BOSTON -- Jarome Iginlas slow start in Boston is now a dista

BOSTON -- Jarome Iginlas slow start in Boston is now a distant memory. Iginla scored two goals, Tuukka Rask stopped 33 shots, and the Eastern Conference-leading Bruins extended their winning streak to nine games with a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Monday night. Signed during the off-season to replace departed free agent Nathan Horton on the Bruins top line, Iginla has fit in perfectly. "We lose a guy that we thought would be back for us, in Horton. That was a big hole to fill," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "Hes come in and filled that hole really well. You mention the stats, he brings us the same thing the other guy did with his size and scoring ability. Hes done a great job. "Were talking about a veteran here with tremendous leadership qualities. Hes certainly been a great asset to our team." Iginlas scoring didnt come for a while with Boston. He didnt net his first goal until his ninth game, and had just five in his first 29. But now he is scoring goals even when his shots are blocked. The Bruins grabbed a 1-0 lead 3:52 into the second period on Iginlas first of the game. His shot was deflected by the stick of defenceman Jonas Brodin and popped into the air. Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper appeared to lose sight of the puck, and it bounced between his pads just before he dropped. Iginla was smiling along the boards when his teammates came to congratulate him. Iginla added an empty-netter, his team-leading 25th goal, with 65 seconds to play. "It was a very fluky, fortunate bounce goal. Ill definitely take them," he said, flashing a similar smile while standing in front of his locker. The Bruins increased their conference lead to five points over idle second-place Pittsburgh by posting their longest winning streak since a 10-game run in November 2011. Boston is 12-1-2 in its last 15 games. Loui Eriksson and Reilly Smith also scored for Boston, which beat the Wild at home for the first time after losing the first six meetings. The Bruins are 3-10 overall against the Wild, who began play in the 2000-01 season. "They were real consistent in how they played," Minnesota defenceman Keith Ballard said. "Theyve got good balance to their lineup." Jason Pominville had the only goal for Minnesota, which lost for the fifth time in six games, but three of those defeats came in shootouts. Kuemper made 25 saves. About 2 1-2 minutes after Iginlas first goal, Rask robbed Mikko Koivu with a glove stop on a shot from in front. He also made a right-pad save on Nino Niederreiters shot from the left circle with just over 2 1-2 minutes left in the game. "Our goaltending has been outstanding all year without question," Iginla said. "They give us a chance every night with big momentum shifts. We also feel as the game goes on we can start playing physical to start taking over the game and try to wear teams down." Rask played like what the Wild expected to face. "He was very good. We knew that going into the game, and he was as good as people say he is," Koivu said. "He made some great saves." Boston made it 2-0 at 11:55 when Carl Soderberg circled the net and sent a backhanded pass across the crease and through a group of players to Eriksson, who one-timed it into the net. Pominville cut it to 2-1 with 1:26 left in the second. He unloaded a slap shot, and the blade of his stick broke. It flew toward Rask as the puck sailed by his glove inside the near post. Smith scored off the rebound of Bergerons shot, making it 3-1 at 7:50 of the third. NOTES: Bruins defenceman and captain Zdeno Chara will turn 37 on Tuesday. ... Boston D Johnny Boychuk missed the game because of a lower-body injury. He went into the boards awkwardly Saturday in a win against Carolina and was helped to the bench, favouring his right leg. He returned and blocked a shot with that leg on his next shift and went to the bench slowly again. He tested the leg Monday morning and said it was too sore for him to play. ... The Bruins have never scored a power-play goal against the Wild, going 0 for 36. Boston had no power plays in the game. ... Iginla became the 55th player and the fifth active one to play in 1,300 NHL games. Bobby Hull Jersey . Bouchard went down to a 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 defeat at the hands of Svitolina in her opening match at the Sony Open on Friday. Bouchard got the rivalry going two years ago when she won the junior Wimbledon title over Svitolina. CM Punk Jersey . - This is just the warm-up act for 18-year-old William Nylander. http://www.officialblackhawksauthority. ... rsey-c-23/. "Im proud of him," Jones said in an interview from Sacramento, site of the UFCs weekend televised card. "I think hes listening to his body and hes doing what makes him happy and thats what life is about ultimately. Jeremy Roenick Jersey .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Brandon Saad Jersey .ca has you covered for whos in, whos out and what to expect from all 30 teams.Edmonton, AB (SportsNetwork.com) - Pekka Rinne stopped 26 shots and Craig Smith scored a pair of goals to lead Nashville in a 4-1 decision over Edmonton at Rexall Place. Taylor Beck and Shea Weber added tallies with Roman Josi chipping in a pair of assists for the Predators, who kicked off a six-game road trip with their third win in the last four outings. Thats a hot team. They had won four in a row. We knew we had to be ready, Weber said. Taylor Hall potted the lone goal for the Oilers, whose four-game win streak came to a halt. Ben Scrivens took the loss despite making 31 saves. The chances were there, but we just couldnt find a way to put them in. Were in the West, we have to find a way to beat them, said Edmontons Ryan Nugent- Hopkins. Smith opened the scoring at 6:23 of the second period by lifting a Josi rebound over Scrivens, and Becks first of the season -- a redirection of a Colin Wilson pass -- doubled the visitors advantage only 1:26 later. Webers point blast with 24 seconds elapsed in the third period made it 3-0 Nashville.dddddddddddd Halls successful swipe at a Nugent-Hopkins rebound from the left wing gave the Oilers some life at 8:54, but Smiths one-timer from a Matt Cullen dish restored the Preds three-goal margin 3 1/2 minutes later. The Predators appeared to have netted the games initial goal just 95 seconds after the opening faceoff. Smith managed to poke a loose puck through traffic in front, but the goal was disallowed since the referee closest to the action had intended to blow the whistle to end the play before the puck was worked free. Game Notes Cullen made his season debut after missing the first eight games with a lower-body injury ... Nashville continues the western Canadian portion of its road swing in Calgary on Friday ... Smith posted his initial multi-goal performance of the season and his first since striking for two goals and two assists in the Preds regular-season finale at Minnesota on April 13. ' ' '