Bruins 3, Thrashers 2
Michael Ryder connected on a penalty shot with 7:29 left in regulation as the Boston Bruins clinched the Northeast Division title with a 3-2 victory over the visiting Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday.
Mark Recchi and Daniel Paille added a goal apiece and Tuukka Rask made 28 saves for the Bruins (44-23-11), who pulled to within two points of the Washington Capitals (45-22-11) for second place in the Eastern Conference.
Ryder intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and took off on a breakaway ahead of a pair of defenders. Just when he was about to unleash a shot, Ryder was pulled down from behind, drawing the rare regulation penalty shot. The Newfoundland native converted the free chance for the game-winner.
The Bruins struck first when Recchi deposited a rebound into the empty net 4:34 into the first period. Dustin Byfuglien drew the Thrashers even with a power-play tally at the 11:11 mark, his 20th of the season and first in 12 games.
Atlanta went up, 2-1, on Evander Kane’s tally but Boston evened it five minutes later when Paille scored a shorthanded goal, intercepting a pass in the Thrashers zone and wristing it in.
Ondrej Pavelec made 20 saves for Atlanta, which was officially eliminated from playoff contention.