Bruins 4, Devils 3: Krejci, Seguin Shine as Boston Sweeps New Jersey in Regular Season for First Time in 26 Years

Hat tricks are exciting enough on their own, but the way that David Krejci got his second career regular season hat trick (and third overall) netted his third goal on Thursday night was particularly special.

Krejci scored the game-winning goal at 2:59 of overtime, scooping up a loose puck and roofing it over Martin Brodeur, powering Boston to a 4-3 win and giving the Bruins their first regular season sweep of the New Jersey Devils since the 1985-86 season.

Tyler Seguin - playing on a line with Krejci and Milan Lucic - scored the Bruins' second goal at 8:10 of the first period, but Krejci bookended the game's scoring, mixing in one for good measure to tie the game in the third period after an atrocious second period cost the Bruins their early 2-0 lead.

That atrocious period owed in large part to two bad turnovers by Joe Corvo, who continues to struggle in a Black and Gold sweater. The third Devils goal, scored by David Clarkson at 17:46 of the period, came on a wraparound when Tim Thomas wasn't able to seal off the side of the net.

Zach Parise and Patrik Elias had New Jersey's first and second goals.

The Bruins continued their strong play in the third period, but supplemented it with a stronger first period, which was arguably their best frame in weeks. Krejci's first-shift goal was followed shortly thereafter by a marathon bout between Shawn Thornton and Eric Boulton, which saw both men land big punches before the fight was broken up by officials and Thornton had to leave the ice for repairs.

Adam McQuaid and Andrew Ference were both roughed up during the game as well, with Ference missing a substantial amount of the third period while being tended to in the locker room.

The Bruins host the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon.