B's Power Past Rangers, 3-2

I mean, if Tim Thomas wants to win 91% of his games for the rest of his career, I'd be perfectly fine with that. The Bruins' early-season Vezina candidate improved his record to 10-1-0 tonight with a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

After surrendering a power play goal to Brandon Dubinsky midway through the second period, the Bruins picked up their offensive game and never let go of their grasp. Milan Lucic got Boston on the board just four minutes later when he buried a feed from Nathan Horton, beating goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in the slot. Five minutes later, it was time for our chosen rookie to shine.

Tyler Seguin accelerated with breaktaking speed through the neutral zone, found some open ice near the top of the right faceoff circle, and snapped off a laser beam that went bar-down on Lundqvist before he could even say the rookie's name. Astonishing quickness, vision, and hands from Seguin, who buried his 4th goal of the season and seems to be improving every time he steps on the ice. Seeing that the Oilers nearly had to give serious consideration to sending Taylor Hall back to his junior team, I can't say I'm too upset with the way the cards ended up falling for the B's. (Not to mention that the Kessel trade keeps on giving -- we still get Toronto's first pick in the next NHL draft, and needless to say, the Leafs aren't looking so hot.)

Mark Recchi added the insurance on a seeing-eye snap shot that snuck its way behind the short-side post to give the Bruins a 3-1 lead. Despite a Marion Gaborik goal to bring the score within a goal, Tim Thomas held the fort and Boston got some clutch penalty killing to seal the deal (including a 1 minute, 45 second 5-on-3 kill). The Tank turned aside 34 shots en route to his 10th win of the season. Unreal numbers for the revitalized Bruins goaltender, who finds himself barreling his way toward a second Vezina trophy.

The B's waste no time before heading back home to face the Florida Panthers tomorrow night at the TD Garden. Florida stands at 8-8 on the season and will look to defeat a few of their old players -- Nathan Horton and Gregory Campell -- in Boston on Thursday. It won't be a happy ending for the Panthers, though, if the Bruins have anything to say about it.