Backes scores two goals, Bruins top Coyotes

BOSTON --David Backes scored his first two goals of the season, and the Boston Bruins continued their success against the Arizona Coyotes with a 6-1 win at TD Garden on Thursday.
Backes played his fourth game since returning from colon surgery in four weeks after it was possible he could miss as many as eight. He had two assists this season and hadn't scored since March 28, a span of 14 games.

"I kind of knew the dam was going to break eventually," said Backes, who has been on a line with Riley Nash and Danton Heinen since his return Nov. 29. "Felt like we were creating a lot of good quality chances and not finishing them off. ... We were able to get good looks and then finish them off into the back of the net."
Brad Marchand, David Krejci, Anders Bjork and Heinen scored, Patrice Bergeron and Nash each had two assists, and Tuukka Rask made 20 saves for the Bruins (13-9-4). Boston defeated Arizona for the 12th straight time and won for the seventh time in its past nine games.
WATCH: [All Coyotes vs. Bruins highlights]
Christian Dvorak scored and Scott Wedgewood made 26 saves for the Coyotes (7-19-5), whose last win against Boston was Oct. 9, 2010 in a game played in Prague.
"Obviously they're a good team and they played us hard, and obviously they have a good goalie too, so I mean we've just got to be better, defensively and offensively," Dvorak said. "And we've got to turn the page and be ready for the next game."

Backes scored his first goal at 13:54 of the second period to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead. Heinen and Matt Grzelcyk cycled the puck and passed to Nash at the right point. He skated at the blue line and took a wrist shot that Backes tipped from near the left hash mark.
Backes scored with 54 seconds remaining in the period to make it 3-1. He stole Alex Goligoski's pass near the Arizona blue line and beat Wedgewood with a snap shot from the slot.
Krejci scored 5-on-3 on a one-timer after a cross-crease pass by Marchand to make it 4-1 45 seconds into the third period. Heinen scored at with 2:14 left by stuffing in a rebound of Nash's shot on a 2-on-1 for a 5-1 lead.

Krejci set up Bjork's goal 55 seconds later to make it 6-1.
"I think when we win, I think everybody's pulling their load and we seem to be playing as a unit," Rask said. "There really isn't too many odd-man rushes against because we're reloading back and just getting back to our zone and then playing within our system."
Boston took a 1-0 lead on Marchand's goal 15 seconds into the game. Dvorak tied it at 1-1 after he stole Brandon Carlo's outlet pass at the top of the circles, carried the puck to the net and beat Rask top shelf with a backhand at 17:07.

Goal of the game

Backes' goal at 13:54 of the second period.

Save of the game

Rask's save on Christian Fischer with 2:51 left in the third period.

Highlight of the game

Backes' goal with 54 seconds left in the second period.

They said it

"That's why I didn't go in. I was hoping that they would say something. I'm glad. They've got to understand that. Three or four guys can't cheat for points, and that's what happened and [Scott] took the brunt of it. He's played well for us, so I hope they understand that that hurts because you shouldn't leave your goalie hanging to dry like that." -- Arizona coach Rick Tocchet on not talking to his players after the game
"I think he's a really good leader, he's like a [Patrice Bergeron] in that respect, where he does a lot of really good things on the ice and never cuts corners. I was thinking about it before the game, we've been playing together for a couple games and he hasn't gotten on the board, so it was nice." -- Bruins forward Riley Nash on David Backes

Need to know

Antti Raanta was Wedgewood's backup, available for the first time since he injured his leg Nov. 22. ... Bruins forward David Pastrnak extended his point streak to seven games (four goals, four assists) with an assist on Marchand's goal.

What's next

Coyotes:At the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; FS-O, FS-A PLUS, NHL.TV)
Bruins:Host the New York Islanders on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NESN, MSG+ 2, NHL.TV)