The Bruins were able to hang on to beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Sunday night at Rexall Place to earn their 5th straight win and stay undefeated on the road trip.
Ales Hemsky's 14th goal of the season gave the Oilers an early 1-0 lead just 1:05 into the game. Hemsky picked up a rebound in the slot from Jim Vandermeer's right point shot and ripped a shot past Tuukka Rask.
Michael Ryder tied it up for the B's at 1-1 with 4:30 left in the opening period. Adam McQuaid's shot attempt from the point bounced off the skate of an Oiler in front and caromed to the stick of Ryder. Ryder held the puck for a moment to find a good shooting lane and roofed a shot over the shoulder of Devan Dubnyk and off the water bottle for his 17th goal of the season.
Hathan Horton gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead with 1:21 left in the first period with his 17th tally of the year. David Krejci had the puck at the right circle, looked shot, and slid a pass to Horton at the inside hash marks of the left circle. Horton hammered home the one-timer as Milan Lucic provided the screen at the top of Dudnyk's crease.
Rich Peverley's first goal in Black & Gold created a 2-goal edge for the Bruins with 52 seconds to go in the second period. Chris Kelly moved the the puck along the left wing wall to Peverley in the neutral zone. Peverley broke into the attacking zone before advancing the puck to Michael Ryder. Peverley received the return pass from Michael Ryder on the backhand at the left post on a give-and-go play, moved it to the forehand and tucked it past Dubnyk at the right post for his 15th goal of the season.
The Oilers pulled to within one early in the third period. Gilbert Brule's laser slapper from the top of the left circle along the boards beat Tuukka Rask to make it 3-2 at 3:14 of the second period.
Notes:
- The Bruins out-shot the Oilers 40-17 tonight.
- Chris Kelly's secondary assist on Rich Peverley's goal was his first point as a member of the Boston Bruins.
- Nathan Horton dropped the gloves and quickly dropped Theo Peckham in a first period bout after Peckham laid a borderline high hit on David Krejci. Peckham left the game after the fight and did not return.
- Brad Marchand recorded his first fighting major of the season when he squared off with Andre Cogliano in the third period. Marchand is developing a bit of a reputation as a guy that plays on the edge and that was on display during this fight as the pint-sized pest snuck in an extra punch after the takedown.
- Everyone that is complaining about Lucic not fighting got what they asked for as Lucic engaged in a lengthy bout with Jim Vandermeer in the third period.
- The Bruins made a minor deal tonight. The B's sent Brian McGrattan and Sean Zimmerman to the Anahiem Ducks in exchange for David Laliberte and Stefan Chaput.
- What a scumbag move by Gilbert Brule in the final minute of the game. Johnny Boychuk was kneeling on the ice along the boards without a helmet and Brule cross-checked him the back after the whistle.
- Tonight's 3 Stars (as selected by SportsNet): Michael Ryder (1st Star), Gilbert Brule (2nd Star), Nathan Horton (3rd Star).
- This is the first 5-game win streak for the Bruins this season.
- The Bruins are in action again on Tuesday night when they head back to Ottawa to finish off their 6-game road trip with a meeting with the Senators.
- For more on tonight's game, head over to The Copper & Blue.
- Don't forget about the Stanley Cup of Chowder NHL Trade Deadline Open Thread tomorrow. We'll start things off at 8:00 AM and keep it going all day long. For NHL Trade Deadline news from throughout the league, check out SB Nation's NHL Trade Deadline Hub.