Tuukka Rask returns with shutout for Bruins

DETROIT-- Tuukka Rask made 24 saves, and Tim Schaller scored for the Boston Bruins in a 1-0 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday.
Rask missed Boston's past three games, all losses, with body soreness.
"Having Tuukka back there is huge, because you know he's going to keep you in the game," Boston forward Dominic Moore said. "He gives you the confidence to play your game."

The Bruins started four goalies in their past four games (Anton Khudobin, Malcolm Subban, Zane McIntyre, Rask).
"I felt really good out there," Rask said. "This isn't going to be a problem going forward."
Schaller scored with 2:49 left in the second period. The Red Wings challenged that the Bruins were offside but the goal was upheld after review.
Schaller had a shorthanded breakaway earlier in the period, but his shot bounced off the handle of goalie Jimmy Howard's stick.
"I thought I beat him there, but I guess fourth-line guys don't get pretty goals," Schaller said. "It is big to get one on a night like this, because we've needed a game like this all season."
Howard made 35 saves. He has allowed two goals in his three starts (2-1-0).

The Red Wings (6-3-0), who had won six in a row, did not have a shot on goal in the first 10 minutes.
"They were hungrier than we were all over the ice," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said.
Rask said Detroit's lack of offense eventually became a problem.
"That wasn't the ideal start for me, because you don't want to go that long without a shot, especially coming off an injury," he said. "The guys did a great job of checking and blocking shots all night."
Boston defenseman Torey Krug took a holding penalty at 7:38 of the third period, but the Bruins held the Red Wings to one low-percentage shot on the power play.
Blashill put together his three fastest skaters in the third period -- Larkin, Darren Helm and Andreas Athanasiou -- and Helm drew a boarding penalty with 1:13 to play. With a 6-on-4 advantage, Detroit got two shots before time expired.
Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said Detroit's power play (0-for-4) was a factor.
"Everything was wrong," he said. "We couldn't get the puck into the zone, we couldn't break out of our end, we didn't win faceoffs, we didn't get pucks on net. I could go on."

Goal of the game

Schaller wasn't thinking about a goal when he shot the puck from a bad angle near the boards, but it hit Howard's glove and bounced over the line. "It was a greasy goal, but that's what guys like me get," Schaller said.

Save of the game

The Bruins had an outstanding scoring chance at 7:25 of the second period. David Krejci dropped a pass across the front of the crease, but Howard slid to stop Austin Czarnik's one-timer from the edge of the faceoff circle.

Highlight of the game

The Red Wings had a 6-on-4 in the final seconds and had a chance to score the tying goal, but Krejci deflected Henrik Zetterberg's wrist shot from the high slot. "I wasn't even sure it hit me, but Tuukka said it didn't get through," Krejci said. "I think it got a piece of my jersey, but in that situation, I'll take it."

Unsung moment of the game

Detroit had the first power play early in the second period, but Boston forward Patrice Bergeron forced two quick turnovers. The second time, he sent Brad Marchand in on a breakaway, and Gustav Nyquist took a slashing penalty to prevent a clean shot.

They said it

"I haven't been at full strength, so I've been working on things like winning faceoffs and blocking shots. My skating was smooth again tonight, but those other things paid off." -- Bruins forward David Krejci, who won 16 of 25 faceoffs
"I think it was 70 degrees when we got to the arena, and that's odd for the end of October. It's just one of those things that both teams have to deal with." -- Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard on the unusually rough ice at Joe Louis Arena

Need to know

Red Wings forward Thomas Vanek was scratched with a middle-body injury. … Bruins forward David Pastrnak served the first game of his two-game suspension for a check to the head of New York Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi. … Schaller's goal ended Howard's shutout streak at 156:02. … The Red Wings warmed up in purple sweaters for Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Samantha Dye, a 15-year-old leukemia survivor, performed the ceremonial opening faceoff.

What's next

Bruins: At the Florida Panthers on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET; TVA Sports, FS-F, NESN, NHL.TV)
Red Wings: Host the Florida Panthers on Sunday (5 p.m. ET; FS-D+, FS-F, NHL.TV)