Rask, Bruins blank Oilers 2-0

Tuukka Rask could surely get used to this.

Making just his eighth NHL start, the 22-year-old stopped all 18 shots he faced for his second career shutout, leading the Boston Bruins to a 2-0 victory against the Edmonton Oilers at TD Garden on Saturday afternoon.

Rask found himself locked in a scoreless tie until Blake Wheeler solved Nikolai Khabibulin at the 2:47 mark of the third period. Vladimir Sotbotka followed that up with a goal of his own at 7:02 as Boston blanked the Oilers for the third consecutive time. The Bruins have also won the last eight meetings between the teams. Edmonton has not defeated Boston since Oct. 17, 2000.

"I think that was the best game of the year for us," Rask said. "We were skating hard, moving the puck. A couple of turnovers in the first period and second period, but overall I think it was a good game."

Sobotka nearly had a two-goal game as he had a tally taken away from him at the end of the second period, when replays concluded the puck crossed the goal line after the horn sounded.

"We keep forgetting that with an extra second, he could have had three goals," said Bruins coach Claude Julien, who picked up his 100th victory behind Boston's bench. "That line was extremely good for us."

Edmonton, which was missing bodies due to injury and the flu, lost for the fourth time in five games.

"We tried to match intensity early, but they came hard," Oilers forward Shawn Horcoff said. "You have to give them credit. They have four lines that work extremely hard. They had a good game plan.

"They're tough at home. Khabby again gave us a chance and held us in there until the third period. I think a couple of letdowns too many, and it was only a matter of time till they got one."

-- Brian Compton, NHL.com

Material from wire services was used in this report