Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Blake Wheeler tallied the go-ahead goal early in the third period and added an assist, while Tuukka Rask stopped all 19 shots to register his first shutout of the season, as the Boston Bruins blanked the Edmonton Oilers, 2-0, at TD Garden.
Boston Bruins Stifle Edmonton Oilers 2-0
Vladimir Sobotka also scored and added a helper for Boston, which was coming off a 2-1 loss to New Jersey on Thursday. Rask recorded his second career shutout in just his eighth NHL start.
“I can’t think of one shot I didn’t see today,” Rask said. “The guys did an amazing job out there, taking the body, blocking the shots and not screening me. Our defense made two saves out there. That’s always nice to see.”
Nikolai Khabibulin turned aside 25-of-27 shots for the Oilers, who were unable to build off a 6-5 home shootout win over Detroit two days ago. Edmonton has dropped four of five overall.
"I don't think we generated that many quality chances," Oilers forward Fernando Pisani said. "We let him (Rask) see everything. We didn't really get any bodies in front of him. He's going to make those stops if he can see them."
Boston finally struck 2:47 into the third when Wheeler took a backhand pass from Sobotka from behind the net and put it home from in close.
Wheeler returned the favor setting up Sobotka at 7:02. With both players working a give-and-go, Wheeler sent a right circle pass toward the net which Sobotka was able to stuff past Khabibulin on the doorstep.
Edmonton kept the pressure on the Bruins in the remaining time, but were unable to solve Rask.
Over two scoreless periods, Rask turned away 12 Oiler shots while Khabibulin was equal to all 16 Bruin tries.
Boston has won eight straight over the Oilers and Edmonton hasn’t beaten the Bruins since October 17, 2000. The Oilers are also 0-5-1 with a tie in their last seven trips to Beantown.
-- Recap via Sports Network.
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