Jagr scores as Bruins end slide with 3-0 win over Panthers
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Jaromir Jagr scored his second goal as a member of the Bruins and Boston ended a four-game winless streak with a 3-0 victory over Florida on Sunday.
The Bruins were playing the second of back-to-back afternoon games after hosting the Penguins in a 3-2 loss Saturday. The game was originally scheduled for Friday night, but postponed because of the lockdown and manhunt for one of the suspected Boston Marathon bombers.
Tuukka Rask stopped 28 shots for his fourth shutout of the season and the Bruins pulled into a tie with idle Montreal for first place in Northeast Division with 59 points. The Bruins have four games to play, one more than the Canadiens as the longtime rivals try to lock up the division in the final week of the regular season.
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The visiting Panthers honored local law enforcement by wearing Boston Police hats during their pregame skate. Bruins fans once again took over the singing of the national anthem, a practice that started last week in the first game since the deadly explosions at the marathon finish line.
Autographed Bruins jerseys worn during Sunday's game were to be given to fans as part of an annual promotion, but instead went to first responders, a change requested by the fans. The Bruins remained on the ice after the game, each skating over and taking off his jersey and handing it to first responders and law enforcement officials who helped at the Boston Marathon bombings and in apprehension of one of the suspected bombers.
Jagr scored 3:03 into the game and rookie Dougie Hamilton added his fifth goal of the season on a slap shot from the blue line in the second period, giving the Bruins goals from their oldest and youngest player. Jagr, who has eight points in nine games for Boston, is 41; Hamilton is 19.
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Brad Marchand picked up his team-high 18th goal when he backhanded the puck into an empty net with 1:22 remaining.
Florida has lost six in a row and seven of eight, although the Panthers did improve slightly on defense in this latest loss. The Panthers had been outscored 17-5 during the first three games of a four-game road trip, which ended Sunday.
Jacob Markstrom stopped 36 shots for Florida, one day after allowing six straight goals in a 6-2 loss at New Jersey.
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NOTES: Bruins D Adam McQuaid (lower body) and F Nathan Horton (upper body) were out of the lineup. ... Boston C Carl Soderberg, who made his NHL debut on Saturday, assisted on Jagr's goal for his first NHL point. ... The Panthers' last won on April 7, beating Ottawa 2-1. ... Florida has not scored more than three goals in any game this month.