Andrew Ference connected at 3:01 with his first goal since Nov. 21 for the tie, then came the 1-2 combination of a Nathan Horton goal at 7:10 followed by a Gregory Campbell knock-in at 7:45.
A three-goal burst in a span of 4:44, and the final touch was Chris Kelly’s empty-netter with 47 seconds to play, by which time the Bruins had turned the Rock into their own luxury suite.
“We talked about playing better after the second period,’’ said goalie Tim Thomas, his game back on register after a lackluster effort two nights earlier in a loss at Tampa. “And we got the job done. But you know, there’s a difference between talking about and actually doing it. One good thing about this team, more often than not we do it.’’
Horton’s goal in the third period, his third in three games, was a gift from David Krejci, who fed across from the right circle with Milan Lucic camped at the right post. Horton jammed in front with Devils defenseman Matt Taormina, and the puck just ticked off his stick and slid over the line.
Goalie Martin Brodeur must have been preoccupied with the towering Lucic, who swept at the puck from his parking spot at the right post.
And only 35 seconds later, after an exceptional shift with linemates Daniel Paille and Shawn Thornton, Campbell popped in the 3-1 lead. Thornton picked up his second assist of the night and Campbell, who earlier in the evening engaged Brad Mills in the only fight of the night, finished with a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight).
“I mean, you know, I guess it’s a good feeling,’’ said Campbell, acknowledging his night’s tie-in to the great No. 9 of the Red Wings. “But the important thing is, we won.’’
The only scoring through 40 minutes, and the only real offense, was owned by the Devils. With 1:31 remaining in the first period, career opportunist Petr Sykora popped home a doorstep forehander six seconds after a draw to Thomas’s right.
