BSJ Game Report: Bruins 2, Devils 1 - Zacha's pair of goals lead Bruins to milestone win

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 2-1 win against the Devils, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Pavel Zacha shines against former team to lead B's to victory: Pavel Zacha scored both Bruins goals in their 2-1 win against the Devils on Saturday at TD Garden.

The former Devil tallied two goals in the first five minutes of action as the Bruins tied the all-time single-season wins record with their 62nd win of the season.

"It feels great. especially the way we won the game, we played Bruins hockey for 60 minutes," Jim Montgomery said about the milestone. "Our penalty kill again, was excellent. Our power play, the one we had, was excellent, and our 5-on-5 play was excellent. We gave up a couple of odd-man rushes but that's the best rush team in the league."

The B's tied the 1995-96 Red Wings and the 2018-19 Lightning with the win and have three games left to rewrite the history books.

"It's a feather in the cap," Hampus Lindholm said. "We're fighting for something bigger in here, but every game is a challenge for us. We try to stick to that process every game and stick to those little details and it makes us successful."

Taylor Hall made his return to the lineup Saturday and finished with four shots in 12:12 of ice time.

"I felt good," Hall said. "It was a good game to come back and play. They're a fast team and they can make you pay easily so that was a good game to get back and feel the speed of the game and feel the pace. I thought our line played pretty well, we had some good looks and ultimately to get a win and tie that record is really special to be a part of, after going through that rehab process."

Linus Ullmark was stellar again for Boston, turning aside 29 of 30 shots he faced for his 39th win this year.

The Bruins scored on their first power play of the game two minutes into the game. Zacha tipped in a point shot from Lindholm as the B's jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage.

Zacha doubled the Bruins' lead less than three minutes later on a backhand shot from just outside the Devils crease. David Pastrnak missed the net on a one-timer and the rebound went right to Zacha's stick, who deposited his 20th goal of the season.

New Jersey quickly cut the B's lead in half when Jesper Bratt deked around Ullmark at 6:21 to make it a 2-1 game. Bratt got a partial breakaway after the Devils transitioned up the ice and the New Jersey speedster picked up his 32nd goal of the season.

Neither team found the back of the net in the final two frames, despite the Devils receiving a four-minute power play late in the second period on a high-sticking double minor.

THREE UP

Zacha keeps cooking: Filling in for David Krejci once again as the second-line center, Zacha's two goals against the Devils highlighted his noticeable improvement in his game since joining the Black and Gold.

The Brno, Czechia native hit 20 goals for the first time in his career and continues to improve his career-best point total, as Zacha now has 55.

Zacha has now scored 15 goals in his last 37 games. 

Special teams step up: The Bruins' special teams played an important role in the win as they killed off all three New Jersey power plays and also cashed in on their only man-advantage opportunity.

"We were talking about some things and I think we really came out there and improved on the stuff that we wanted to buy in and do and it was fun to see it go in," Lindholm said.

Zacha's first goal came in the later stages of the power play, but the B's had quality looks before the game-opening goal.

Pastrnak and Bertuzzi look good: Getting some time on the second line with Krejci out, Tyler Bertuzzi has made the most of his opportunity. The trade deadline pickup finished with two assists against the Devils, but easily could have had more as Bertuzzi and Pastrnak were finding each other all night.

The best chance came during the second when Pastrnak was sprung loose for a breakaway, but Mackenzie Blackwood (38 saves) stoned the 57-goal scorer.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Here's another highlight to add to Ullmark's eventual Vezina Trophy winning montage:

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will conclude their weekend back-to-backs after they face off against the Flyers on Sunday in Philadelphia.

Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m.