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Byfuglien helps Thrashers skate past Boston

Nov 29, 2010 - 1:44 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Dustin Byfuglien posted a goal and three assists to lead Atlanta past Boston, 4-1, at Philips Arena.

Jim Slater, Niclas Bergfors and Evander Kane also tallied for the Thrashers, winners of five straight games. Ondrej Pavelec stopped 40 shots for the victory, which halted Atlanta's 10-game losing streak to Boston.

"It's going well so far for myself, but it all happens because of good teammates and good teamwork," Byfuglien admitted. "When you have players you feel comfortable with, things just tend to click. It means the team is doing something right, starting from our goalie to our defense and up to our forwards."

Blake Wheeler posted the only offense for the Bruins, who have lost four of five. Tuukka Rask was shelled for all four goals on 26 shots in the setback.

Atlanta took control with a three-goal first period.

Kane struck at 8:32 when he slammed home the rebound of an Anthony Stewart shot, Byfuglien tallied on a solo rush from the left wing at 12:22, then Slater converted his breakaway chance to make it 3-0 at 14:42.

Wheeler managed to get a forehander through Pavelec's pads with 7:38 remaining in the second period, but Bergfors deflected an errant Byfuglien shot past Rask for a power-play score at 19:47.

Pavelec made the three-goal margin hold up with 14 saves in the third period.

"We're at a stage right now, it looks like we're finding ways to lose more than we're finding ways to win," said Bruins head coach Claude Julien. "When you get 41 shots, sometimes that might not be much. We figured we had close to 19 scoring chances, but only one goal to show for all of that."

Game Notes

The Thrashers' last win over the Bruins came on December 29, 2007, a 5-0 victory in Atlanta...Byfuglien's four points were a season high and most for him in the regular season since he posted three goals and one helper in a 6-1 win over Phoenix on November 30, 2007 when he played for Chicago.