NEW YORK -- Riley Nash and Zdeno Chara scored first-period goals and Patrice Bergeron added two in the second to help the surging Boston Bruins swamp the New York Rangers 6-1 on Wednesday night.
The Bruins won for the 18th time in their last 23 games, getting 21 saves from backup netminder Anton Khudobin. The Bruins (33-11-8) are just a point behind Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay.
Tim Schaller's goal that made it 4-1 at 7:25 of the second period chased Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and brought boos from the crowd at Madison Square Garden. Lundqvist was replaced by Ondrej Pavelec.
The Rangers had won seven straight over the Bruins, including both meetings this season. But New York was no match for the Boston attack on Wednesday (see full recap).
JVR comes up big in Leafs' win over Predators
TORONTO -- James van Riemsdyk scored in regulation and again in the seventh round of a shootout in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night.
Kasperi Kapanen also scored in regulation to help the Maple Leafs win for the sixth time in seven games. Frederik Andersen made 44 saves to improve to 7-1-0 against Nashville.
Colton Sissons and Viktor Arvidsson scored for the Predators, and Pekka Rinne stopped 30 shots.
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Van Riemsdyk opened the scoring in the first period after collecting a pass from Connor Brown along the side boards. Van Riemsdyk's long-range shot went off the stick of defenseman Alexei Emelin and past Rinne at 16:06.
The Leafs added to their lead in the second period. With Nashville on the power play, Kapanen stripped P.K Subban of the puck at the Predators' blue line for a breakaway. Craig Smith caught up to Kapanen who initially blocked his path to the goal, but Kapanen spun around Smith and put a wrist shot through the legs of Rinne to give Toronto a 2-0 lead at 9:38.
The Predators scored their first goal of the game when Pontus Aberg's shot hit van Riemsdyk on the way to the net. Sissons picked up the loose puck and beat an out-of-position Andersen at 18:10. Nashville tied it early in the third when Arvidsson picked up a rebound in front of Andersen and shot the puck through his legs (see full recap).
