Nathan Horton answered a Pavel Datysuk goal to open the third and final round, but it wasn't enough to give the Bruins their 11th straight win. They still have points in 11 straight games and will look to start a new win streak Saturday when they host Winnipeg.
End Overtime, 2-2: The Bruins do win the draw to set up a shot for Zdeno Chara, but it sails just wide and this one will be settled in a shootout.
Overtime, 4:48, 2-2: The Red Wings use their timeout with a faceoff to the left of Howard with 11.8 seconds left. Huge draw here for a final chance to win this before the shootout.
Overtime, 3:41, 2-2: The Bruins threaten on a strong shift by Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin with Dennis Seidenberg and Joe Corvo on defense. Seidenberg and Seguin had back-to-back chances from the right side.
Overtime, 0:46, 2-2: The Red Wings threaten as Jonathan Ericcson pinches in for a shot, then a pileup in the crease ensues, but Rask holds the fort.
Overtime, 0:00, 2-2: The 4-on-4 extra session is under way here at the Garden. It's sudden death for the next five minutes, and if no one scores we'll head to a shootout.
End Regulation, 2-2: The Bruins have guaranteed themselves at least a point, and will head to overtime to try to extend their win streak to 11 games.
Third Period, 18:14, 2-2: Pavel Datsyuk with the fancy dangle down the slot, but he fires wide. he's then dumped along the boards by David Krejci, and buried by Zdeno Chara with a huge hit later in the shift.
Third Period, 16:52, 2-2: The Bruins continue to press for the go-ahead goal. They're up to 40 shots now and plenty have been quality chances, but Jimmy Howard has made some big stops to keep it tied.
Third Period, 12:12, 2-2: The Red Wings nearly connect one of their increasingly rare chances, but Dan Cleary's shot from the right slot hits the far post and stays out.
Third Period, 10:47, 2-2: The Bruins are all over Detroit right now. Milan Lucic drives the net for a bid but can't get off the shot. Adam McQuaid follows with a shot from the point that Jimmy Howard finally ties up for a brief reprieve. Shots now 34-23 in favor of Boston.
Third Period, 9:23, 2-2: Shawn Thornton with a pair of bids for the Bruins. First he almost scored on a shot from the point after covering for McQuaid, who pinched in deep. Then Thornton carried around behind the net and came out for a chance at the left post that almost handcuffed Jimmy Howard.
Third Period, 7:52, 2-2: The Bruins pull even as Patrice Bergeron takes advantage of a Henrik Zetterberg turnover in front.
Zetterberg coughed up the puck in the left slot and Bergeron pounced on the chance and buried it.
Third Period, 5:38, Red Wings 2-1: The Bruins survive that penalty despite Detroit keeping the puck in the zone for most of the two minutes, and the sides are back at even strength.
Third Period, 3:38, Red Wings 2-1: Eventful shift for Dennis Seidenberg, who follows his own rush with a shot in front that hits Howard in the back after the goalie had gotten twisted around.
But seconds later, Seidenberg gets called for kneeing as he extends the leg a little too much on a hit on Cory Emmerton.
Third Period, 2:41, Red Wings 2-1: Niklas Kronwall pinches in from the point for a bid from between the circles, but Tuukka Rask squeezes the pads to make the stop and keep the deficit at one.
Third Period, 0:00, Red Wings 2-1: The final frame is under way here at the Garden, and the Bruins will need to rally to extend their win streak to 11 games.
Second Intermission Notes: The Bruins finally got on the board in the middle frame, but the tie lasted all of 35 seconds as the Red Wings showed off their quick-strike abilities once again.
Daniel Paille scored the goal for the Bruins and has been very active all day. He has three shots in just 6:05 of ice time, and could have more but whiffed on a pair of attempts. His speed has been a major asset against the very fast Detroit lineup.
The Bruins could stand a little improvement on the draws. They're 15-18 (45 percent) so far, with David Krejci having a particularly bad day at just 1-8.
End Second Period, Red Wings 2-1: Two periods are in the books, and the Bruins remain down a goal after the clubs exchanged goals 35 seconds apart early in the second.
Second Period, 17:38, Red Wings 2-1: Daniel Paille with a bid for his second goal of the day as he gets a partial break, but Jimmy Howard makes the stop as Paille is forced to fire from further out than he would have liked with back pressure coming on strong.
Second Period, 15:16, Red Wings 2-1: The penalties have all expired and the sides are finally back at even strength. There's another big pileup in the Bruins crease and Tuukka Rask loses his mask in the scuffle, but no further penalties are called.
Second Period, 13:11, Red Wings 2-1: The parade to the penalty box continues as David Krejci is now sent off for hooking. The Red Wings will have a 4-on-3 advantage,
Second Period, 12:21, Red Wings 2-1: The Red Wings even that up as Tomas Holmstrom is called for hooking.
Second Period, 11:38, Red Wings 2-1: The Bruins are shorthanded for the first time in this one as Rich Peverley is called for slashing after delivering a nasty shot between the legs to Jonathan Ericcson.
Second Period, 9:41, Red Wings 2-1: The action continues to be wide open here in the second with both teams creating chances, but it remains a one-goal game. The Wings have trimmed the Bruins' shot lead to 17-11.
Second Period, 4:40, Red Wings 2-1: The Red Wings answer right back as as Todd Bertuzzi passes off the boards to Pavel Datsyuk, who kicks it to himself and beats Tuukka Rask with a nice move at the top of the crease.
Second Period, 4:05, 1-1: The Bruins pull even in the midst of a line change, as Nathan Horton steals Howard's pass behind the net and feeds Daniel Paille in front. Paille scores on the backhand to tie it.
Second Period, 1:12, Red Wings 1-0: The Bruins with an opportunity as Brad Marchand carried the puck down the left side on a 2 on 1, but he can't get the pass over to Tyler Seguin in front.
Second Period, 0:00, Red Wings 1-0: The middle frame is under way here at the Garden, where the Bruins are looking to pull even after falling behind by a goal despite a solid effort in the first period.
First Intermission Notes: The Bruins played well in the opening period, controlling long stretches and having all four lines creating chances at different points. But Detroit showed how dangerous it can be if given even the slightest opening, as one well-executed rush created the game's only goal so far.
Boston holds a 13-6 edge in shots, but Detroit had the only one that counted to take that 1-0 lead into the break. Surprisingly, Shawn Thornton and Zdeno Chara are the only players in the game with multiple shots, with each having two in the first. Andrew Ference is the only player with multiple hit, but the Bruins trail 7-6 in that category despite Ference's two hits.
Tuukka Rask wasn't challenged often but didn't appear rusty while starting his first game in over a week. At the other end, Jimmy Howard has been very strong. He's made some big stops, the best coming on Nathan Horton's rebound at the right post during Boston's first power play.
End First Period, Red Wings 1-0: The Bruins weren't able to generate much on that power play and the opening period closed with Boston trailing by a goal despite outshooting Detroit 13-6.
First Period, 17:34, Red Wings 1-0: The Bruins will get another power-play chance as Jiri Hudler is sent to the box for hooking.
First Period, 15:55, Red Wings 1-0: The Bruins are controlling play and have all four lines creating chances, but so far Detroit's quick strike capability is the difference as the Red Wings have the only goal despite being outshot 12-4.
First Period, 12:43, Red Wings 1-0: The Red Wings strike first as Valtteri Filppula scores in front off the rush.
Filppula carried the puck down the middle, passed to Henrik Zetterberg on the right wing, then took the return pass and beat Tuukka Rask from the top of the crease.
First Period, 10:46, 0-0: The Bruins can't convert, but put good pressure on Detroit. Best chance came with a Nathan Horton rebound at the right post, but Jimmy Howard made the stop. That came after Henrik Zetterberg had lost his stick. Bruins leading 10-2 in shots.
First Period, 8:46, 0-0: The Bruins get the first power-play chance of the day as Jonathan Ericsson is called for interference after knocking Chris Kelly into the side of the Detroit net.
First Period, 7:31, 0-0: A strong shift from the Patrice Bergeron line creating some chances, but Bergeron fired wide on a bid from the slot, then Tyler Seguin also missed the net from in front off a feed from Bergeron.
First Period, 5:15, 0-0: Both teams crashing the net early, with Adam McQuaid firing in a shot then following it into the crease at one end and Justin Abdelkader trying to stuff one in at the left post at the other end.
First Period, 2:24, 0-0: Some nice work by Chris Kelly on that shift, forcing a pair of turnovers in the offensive zone that led to chances for the Bruins.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: And we're under way at the Garden, with the Bruins looking to extend their win streak to 11 in an Original Six showdown with Detroit.
1:15 p.m.: The Bruins will go with the top line start this one for a change, opening with Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Nathan Horton up front, Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk on defense and Tuukka Rask in goal.
The Red Wings counter with Johan Franzen, Pavel Datsyuk and Todd Bertuzzi up front, Jonathan Ericsson and Niklas Kronwall on the blue line and Jimmy Howard in net.
1:05 p.m.: The Bruins have officially scratched Jordan Caron and Steven Kampfer. No lineup changes other than Rask starting instead of Thomas.
The Red Wings have scratched Mike Commordore and Patrick Eaves. Both skated in warm-ups, but will remain out as healthy scratches for their fifth straight game.
12:55 p.m.: There were no changes to the Bruins lines in the warm-ups, and no extra skaters on the ice for the Bruins.
Here are the full line combinations from warm-ups:
Lucic-Krejci-Horton
Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin
Pouliot-Kelly-Peverley
Paille-Campbell-Thornton
Defense pairs:
Chara-Boychuk
Seidenberg-Corvo
Ference-McQuaid
That leaves Steven Kampfer and Jordan Caron as the healthy scratches. The Red Wings had everyone on the ice, including Mike Commodore and Patrick Eaves, who have been the scratches of late. We'll have to wait to see if either of them return to the lineup.
12:45 p.m.: In a bit of a surprise, Tuukka Rask leads the Bruins out for warm-ups. He'll get the start in this one instead of Thomas.
Jimmy Howard in goal for Detroit.
12 p.m.: The Bruins get back to work in about an hour, hosting the Red Wings in an Original Six showdown.
Claude Julien refused to answer when asked who would start in goal, but sticking with Michigan native Tim Thomas is the most likely scenario.
6 a.m. ET: The Bruins returned home for a Thanksgiving feast the proud owners of a 10-game win streak and occupying the top spot in the Northeast Division after rallying for a 4-3 shootout victory in Buffalo on Wednesday.
Things won't get any easier on Friday, as the Red Wings arrive for the traditional Black Friday matinee at the Garden. Detroit has been a streaky team themselves, starting the season with five straight wins, then losing the next six before rattling off four more wins in a row. Their current streak is more modest than Boston's run, but the Red Wings are hot after beating Calgary 5-3 on Wednesday for their third straight win.
Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg appear to finally be coming around after surprisingly slow starts. Datsyuk had just 2-8-10 totals through his first 16 games, but is 3-5-8 over his last four. Zetterberg was likewise just 3-3-6 through 16 games, but has 1-3-4 totals in the last four games.
Detroit was also buoyed by the return of defenseman Ian White on Wednesday. He made an immediate impact with a goal and two assists after missing four games with a fractured cheekbone.
The Bruins have no shortage of players producing themselves, with every player on the roster contributing to the 10-game win streak. Tim Thomas has been at the forefront of that run. He had his shutout streak snapped on Wednesday, but still came up huge in the third period and overtime, then stopped all five shots he faced in the shootout.
The last two games against division rivals Montreal and Buffalo had a playoff feel with the intensity and bad blood that flowed into those matchups. The Bruins don't face Western Conference power Detroit often, but this Original Six matchup still is something special to the players involved, especially Thomas, a native of Flint, Mich.
"Every time we play an Original Six team, there's an extra energy to the game," Thomas said earlier this week. "You know, before I experienced playing against other Original Six teams, I heard the talk about it, but I didn't think there was anything to it. But over the years, it's true, there's an extra energy to the game, and it just makes the game more important.
"For me to play against Detroit is always a big deal for me because I'm from Michigan," Thomas added. "I don't really look too far ahead on the schedule ever, hardly ever. I just try to keep it small, keep it focused, but I always know when the Red Wings game is because my family makes me aware of it. And I'm happy to be playing in Boston this time because it was a lot cheaper than playing in Detroit."
The Bruins hope this year's clash also goes better than last season, when the Red Wings swept a home-and-home series in February with a 6-1 win at the Garden followed by a 4-2 victory at Joe Louis Arena.
The puck drops at 1 p.m., so check back here for updates on all the action from the Garden.
