Bruins Wrap: Ryan Spooner Scores Twice As Boston Takes Down Panthers

BOSTON — Ryan Spooner’s first multi-goal effort of the season propelled the Bruins past the visiting Florida Panthers in a Saturday matinee at TD Garden.

Spooner scored twice, including once on the power play, and Tuukka Rask saved 26 of the 27 shots he faced in a 3-1 Bruins win.

Boston has earned at least a point in 10 of its last 11 games.

IT WAS OVER WHEN…
After allowing a goal to former teammate Reilly Smith with 6:04 remaining in the third period, Rask buckled down and held the Panthers scoreless the rest of the way. Brad Marchand sealed the deal with an empty-netter, and the Bruins held on despite being outshot 14-5 over the final 20 minutes.

Rask has allowed one goal or fewer in each of his last three starts.

SPOONER GETS IT STARTED
Spooner opened the scoring for the Bruins with his first even-strength goal since Oct. 23.

The young center was the only player to light the lamp in the first period, though Marchand provided perhaps the most impressive highlight of the frame.

After Zac Rinaldo drew a tripping call a period later to put the Bruins on the power play, Spooner struck again, taking a feed from Patrice Bergeron and firing it past Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo. It was the first time since March 19 that the 23-year-old had scored twice in one game.

Luongo was very good in a losing effort for Florida, foiling numerous Boston scoring chances to keep his team within striking distance. He finished with 23 saves.

HAYES TO THE ROOM
Jimmy Hayes exited down the tunnel late in the first period after taking a shoulder to the face from former Bruins enforcer Shawn Thornton.

Hayes missed the remainder of the first period but was back on the bench to begin the second.

Thornton was not penalized for the hit, but he did spend four minutes in the box later in the game after an altercation with Rinaldo.

Rinaldo dropped Connor Brickley with a big hit in front of the Florida bench, and Thornton swooped in to defend his teammate. The ex-Bruin knocked the current one to the ice with a few heavy shots, then let up as officials arrived to break up the scrap.

Rinaldo was given two minutes for charging and another two for roughing, while Thornton was assessed two roughing minors.

LINEUP NOTES
Colin Miller returned to action after a three-game absence as coach Claude Julien shuffling up his defensive pairs. Miller rejoined his usual partner, Dennis Seidenberg, on the second pairing, but the top and bottom groupings were new creations, with Zdeno Chara skating with Adam McQuaid and Torey Krug pairing up with Kevan Miller.

The Panthers’ lineup featured a trio of former Bruins forwards in Jaromir Jagr, Thornton and Smith. This was Smith’s first game back at the Garden since the offseason trade that sent him to Florida and brought Hayes to Boston.

UP NEXT
The reunions will continue straight through the week for the Bruins, who will face Peter Chiarelli’s Edmonton Oilers on Monday and the Pittsburgh Penguins — now coached by former B’s player and coach Mike Sullivan — on Wednesday and Friday.

Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images