Second period quick hits

– The Bruins are playing with fire against the top ranked Red Wings power play, but they’re making the most of it. Detroit had two chances with the man advantage in the middle 20, but the B’s shorthanded unit, which has been struggling as of late, was up to the task and killed them both. They also got another shorthanded goal, this time from Daniel Paille on a breakaway for his fourth of the season.

– A couple of weeks ago against the Vancouver Canucks, Paille snapped a 36-game drought without lighting the lamp. Paille added his second of the game and fifth of the season with 1:21 left in the second. He now has four goals in his last six games following his shorthanded goal. Not bad for the speedy fourth line winger.

– Assuming the 4-1 lead holds up, the Bruins will be 4-0-1 in their last five games. But these two victories over the Flyers and Red Wings could be the morale boost that they’ve needed in this roller coaster season. Twenty minutes left in this one and the B’s have blown three-goal leads before, but the way they’re playing today against a backup goalie would suggest otherwise.

First period quick hits

– After his heroics yesterday against the Flyers, Brad Marchand picked up right where he left off with a shorthanded goal just 4:15 into the contest for his team leading 22nd goal of the season. Marchand intercepted a pass en route to a breakaway and deked goalie Jonas Gustavsson to score his third goal in the last 8:20.

– The Bruins came into today’s game ranked 23rd on the power play. Lately, they look like a team that is better than 23rd with the man advantage. David Pastrnak’s PP tally at 9:12 was the B’s third power play goal in nearly four periods of hockey. Their second power play attempt didn’t result in a goal, but the B’s did have several chances included one from Milan Lucic who fanned on a golden chance with Gustavsson out of position and the net wide open. I’m sure Lucic will be having nightmares in his sleep on that one.

– Equally as good this afternoon is the Bruins penalty kill against the top ranked Red Wings power play, which came into today clicking on a 25.4% success rate. They held the Wings to few chances on their first opportunity with the man advantage and are doing much of the same with Detroit’s second attempt. The B’s will still have 21 seconds left to kill in Loui Eriksson’s interference minor to start the second period.

– Niklas Svedberg got the start to spell Tuukka Rask in the second game of a back-to-back this afternoon and already let up a soft goal to former UMaine forward Gustav Nyquist just 2:46 after Marchand’s goal. Even if he allows a few more softies today, Claude Julien should ride him and give Tuukka some much needed rest before facing a red-hot Ottawa Senators team that is breathing down the B’s neck for the final wild card spot.