WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) - Patrice Bergeron and Jake DeBrusk scored power-play goals and the Boston Bruins beat Winnipeg 2-1 on Friday night, extending the Jets’ losing streak to five games.
David Pastrnak had two assists for Boston. Tuukka Rask, returning for the first time since suffering a concussion on Jan. 14, made 37 saves.
“Rask was terrific,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “He’d missed some time. Got hit in the head with one (puck tonight), so clearly that you’re always worried because he’s come off a concussion. Played well, tracked pucks well.”
DeBrusk was left open on his winner after Jets defenseman Anthony Bitetto and forward Andrew Copp literally got tangled up and fell.
“I’ve never seen that, a skate loop,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “It’s Andrew’s skate lace that catches the back of the guard on Bitetto’s skate and pulls him down as they lock skates.
“I’ve never seen that. That’s what’s going on right now. Tough one.”
“I had no idea what (his skate lace) caught on, then I looked down and saw it was that,” Copp said. “Less than one-in-a-million play.”
Patrik Laine scored for the Jets, who failed to capitalize on five power plays in the second period. Winnipeg has lost seven of its last eight. Laurent Brossoit stopped 23 shots.
The defeat extended Winnipeg’s longest losing streak of the season. The Jets are 1-7-1 in their last nine homes games.
The game was tied 1-1 after the first and second periods.
Winnipeg opened the scoring when Nikolaj Ehlers sped around the back of the net and fed the puck across the front to Laine, who scored his 18th of the season past Rask at 6:06.
Bergeron scored his 22nd with three seconds remaining in a two-man advantage at 19:07.
The Jets’ first of five power plays in the second period began early.
The first advantage started at 2:11 when Boston defenseman Matt Grzelcyk was called for hooking Blake Wheeler.
That became a two-man advantage after Ehlers and Brad Marchand collided and started fighting. Marchand got an extra roughing penalty for the clash at 3:28.
The two-man edge continued when Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo got called for delay of game at 4:17. Charlie Coyle was then sent to the box for tripping at 7:07.
By the time those penalties expired, Winnipeg had nine shots on goal and Boston none.
The Bruins got their first shot on Brossoit a few seconds later, but then Carlo was whistled for instigating at 10:10.
The period ended with Boston’s Torey Krug called for holding as time expired.
Winnipeg outshot the Bruins 11-4 in the middle frame.
Laine hit the crossbar during the early power play in the third, and Boston went on the power play when Sami Niku was sent off for slashing at 2:35.
DeBrusk scored his goal 32 seconds later, after Pastrnak went around the back of the net and sent a pass just outside the crease at 3:07.
Rask stopped a blast by Ehlers in the final minute.
“I think then first period my rebound control wasn’t where it could have been, but after that I kind of found the pucks and hung onto them,” Rask said. “I wasn’t worried.”
NOTES: Winnipeg finished 0 for 6 and Boston was 2 for 4 on the power play.
UP NEXT
Bruins: At Minnesota on Saturday.
Jets: Host St. Louis on Saturday.
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