The Bruins extinguish the Devils

Swayman stands tall as the Bruins burn on

An old score settled

The New Jersey Devils had blocked this road before. Two seasons ago they knocked the Boston Bruins out in the quarterfinals, 2-1. Now the two candles met one round later at TD Garden. Four flames were left on the shelf and a place in the final was on the line. Whoever lost went dark one step short.

Both teams had come through three rounds. The Devils had doused the Lightning, the Blue Jackets and the Capitals. The Bruins, 28th in the league last season to New Jersey's 16th, had snuffed the Sabres, the Hurricanes and the Red Wings.

Geekie strikes, Swayman holds

Fraser Minten struck first with a snap shot at 17:42 of the first period, set up by Mark Kastelic and Tanner Jeannot. The lead lasted 0:57. Timo Meier snapped back the equalizer from Nico Hischier and Luke Hughes.

Only 1:12 into the second, Morgan Geekie snapped home an Elias Lindholm feed for the winner. After that it belonged to Jeremy Swayman. New Jersey outshot Boston 30 to 22, and he turned away 29. Casey Mittelstadt finally added another at 16:25 of the third, 35:13 after Geekie's goal, and defenseman Andrew Peeke sealed it into an empty net 1:21 later. The Devils' flame was blown out, and only three still burn.