Bruins win another under Bruce Cassidy

BOSTON-- Ryan Spooner scored the tiebreaking goal 8:18 into the third period, and the Boston Bruins defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-2 at TD Garden on Saturday.
Devils forward Kyle Palmieri tied it 2-2 at 5:51 on a 2-on-1 after a pass across the slot from Taylor Hall.
Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo scored for the Bruins (34-25-6), who are 8-2-0 since Bruce Cassidy took over as coach Feb. 7. Boston is two points behind the Ottawa Senators for second place in the Atlantic Division; the Senators, who have two games in hand, defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2.

WATCH: All Devils vs. Bruins highlights
Patrice Bergeron had two assists, and Anton Khudobin made 15 saves for his third straight win after a 1-5-1 start. Boston outshot New Jersey 40-17.
"Of course it's always a good feeling to win the games," Khudobin said. "I'm always saying that, and my answer is not going to change, probably. So of course after a rough start, especially my start, and winning right now, it just gives you more confidence, it gives your team more confidence and gives everybody confidence, which is important at this time of the year."

Cory Schneider made 37 saves, and Devante Smith-Pelly scored for the Devils (25-27-12), who have lost six in a row (0-4-2).
"I think the feeling is a lot different than it was in [a 1-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday], where I think we were pretty proud of the way we played and competed and it just didn't go our way," Schneider said. "But I think tonight is a little bit different where I think we all feel we could have given a little bit more, myself included. So, again, losing is the same no matter what, but I think there is different kind of losing, and right now, tonight, not a great loss for us."
After outshooting the Devils 16-5 in the first period, the Bruins beat Schneider with their 19th shot, with Krug scoring a power-play goal at 7:06 of the second period for a 1-0 lead.
The Bruins thought they extended the lead during their next power play when Drew Stafford poked a loose puck past Schneider at 10:21. New Jersey challenged and the goal was overturned because of goaltender interference.

Smith-Pelly tied it 1-1 with a breakaway goal at 11:48, four seconds after a Boston power play ended. The Bruins took a 2-1 lead when Carlo's backhand from the bottom of the left circle went past Schneider on the short side after deflecting off Nick Lappin's stick with 1:35 left.

Goal of the game

After Schneider stopped Bergeron's slap shot, David Pastrnak poked the loose puck toward the right faceoff dot, where Krug shot it past Schneider high to the blocker side.

Save of the game

Schneider made a right-pad save on David Krejci's wrist shot from the right hash mark at 13:30 of the first period after Pastrnak made a backhand pass from behind the net.

Highlight of the game

Spooner scored with a wrist shot from the right side of the slot after a cross-ice pass from Stafford.
"I was kind of surprised when I got it. I was like, 'Wow' ... I mean I just didn't want to miss," Spooner said. "I got robbed this year by I think it was [Roberto] Luongo (Florida Panthers) and then last year in the Winter Classic with kind of the same play. So it's good I scored this one also."

Unsung performance of the game

Stafford had one assist, a season-high seven shots on goal and four hits in his first game with the Bruins after he was acquired in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday.

They said it

"Couldn't ask for much more than that. Big win with the boys. ... I've got an opportunity to kind of get back to the rhythm and the routine of the minutes and making plays. Those guys, they can make those little plays, and it's great. Hopefully continue to get better." -- Bruins forward Drew Stafford on linemates Ryan Spooner and Frank Vatrano
"Yeah, we're on a bit of a streak that way with a few of those calls going against us, but hopefully it'll be over and done with. But if you continue to play through them, you'll be better for it. And I think in the last 10 games we've shown a lot of resiliency when we get scored on or something doesn't go our way." -- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy on the response to Drew Stafford's overturned goal

Need to know

Defenseman Dalton Prout played 18:56 in his Devils debut. He was acquired from the Blue Jackets in a trade for defenseman Kyle Quincey on Wednesday. ... Devils defenseman Andy Greene missed the game for personal reasons. ... Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller and Spooner each played his 200th NHL game. ... Pastrnak has a five-game point streak (one goal, five assists).

What's next

Devils: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday (5 p.m. ET; MSG, FS-O, NHL.TV)
Bruins: At the Ottawa Senators on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS, NESN, NHL.TV)