NHL ROUNDUP Thursday’s games

Bruins 5, Penguins 1

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins are moving up in the Eastern Conference standings by beating the teams on top of them. One game after shutting out the Ottawa Senators, Tim Thomas held Pittsburgh scoreless for 53 minutes, stopping 27 shots on Thursday night to lead the Bruins to their fifth consecutive victory. “We figured out we’re a simple team. We’re not pretty, and you could even call us ugly,” defenseman Aaron Ward said. “But you have to have your niche in the league, and we do.” Boston’s niche for most of the past decade has been to hover around the postseason bubble and exit the playoffs quickly. But with seven victories in eight games — going unbeaten on a five-game road trip — the Bruins have moved within six points of first place in the Eastern Conference and improved their chances of a strong playoff run. “Our goal has always been to make the playoffs,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said. “We’ve had success with short-term goals.” Marco Sturm scored twice to reach 200 NHL goals, and Zdeno Chara, P.J. Axelsson and David Krejci also scored for Boston, which has back-to-back victories over two of the top three teams in the East. Thomas was working on his second consecutive shutout until Pascal Dupuis scored with 6:57 left. Dupuis was playing in his first game with Pittsburgh since being acquired from Atlanta at the trade deadline. Also coming to the Penguins in that deal was five-time All-Star Marian Hossa, but he lasted just 13 shifts before banging knees with Glen Murray in the second period and leaving the game. “It was an accidental hit, knee-on-knee,” said Hossa, who could miss about a week. “This is disappointing. I was trying to get comfortable with my linemates. But injuries happen, and this is the tough luck of the business we’re in.” The Penguins are also without captain Sidney Crosby, out since Jan. 18 with a sprained right ankle, and forward Gary Roberts, who hasn’t played since breaking his leg Dec. 29.

Flyers 3, Senators 1

PHILADELPHIA — Mike Knuble scored twice to spoil Bryan Murray’s return behind the Ottawa bench and lead Philadelphia over Ottawa. Murray, also the Senators general manager, coached the team for the first time since the Anaheim Ducks eliminated Ottawa in last year’s Stanley Cup finals. The pressure will surely build after the Senators’ seventh loss in nine games and 15th in 22. They’ve lost three straight, though Jason Spezza’s 25th goal prevented the Senators from getting shut out for the third consecutive time. Knuble scored twice in the third period and Jim Dowd also had a goal for the Flyers, who won their second straight after a 10-game losing streak (0-8-2).

Islanders 5, Thrashers 4, OT

ATLANTA — Trent Hunter scored in overtime and the New York Islanders recovered after blowing a three-goal lead to beat slumping Atlanta. Josef Vasicek gained control of the puck following a faceoff and passed to Hunter, who scored at 3:51 to give the Thrashers their fifth straight loss. Atlanta’s Bobby Holik scored with 1:22 left in regulation to force overtime. Mike Comrie’s second goal of the game gave New York a 4-3 lead early in the third period. Vasicek and Andy Hilbert also scored for the Islanders. Eric Perrin scored on a short-handed penalty shot, and Ken Klee and Alexei Zhitnik also scored for the Thrashers.

Rangers 4, Hurricanes 2

RALEIGH, N.C. — Brandon Dubinsky and Sean Avery scored first-period goals to lift the New York Rangers to their third straight victory and sixth in eight games (6-0-2). Chris Drury pushed the Rangers’ lead to 3-0 in the second period, and Brendan Shanahan closed the scoring in the third after the Hurricanes got within a goal. Erik Cole scored twice for Carolina, including once on the power play.

Associated Press