Michael Ryder News

After recording a 5-0-1 record against Montreal through the 2008-09 regular season, the Boston Bruins have now dropped four of their last five games with a 2-1 shootout loss against the Canadiens on Thursday night.

Bruins [ team stats ] left winger Daniel Paille was a numbers casualty with the Buffalo Sabres.

Patrice Bergeron has the quick hands. He swiped at a loose puck, sending it past Montreal netminder Carey Price.

The Boston Bruins signed backup goaltender Tuukka Rask to a two-year contract extension through the 2011-12 season.

The irony was hard to overlook. As Phil Kessel played his first game for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins offense looked more anemic than ever.

With the biggest rivalry in the NHL, we could see a lot more of this tonight. Charles Krupa - AP Another game and another shutout loss for the offensively-challenged Boston Bruins.

"I shouldn't have went,'' said Bruins winger Shawn Thornton moments after last night's 2-1 loss to the Devils.

Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom scored in the first period, then Chris Osgood finished with his first shutout of the season to give the Detroit Red Wings a 2-0 win over the Boston Bruins.

"Oh my God, he was a beast out there," said Oilers forward Shawn Horcoff. "He's a big boy.

The Bruins are in a tough place right now and they could be there for some time, unless their shooters create better looks at the net, their scorers reclaim their touch, or opposition netminders get uncharacteristically charitable during the holiday season and hand the Black-and-Gold gift-wrapped goals with festive ribbons on top.

Rookie Tuukka Rask turned aside 19 shots for his second shutout in eight NHL starts, and Blake Wheeler and Vladimir Sobotka set each other up for goals to lead the Boston Bruins to a 2-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

The Boston Bruins certainly saved their best for last - last day of the month that is - with a 2-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers yesterday afternoon at the TD Garden.

Blake Wheeler has had a nomadic first month of the season for the Bruins [ team stats ] . Wheeler is a left winger with a right-handed shot who can bring youthful energy and size to either wing.

There is something about the New Jersey Devils and their knack for showing up on TD Garden ice when the Bruins need to make a statement.

Derek Morris had the second-to-last chance and Zdeno Chara had the last chance. Trailing on a late goal by Dainus Zubrus, the Bruins pulled Tim Thomas out of the net and Chara jumped over the boards.

In search of focus and purpose the first two weeks of the new season, the Bruins yesterday took full possession of both.

Marco Sturm has adapted well to the makeovers of his own knee and the Bruins [ team stats ] ' top line during the season's first 10 games.

Steve Begin's third-period tally proved to be the game-winner, as the Boston Bruins edged the Nashville Predators, 3-2, at TD Garden.

Claude Giroux notched the lone goal of the shootout as Philadelphia clipped Boston, 4-3, at Wachovia Center.

The Boston Bruins will try to continue their recent dominance of the Ottawa Senators when the Northeast Division rivals meet tonight at Scotiabank Place.