BOSTON (AP) - Spring training might be two months away, but credit new Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka with his first win in Boston.
Patrice Bergeron scored two goals and Brad Stuart snapped a tie early in the third period as the Boston Bruins beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 Thursday night. Matsuzaka, who signed a US$52 million, six-year contract Thursday a month after the Red Sox bid $51.11 million for negotiation rights to the Japanese ace, dropped the ceremonial opening puck to a standing ovation. Matsuzaka was wearing a No. 18 Bruins jersey - he'll wear No. 18 with the Red Sox - and saluted the crowd before exiting through Boston's bench.
The Bruins kept the applause going by taking a 2-0 lead in the opening 1:25 on goals by Brad Boyes and Bergeron.
"There's a lot of Red Sox fans on this team, and we're happy that (Matsuzaka) is here," goalie Tim Thomas said. "I think there was energy from the crowd, and it might have boiled over to the players."
Patrice Bergeron scores two goals as Bruins defeat Devils 5-3
12-15-2006, 05:30 AM
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