Fast Start, Big Finish Propel Boston

Mike Knuble gave Boston a quick start Friday night, but the Bruins still needed overtime to defeat the Florida Panthers at Sunrise, Fla.

Brian Rolston’s goal 27 seconds into the extra session gave Boston a 6-5 victory over the Florida Panthers after Knuble set an NHL record for the fastest two goals to start a game by a player.

“It was just one of those games,” Knuble said. “Sometimes when you get ahead like that, you tend to back off a bit. Even personally, when you score two goals like that, you sit back sometimes. But you still have to plug 59 more minutes.”

Knuble scored 10 seconds into the game and then again 17 seconds later to set the NHL mark. Knuble’s first goal was five seconds off the NHL record for the fastest goal at the start of a game.

The line of Knuble, Glen Murray and Joe Thornton accounted for five of Boston’s goals, with Thornton scoring twice on the power play.

After Florida rallied to take a 4-2 lead in the second period, the Bruins forced overtime when Murray beat Florida goalie Roberto Luongo on a one-timer with 9:12 left in regulation.

“We were very pleased to get that fifth one,” Bruin Coach Robbie Ftorek said. “We could have folded tent, but the boys didn’t fold the tent at all.”

Rolston beat Luongo with a slap shot in overtime, moments after hitting the post.

New York Rangers 1, Pittsburgh 0 -- Alexei Kovalev, with an assist from Brian Leetch, scored a power-play goal in the third period and Mike Dunham made 26 saves for his third shutout to lift the Rangers at New York.

It was Kovalev’s first game against Pittsburgh after being traded by the Penguins to New York.

Leetch, an All-Star defenseman, missed the previous 31 games after bruising his left ankle Dec. 3 when he blocked a shot.

Phoenix 3, Minnesota 2 -- Daymond Langkow’s goal with 2:22 remaining was the game-winner for the Coyotes at St. Paul, Minn.

The victory snapped the Coyotes’ four-game losing streak. Zac Bierk and Brian Boucher combined for 26 saves for Phoenix. Bierk had 15 saves before leaving because of a strained groin in the second period. He was replaced by Boucher, who made some critical stops in the final six minutes.

San Jose 4, Chicago 2 -- Vincent Damphousse and Scott Thornton scored power-play goals 41 seconds apart late in the third period to help the Sharks break a 2-2 tie and win at Chicago, ending a losing streak at four. Damphousse, scored on a two-man advantage with 5:06 left.

Tampa Bay 2, Atlanta 2 -- The Lightning rallied from a 2-0 deficit to earn a point at Atlanta.

Atlanta defenseman Uwe Krupp played for the first time since opening night. He has missed 54 games while recovering from back surgery.

Carolina 3, Washington 1 -- Craig Adams, Jan Hlavac and Jeff O’Neill scored at Raleigh, N.C., as the Hurricanes ended a losing streak at seven.