Final Score: Boston 5, New Jersey 3

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Patrice Bergeron scored two goals to help the Boston Bruins to a 5-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils at TD Banknorth Garden.

Brad Boyes had a goal and two assists and Brad Stuart added a goal and an assist for the Bruins, who stopped a brief two-game slide.

Tim Thomas stopped 26 shots in the victory for Boston, which stopped a five- game losing streak

"The last time we played them, we didn't have all that many chances. I think maybe the key was skating and we drew the penalties. We had zero (power plays) against them last time," said Thomas. "This time we skated, we drew penalties and took advantage of it on the power play. I think that was the difference."

Patrick Elias had a goal and an assist and Scott Clemmensen stopped 40 shots for the Devils, who have dropped their last two after a five-game winning streak.

The game was tied 3-3 heading into the third period, but Boston grabbed the lead just 2:17 in with a power-play goal. Wayne Primeau had the puck along the deep left boards, brought the disc out front and flicked a shot on net. Clemmensen made the save, but the rebound went out front and Stuart flicked a shot into the right corner of the net.

An empty-net goal by Bergeron with 1:10 to play sealed the victory for Boston.

The Bruins scored twice in the first 85 seconds of the game to assume a 2-0 lead.

Shortly after the opening faceoff, Boyes' slap shot from just inside the blueline got by Clemmensen just 19 seconds in.

After a New Jersey penalty, Marc Savard slid a pass from the right side to the left side of the net where Bergeron's slap shot went into the net at the 1:25 mark.

"You always want to get going, get confidence and let your teammates know you're up to the job and something like that happens, you kind of tighten up a little bit," said Clemmensen. "It was not a very good start for myself or the team."

The Devils, though, came charging back to tie the game in the opening frame.

Scott Gomez rushed into the Boston zone with the puck and snapped a shot from the low left side that Thomas made a save on, but the rebound went out front and Elias banged it into the right corner of the net with 6:58 left in the first.

Skating with a 5-on-3 power play, Brian Rafalski and Elias played catch with the puck until Elias sent a pass to the left circle where Jamie Langenbrunner one-timed it by Thomas with 48 seconds left in the period.

Boston briefly took the lead in the second period when a shot by Petr Tankret from the left circle trickled under the glove of Clemmensen with 6:58 left in the frame.

Just 1:37 later, though, New Jersey tied the game when Michael Rupp swept the puck into the net to make it a 3-3 game.

Game Notes

The newest acquisition by the Boston Red Sox, Japanese star pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, who signed a six-year, $52 million dollar deal with the team earlier on Thursday, dropped the ceremonial first puck of the game to a roaring applause from the fans...Boston hosts Florida on Saturday...New Jersey hosts Detroit on Saturday...New Jersey had won five straight coming into the game...New Jersey went 1-for-4 on the power play while Boston scored three times in seven power play chances.