In the sweep of the NHL from Monday night, we start in Boston where the Bruins were backed-up by a 32-save effort from Tuukka Rask in a 4-0 shutout of the Buffalo Sabres.
“I just try to stay focused and not get too carried away,” Rask said . “I think that’s the biggest answer, best answer, I can give you.”
WATCH: All Sabres vs. Bruins highlights
The win came a game after a dismal effort against the New York Rangers.
David Pastrnak picked up his eighth goal of the year and Brad Marchand, David Krejci and Riley Nash also scored for the Bruins.
Three of the goals came on the power play; Boston had eight chances with the man advantage.
“We just worked on it this morning and gave them the responsibility as some of our best players on the team that they had to step it up,” Boston head coach Claude Julien said. “So they did that tonight, and so a little practice this morning and obviously some pride tonight and making sure that they were difference-makers instead of ending up on the negative side.”
Robin Lehner made 38 stops in the loss for the Sabres.
With eight penalties called against them, the Sabres were never able to beherate much consistency in their game.
“It gets you out of your rhythm,” Sabres captain Brian Gionta said about their penalty troubles. “Obviously, it gives them momentum, but the biggest thing is you’re over-taxing your killers and not getting a good rotation when the guys are sitting down.”
In Brooklyn, the New York Islanders found the tonic for their woes with a 4-2 over the Vancouver Canucks.
Vancouver has now lost nine straight games since opening the season with four straight wins.
Andrew Ladd scored his first goal as an Islander.
Cal Clutterbuck, Jason Chimera and Nikolay Kulemin also scored for the Isles.
“I just think we had a little bit of puck luck tonight,” Islanders head coach Jack Capuano said. “I think the last few games we’ve played well, we just haven’t got results. It’s good for guys to get that feeling, because I know they deserved it.”
WATCH: All Canucks vs. Islanders highlights
Jaroslav Halak made 30 saves and gave up goals to Daniel Sedin and Markus Granlund.
The Canucks are hemorrhaging at all points on the ice and are not playing with any confidence.
“We’ve got to find a way to win that game,” Daniel Sedin said. “It’s tough right now. We got the first one, then let them in it and played from behind.”
Ryan Miller made 28 saves for the Canucks who move across town to play the New York Rangers Tuesday night.
“First two periods, we played good hockey, then they get weird bounces and take the game. It’s frustrating right now,” Miller said.
In Sunrise, Roberto Luongo made 34 saves as the Florida Panthers edged out the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-1.
The win for Luongo, ended a personal four-game skid.
WATCH: All Lightning vs. Panthers highlights
Luongo had shaved a bushy beard ahead of the game for superstitious reasons.
“I want to look like a 25-year-old so I can play like one,” Luongo said. “Yeah, it was time, and I’m glad it paid off.”
Reilly Smith gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead late in the third for the margin of victory.
Jonathan Marchessault and Derek MacKenzie (empty net) also scored for the Panthers.
Ondrej Palat was the lone scorer for the Bolts and Ben Bishop made 29 saves in the loss.,
“I thought we played a pretty good game,” Bishop said. “We did everything but score. Luongo played well. It comes down to who makes the last error. Sometimes they go your way, sometimes they don’t.”
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