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Bergeron, Thomas lift Bruins over Canucks

Dec 22, 2006 - 4:08 AM BOSTON (Ticker) -- Patrice Bergeron has been hot lately and the Boston Bruins are benefitting.

Bergeron scored to extend his point streak to seven games and goaltender Tim Thomas recorded his second career shutout as the Bruins downed the Vancouver Canucks, 2-0.

Boston, which has won two straight, once again relied on Thomas to get the job done in his fourth consecutive start.

"I think we were lucky, no question about it," Boston right wing Glen Murray said. "I think we forgot to play the last two periods. We were very lucky to pull that win out and we'll definitely take it, but we can't play like that in the second and third periods or we're not going to win many games."

"I thought in the second and third periods, we played really well," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said. "I thought we were all over them. We had some not just good chances, but grade-A chances and couldn't bury them. Five-on-five, I really thought we dominated the game but you have to score some goals to win."

Bergeron scored the eventual game-winner with a power-play tally at 3:14 of the first period when he took a pass from Marco Sturm and snapped the puck past netminder Dany Sabourin for a 1-0 lead.

"The first one was a backdoor pass and I tried to come across to block," Sabourin said. "I had my pad there but he went upstairs."

Thomas, who has played in 27 of Boston's 32 games this season, recorded 39 saves. He especially was busy in the third period when the Canucks outshot the Bruins, 14-0.

"I was so into it and I still felt the whole team was into it," Thomas said. "The whole team was giving their best effort and not trying not to let up. When the puck is in your end for that long, you get the feeling something bad is going to happen. I fought through that and I think everybody else did, too."

"He (Thomas) probably could've been first, second and third stars tonight," Boston coach Dave Lewis said.

Murray had the other Boston goal, also on a 5-on-3 power play at 12:20 of the first. He one-timed a shot from the slot past Sabourin after taking a pass from defenseman Zdeno Chara.

"The last couple of games, we've had a few 5-on-3 situations, but before that, we hadn't had any in a dozen games," Murray said. "You've got to score on the 5-on-3."

Sabourin made 17 saves for the Canucks, who are winless in their last five road games.

"Two power-play goals, one on a 5-on-3, so in a way, I felt I played a good game," Sabourin said. "So, I'm happy and I have to build on the Calgary game (December 9) and this game, and keep going the same way."