BOSTON – Seth Griffith scored a highlight-reel goal to break a second-period tie, and Reilly Smith added another just 80 seconds later on Monday night to lead the Boston Bruins to a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
It was the fifth straight victory for the Bruins.
Griffith split two Devils as he crossed the blue line and, when New Jersey defenseman Marek Zidlicky spun him around, he slapped the puck backward between his own legs and the legs of goalie Cory Schneider.
The play got a big cheer from the sold-out TD Garden crowd — and an even bigger one when it was replayed on the scoreboard and fans could see in slow motion what had happened.
Smith made it 4-2 with 39 seconds left in the second period. Patrice Bergeron had a goal and two assists.
Tuukka Rask stopped 26 shots for Boston.
Schneider made 19 saves for the Devils, who lost their fourth consecutive game.
Travis Zajac scored and also assisted on Jaromir Jagr's goal. It was Jagr's 708th goal, tying him with Mike Gartner for sixth on the NHL's career list.
Zajac made it 1-0 just 86 seconds into the game, but the Bruins tied the score midway through the first period when Smith shot it from the circle and Carl Soderberg finished it off. Bergeron gave Boston a 2-1 lead near the end of the first when he swiped the puck from Eric Gelinas in the slot and put it between Schneider's legs.
It stayed that way until the 7:00 mark of the second when Jagr circled around to Rask's left and wristed one past him to tie it 2-2.
NOTES: The Bruins held military appreciation night, recognizing members from each branch of the armed forces. The ceremonial first puck was dropped by the family of U.S. Army Specialist Brian Arsenault, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on Sept. 4. ... Jagr played in his 1,488th game, passing Wayne Gretzky for 17th on the all-time list. ... Zajac hadn't scored in 11 games.
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