, 2:48, 0-0: Here is the Bruins' best chance to win this thing. Patrik Elias got a pair for tripping Patrice Bergeron behind the New Jersey net, and the Bruins have their first extended power play of the game.
Third period, 6:48, 0-0: Things have opened up in the last few minutes, and each team has had a close call. First, Milan Lucic was denied by the goal line, then David Clarkson's quick one-timer from the slot beat Tuukka Rask's glove but got no love from the crossbar.
Third period, 9:45, 0-0: So, it took 47 minutes for either team to register a penalty, and there have been three in the last 3:12. Zach Parise got called for interference, and the teams will play four on four for 1:36 before the B's get a power play for 24 seconds.
Third period, 10:09, 0-0: And the Bruins are going to have to do it again. Matt Hunwick took a diving swipe at the puck in the Boston zone, and it flew out of play. Hunwick got two minutes for delay of game.
Third period, 10:35, 0-0: Good kill for the Bruins, who generated as many good chances on the penalty kill than the Devils did on their power play.
Third period, 12:57, 0-0: Blake Wheeler's bad pass in the Jersey zone allowed the Devils to push the puck up the ice on a rush, and Zdeno Chara made a lazy play to get called for a hooking penalty away from the puck. The Devils have the first power play of the game for either team.
Third period, 16:07, 0-0: The Bruins have made it clear they're trying to generate rebounds off of Marty Brodeur, as well as get some friendly bounces off of the back boards. But they haven't been able to win the race to those pucks, and that's a big reason why they've been held off of the scoreboard.
Third period, 19:10, 0-0: Michael Ryder made a brilliant move to skate around Andy Greene with the backhand and swing the puck through the crease on the forehand, but Marty Brodeur did a brilliant job to fall to his left and keep the puck out of the net with his glove hand. That's a Hall of Fame save right there.
Third period, 19:58, 0-0: And they're off.
End of second period, 0-0: With the exception of maybe one shift, the Bruins really controlled the second period in New Jersey. But to this point, the better performance hasn't paid off on the scoreboard. Boston is outshooting New Jersey 22-11 in this one.
There was finally a little fire shown in this game, which has been without any penalties. Steve Begin and Andy Greene went at it after the buzzer, as Begin wasn't very happy after Greene took a shot to Begin's face as the Bruin was on his knees trying to play the puck. Since each of these teams has plenty to play for over the final two weeks, expect that emotion to increase in the last 20 minutes, especially after the Devils have been largely ineffective at home throughout the game.
Second period, 6:00, 0-0: Dennis Wideman swings and misses like a blindfolded kid shaking a plastic straw at a pinata. He's got two ugly turnovers in this game.
Second period, 9:34, 0-0: Very few whistles, no penalties and not a lot of shots. This game is moving fast, but in typical Devils fashion, there isn't much going on. The Bruins are outshooting the Devils 4-1 in the second period, but New Jersey is just so good at stacking its defensemen low in the zone in front of Martin Brodeur. It's going to take a real effort to get one into the Jersey net on this night.
Second period, 19:57, 0-0: They're back at it in Jersey. Let's see if either team can create enough pressure around the net to beat home a goal.
End of first period, 0-0: The Bruins and Devils are tied after a defensive-minded first period, and this was a much better effort in the opening 20 minutes for the B's, who surrendered three goals to the Devils in the first period 15 days ago. Of course, that meltdown happened in front of Tim Thomas, and this stout start happened in front of Tuukka Rask.
First period, 5:30, 0-0: Tuukka Rask had another gaffe behind the net, and it nearly led to a New Jersey goal. Rask and the Bruins' defensemen recovered in time to avert the disaster. Rask needs to be as good behind the net as he is in the net.
First period, 9:00, 0-0: NESN's Naoko Funayama reported on her Twitter page that Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli told her a deal with Joe Colborne is "imminent." Who knows if Colborne will get a chance to play in Boston this season, but he'll be a welcomed addition to the organization. He had 22 goals and 19 assists for a very good Denver team this season, and he's got a 6-foot-5, 195-pound frame as a 20-year-old. He'll be a very solid forward for this team.
First period, 14:50, 0-0: The Bruins have had a strong start, and they really seem to respond well when Tuukka Rask is in net. Milan Lucic, Patrice Bergeron and Mark Stuart have each put some good shots on Martin Brodeur, and Dennis Seidenberg rocked a slapper off of Zach Parise's leg, forcing him to hobble to the bench.
First Period, 19:58, 0-0: They're playing hockey in New Sweater.
6:45 p.m.: Martin Brodeur is between the pipes for the Devils.
6:43 p.m.: NESN's Naoko Funayama is reporting defenseman Andrew Ference did not travel with the team to New Jersey and was getting evaluated Tuesday in Boston. Claude Julien should know more after the game.
6:31 p.m.: No surprise between the pipes for the Bruins, who will start Tuukka Rask against the Devils.
10:34 a.m.: The Bruins have lost two of their last three games, including Monday's 3-2 defeat against Buffalo at the Garden. Tim Thomas had another rough night in net, and it's worth wondering if that was the last start he'll ever make for Boston.
With the mini-slide, the Bruins have again found themselves clinging to the Eastern Conference's eighth playoff spot, and Tuesday night's game in New Jersey — where the B's fell 3-2 just 15 days ago — is all the more important. Boston has a two-point lead and a game in hand on the Thrashers, and it's four points up on the Rangers. In the other direction, though, the B's remain two points behind Montreal and Philly.
