Final: Bruins 3, Red Wings 1

Before the NHL shuts down for its annual mandatory three-day break for Christmas, the Bruins played their seventh game in 11 days and finished with a 3-1 victory over the Red Wings at TD Garden. Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron provided the offense, while Tuukka Rask made 30 saves. He's 8-0-1 in his last eight starts.

Ryan Spooner and Riley Nash return to the lineup after missing Thursday's game due to illness. David Backes will be in the lineup after he and his wife became parents again at 1:12 this morning.



Observations from the third period

• Outstanding second effort by Bergeron on that empty-net goal from the red line.


• Bruce Cassidy tweaking his lines late. Has Backes with Bergeron and Marchand.


• Patrice Bergeron's one-timer gives the Bruins a 2-1 lead with 13:49 remaining in regulation.


• I just swore out loud in the press box after that move by David Pastrnak. Love when players use their creativity. The league needs more of that.


• The Red Wings begin with 1:28 of power-play time remaining on Bergeron's penalty.


• The Bruins enter the third with a 3-1-2 record this season when tied after two periods.

• I've been critical of Spooner his entire pro career, but he's played well of late.


• With 11:18 remaining in the period, it appeared as though the Red Wings would take the lead when the puck trickled through Rask's pads. Fortunately for the Bruins, Zdeno Chara reached in and knocked the puck out before it went over the line.


• That was a 200-foot forecheck by Backes and he forces a turnover and the Bruins nearly scored.


• I think Rask might've tweaked something during that scramble early in the period. He keeps flexing his left leg.

• Red Wings quickly tie it on Frans Nielsen's shorthanded goal with 5:22 remaining in period. Rask should've had it.


• Brad Marchand scores to give Boston a 1-0 lead. David Backes with a sick pass. It's Marchand's 15th of the season.


• Bruins will have a 5-on-3 for 1:28. Detroit called for too-many-men.


• Kevan Miller draws a slashing penalty. He's played very well so far this season. Only one game this season he struggled.


• Danton Heinen's ability to win puck battles along the wall is impressive. He doesn't lose many of them. He set up Riley Nash with an open net but he fanned.


• The Red Wings have almost scored two own goals in this game.


• Brandon Carlo needs to cut down on the turnovers.


• Good jump from the Bruins to start.