Boston Extends Streak to Five

Steve Heinze scored 3:18 into the third period as the Boston Bruins earned their fifth consecutive victory, beating New Jersey, 3-1, on Thursday night at Boston and spoiling Claude Lemieux’s return to the Devils.

Heinze freed himself along the boards and sent a shot over Martin Brodeur’s shoulder. Bruin goalie John Grahame stopped 30 shots.

Lemieux played his first game of the season for the Devils after being reacquired Wednesday from the Colorado Avalanche for 26-year-old Brian Rolston. Lemieux played with the Devils from 1990-95, and scored a team-record 13 goals in the playoffs, to help the Devils to win the Stanley Cup in 1995.

“Everything happened so fast,” Lemieux said. “Last night, I’m in the locker room with the guys in Colorado and tonight I’m here.”

Boston was without center Jason Allison, who shares the club lead in scoring with Dave Andreychuk. Allison is expected to be sidelined three weeks because of an injured left forearm.

New York Islanders 2, Montreal 1--In a game featuring two of the worst teams in the league, Jamie Heward’s goal 47 seconds into overtime gave the Islanders the victory at Uniondale, N.Y.

Heward took advantage of a line change by the Canadiens and beat goaltender Jeff Hackett from the left circle.

Montreal, winless in seven straight games (0-6-1), has only seven points (3-10-1). The Islanders have eight (3-6-2).

Ottawa 2, Pittsburgh 1--Radek Bonk scored at 12:02 of the third period at Kanata, Canada, to lead the Senators to their best start in its eight-year history. They improved to 9-4-1.

Buffalo 5, Chicago 4--The Sabres blew a lead in the final seconds of regulation but Curtis Brown scored 74 seconds into overtime to give them the victory over the Blackhawks, who remained winless at home.