• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Kobasew, Thomas key Bruins in rout of Ducks

Feb 27, 2009 - 5:37 AM BOSTON (Ticker) -- Chuck Kobasew tallied twice and All-Star Tim Thomas turned aside all 35 shots he faced and added an assist as the Boston Bruins scored four times in the second period en route to a 6-0 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.

Michael Ryder recorded two goals and an assist and defenseman Matt Hunwick and Phil Kessel also tallied for Boston, which has won two straight after posting a 1-4-2 mark in its previous seven games.

Rookie Byron Bitz netted his fourth goal of the season - and third in two games - and rookie Blake Wheeler and defenseman Andrew Ference notched two assists apiece for the Bruins, who improved to 21-2-3 in their last 26 home games.

"A goalie's assists aren't really important," Thomas said. "If I get 98 more maybe there's a bonus in my contract. If (only) they could get me six goals every game. We set the bar high."

Thomas stopped 10 shots in the first period, 12 in the second and 13 in the third to post his fourth shutout of the season and 11th career. It was also Thomas' 100th career NHL victory.

All-Star Jean-Sebastien Giguere turned aside five of eight shots before he was replaced by Jonas Hiller, who finished with 16 saves.

"You can't continue to give up six goals a hockey game, that's not anywhere near good enough for our hockey club," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "We talk about keeping the opponent to 2 1/2 or whatever and that wouldn't have been enough tonight because we didn't create any offense either."

After assisting on Hunwick's first-period goal, Ryder doubled the advantage 1:59 into the second after wristing a shot in the slot past Giguere and under the crossbar for his 21st tally of the campaign.

"The fact that he's a threat when he's out there and you see how strong he is with the puck," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "Three goals in two games since he's been back, it definitely helps our offense."

Kobasew extended the lead just 1:44 later and Ryder gave Boston a 4-0 lead with 1:59 remaining in the session after accepting a lead pass by Thomas before beating Hiller.

"That's not usually my game, tonight I felt pretty good with the stick for some reason. You gotta pick your moments," Thomas said of his second career assist.

"Ninety percent of the time, it's wasted (to try a pass like that). I had a feeling there that we caught them all going to the bench at the same time."

Kobasew added his second of the night and 14th of the season with 16 seconds remaining in the period to give Boston a five-goal lead.

"Maybe it was a little bit of frustration but they were not too focused on what they were doing," Kobasew said of the period. "We got some power plays and took advantage of it."