New Jersey Devils vs Boston Bruins Match Player Stats On Mar 31, 2022

Brad Marchand scored twice during Boston's six-goal second period as the Bruins cruised to an 8-1 win over the visiting New Jersey Devils on Thursday.

Patrice Bergeron added a goal and two assists and David Pastrnak dished out three assists to help Boston earn its fifth win in six games and sweep the three-game season series with New Jersey.

Matt Grzelcyk and Jake DeBrusk each logged a goal and an assist, Massachusetts native and former Boston College captain Marc McLaughlin scored in his NHL debut, and Erik Haula and Taylor Hall also found the net for Boston.

Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark made 25 saves.

Jack Hughes scored for New Jersey, which took its third loss in four games. Nico Daws allowed five goals on 20 shots before Jon Gillies worked in relief, stopping 17 of 20 shots.

The hosts never looked back after DeBrusk scored his third goal in as many games at 16:09 of the first period for a 2-1 lead. DeBrusk deked around an outstretched Daws to slot home a long rebound following Bergeron's shot.

Boston took its first two-goal lead 2:22 into the second as Haula picked up a loose rebound after Pastrnak wheeled around the net for a shot. Marchand made it 4-1 at 6:33, ripping home a one-timer after DeBrusk drove down the left wing and dished.

The run continued with three goals in a span of 3:03, beginning with Bergeron deflecting Pastrnak's point shot with his skate on a power play at 9:01. Marchand slammed home Mike Reilly's feed at 10:34, and McLaughlin took Trent Frederic's feed and buried a high wrister at 12:04.

The Bruins closed their highest-scoring period since November 1983 with Hall burying Pastrnak's feed following a turnover at 16:12.

Grzelcyk broke a six-game goal scoring drought on a wrister from the point just 57 seconds into the game. Hughes made it 1-1 at 11:02 of the first, taking Nico Hischier's pass and beating Ullmark across the grain from an impossible angle along the goal line.

--Field Level Media