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Thomas Makes 34 Saves, Bruins Beat Rangers 3-2

Boston's Matt Hunwick (48) skates past New York's Derek Boogaard (94) while fighting for control of the puck during the second period of the game on Wednesday in New York.  (AP)
Boston's Matt Hunwick (48) skates past New York's Derek Boogaard (94) while fighting for control of the puck during the second period of the game on Wednesday in New York. (AP)

Tim Thomas made 15 of his 34 saves in the third period, turning away three shots when Boston was down two men in the third and lifting the Bruins to a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night.

Milan Lucic, Tyler Seguin and Mark Recchi scored three consecutive goals as Boston won its second straight in improving to 7-1 on the road. The Bruins have scored 21 goals in their past five road games.

Brandon Dubinsky and Marian Gaborik scored for New York, but the Rangers had their three-game winning streak snapped. They lost in regulation for the first time in seven games (5-1-1) against a Northeast Division opponent.

Henrik Lundqvist made 17 saves in dropping to 14-5-2 all-time against Boston.

Recchi scored his second goal 1:10 into the final period to give Boston a 3-1 cushion that was needed when Gaborik netted his fourth goal at 5:26.

Dubinsky scored on the power play and the Rangers did not allow a power-play goal for the fourth straight game. The Blueshirts have killed all 14 opportunities in that stretch and have surrendered just one in the last seven contests.

With Andrew Ference off for high-sticking, Zdeno Chara was called for a delay of game when his clearing attempt went over the glass at 14:13 of the third, setting up a 5-on-3 power play for 1:45. But Thomas made three saves during the sequence for the kill, including a sliding stop on Ryan Callahan near the left post to preserve the victory.

Boston received a lift when 18-year-old Seguin sent a shot past Lundqvist to break a 1-all tie 16:35 into the second. That marked Seguin's fourth goal to boost a team that played its fifth game in eight days.

Recchi extended the visitor's lead when his shot hit Lundqvist's left skate and trickled over the goal line just 70 seconds into the third period for a 3-1 Boston edge. Recchi notched his 565th career goal and has two goals and four assists in his last five games.

Dubinsky drew the Rangers' first power-play opportunity in two games, taking Horton's stick to the face to draw a double-minor 4:19 into the second. That gave New York its first man-advantage in 89:24.

After failing to generate a single shot on goal for nearly three minutes of the man advantage, Dubinsky sent a wrist shot from the right circle past Thomas' glove side at 7:10 for a 1-0 lead. Dubinsky has 14 points in his last 14 games.

Horton made up for his penalty four minutes later, sending a crisp centering pass from the side wall that Lucic slammed home from the slot for his seventh goal at 11:06.

Seguin tallied his first goal in eight games when he ripped a shot from the right circle past Lundqvist at 16:35. The second overall draft pick registered his first goal since Oct. 30 in his first career game at Madison Square Garden.

Boston is now 3-3-1 when the opposing team scores first. The club is 7-0 when gaining the initial lead. Notes: The Rangers debuted their third jersey as part of the celebration for the franchise's 85th anniversary season. Callahan entered with a league-leading 71 hits and recorded four against the Bruins. Hall of Famers Rod Gilbert and Ed Giacomin were two of several former Rangers in attendance for Heritage Night. Boston D Johnny Boychuk (left forearm) missed his 10th straight game. Boychuk skated during warmups but was scratched. ... Bruins coach Claude Julien coached his 500th NHL game.

This program aired on November 18, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

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