BOSTON -- Tuukka Rask made 24 saves for his first shutout, and the Boston Bruins got their first home win of the season, 6-0 against the Arizona Coyotes at TD Garden on Tuesday.
Center David Krejci scored twice to extend his season-long scoring streak to eight games for the Bruins (4-3-1), who were 0-3-1 here.
"I think the fact that we were playing better in the last four games, we had the one overtime loss, I think the guys felt if they kept playing the way they could it was just a matter of time [before we won at home]," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "I don't think it weighed. I think it's more of a pride thing, and our home building has to be something that doesn't bode well for teams coming in here. Right now, we've made too many teams feel comfortable. That's what we're trying to change now."
Defenseman Joe Morrow and forwards Brad Marchand, Brett Connolly and Jimmy Hayes scored for Boston, which has won eight straight against the Coyotes dating to Oct. 9, 2010. Hayes, Loui Eriksson and Matt Beleskey, in his first game back after a two-game injury absence, each had two assists.
Rask allowed 22 goals in his first five games.
"I felt good today so I just try to keep that going," Rask said. "You know, obviously a shutout makes you look even better, but I felt good. I think the team felt good. The team looked good, so that's a good building block for us and we're trying to keep doing this."
Mike Smith made 21 saves and tied a season-high for goals allowed for the Coyotes (5-4-1), who had a two-game winning streak end. Arizona, which finished 2-2-1 on its five-game road trip, played without center Martin Hanzal because of a lower-body injury and was shut out for the first time this season.
"Average, I guess," Coyotes defenseman Zbynek Michalek said of the road trip. "You got .500 on a trip. It felt like we let a couple points slip away, but we'll take it and go home and hopefully we can get some good games and we have something to build on. Hopefully we can bring it home and play well. You know, coming up, we have only one game in eight, nine days, so we get some rest, we get some practice time, and, you know, hopefully win Friday."
Krejci, who had seven goals in 47 games last season, scored his seventh goal of this season in the first period. After Torey Krug made an indirect pass from behind the Bruins net to Eriksson at the Boston blue line, and Eriksson touch passed the puck ahead to the red line, Krejci skated 2-on-1 with Brett Connolly. Krejci kept the puck and beat Smith inside the right post for a 1-0 lead at 17:22.
Hayes scored at 6:51 of the second period. Beleskey skated to the right circle past two defenders and took a backhand on Smith, who made the save, but Hayes banged in the rebound.
Morrow's first goal of the season put the Bruins ahead 3-0 at 17:29 of the second period.
Connolly scored in his third straight game when he beat Smith at 10:22 of the third period for a 4-0 lead. Marchand scored a power-play goal at 13:07, and Krejci scored his second with 38 seconds remaining.
Krejci was limited to 47 games by injuries last season, but he is healthy and among the NHL leaders in goals and points.
"He's off to a good start," Julien said. "It's all about confidence in this league and he's gotten off to a good start. He's feeling good about his game. He's very healthy, as you can see. That makes a big difference. It's nice to have him back."
Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller did not play the third period because of an undisclosed injury. Forwards David Pastrnak and Joonas Kemppainen had their ice time curtailed in the third. Julien said the Bruins were being cautious with all three.
The Bruins start a two-game road trip against the Florida Panthers on Friday; the Coyotes will be home to play the Vancouver Canucks.
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