Final
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Jagr scores, Rask shines as Bruins blank Devils

Apr 5, 2013 - 2:45 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Jaromir Jagr scored the lone goal of the contest in his Boston debut, while Tuukka Rask posted 40 saves to notch his third shutout of the season as the Bruins blanked the New Jersey Devils, 1-0, on Thursday at TD Garden.

Jagr registered 14 goals and 12 assists in 34 games with Dallas before the Bruins and Stars struck a deal Tuesday that sent the veteran forward to Boston in exchange for forwards Lane MacDermid and Cody Payne along with a conditional second-round pick.

The acquisition of Jagr paid immediate dividends for the Bruins, who have won three straight and sit comfortably in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The team is one point back on Montreal for first place in the Northeast Division and second in the conference as the Canadiens defeated the Jets on Thursday.

The Devils, meanwhile, have lost five straight and find themselves tied with the New York Rangers for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

"Effort is there," New Jersey coach Peter DeBoer remarked. "We played a good game, just didn't get rewarded for it."

Martin Brodeur stopped 25-of-26 shots in the setback.

New Jersey outshot Boston 17-6 in the first frame, but it was the Bruins who struck first early in the second when Brad Marchand's centering feed from the left boards deflected off the skate of Jagr in front and slipped through the five-hole of Brodeur to make it 1-0 at the 1:20 mark of the middle stanza.

"He played his game and his goal was something that we like to see," Boston coach Claude Julien said of Jagr. "It's called net drive. It's a good example for the rest of the guys to take."

The Devils nearly found the equalizer near the midpoint of the second, but Dainius Zubrus' one-timer from the left circle rang off the crossbar to keep New Jersey from pulling even.

The Devils continued to apply pressure in the third, as they peppered Rask with 12 shots in the frame, but the Boston netminder was able to keep the visitors off the board to secure his 14th career shutout.

Game Notes

The Devils and Rangers each have 39 points ... The Devils have gone 0-2-3 in five games since losing Ilya Kovalchuk to a shoulder injury ... Boston has won six straight against New Jersey, including a 2-1 shootout win in Boston on Jan. 29 ... The last players to score a goal in their first game as a Bruin were Michael Ryder and Blake Wheeler on Oct. 9, 2008.