EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Another third-period collapse resulted in the New Jersey Devils' worst start on home ice in two decades.
Rookie Patrice Bergeron, Sergei Samsonov and Glen Murray scored in a span of 8:15 in the third period as the Boston Bruins kept the Devils winless at Continental Airlines Arena with a 5-2 triumph.
At 0-3-1, the Devils are off to their worst start at home since opening the 1983-84 campaign with six straight defeats. They have allowed eight goals in the final period in their building and gave up five overall at home for the first time since November 9 vs. Edmonton.
"I don't know why we're losing at home," New Jersey center John Madden said. "We have to put it together for 60 minutes, not 40 minutes."
"We are not satisfied with losing," Devils defenseman Colin White added. "We got lazy in this game. They played simple and we played fancy. That is not our style."
Just three nights after allowing quick goals late in the third against Florida, it took just 26 seconds for New Jersey to squander a 2-1 lead as Bergeron put a rebound past goaltender Martin Brodeur.
"We took pride in winning at home last year," Brodeur said. "Now we take pride in winning on the road. But you need to win at home if you want to be successful."
Just over five minutes later, the Devils fell behind for good when Samsonov snapped a shot past Brodeur. Murray made it a two-goal game with his third of the season and captain Joe Thornton finished the scoring with Boston's second power-play tally of the contest.
Patrik Elias scored on the man advantage and Jamie Langenbrunner netted a shorthanded goal for the Devils, who faced the Bruins for the first time since eliminating them in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals last season.
While the Devils continue to struggle at home, the Bruins are thriving despite playing just two of their first nine games on home ice.
Boston extended its road unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-1), which is its longest since October 14-30 of last season.
"We've only played two games at home, so we do not have a choice," Samsonov said. "It's one of those things when you win on the road, you just want to do it again. We are fighting to the end." "I don't think we were intimidated because they won the Stanley Cup last year," Bergeron added. "We just play to win."
The collapse started when P.J. Axelsson intercepted a clearing pass around the boards by Brodeur and centered a pass in the slot. The puck went off rookie defenseman Paul Martin and Bergeron gathered his own rebound and fired a slap shot into a half-open net for his second career goal.
It continued when the Devils could not stop Samsonov from completing a give-and-go with rookie Sergei Zinovjev. Samsonov skated freely into the New Jersey zone and left the puck for Zinovjev before heading to the net, where he scored his second of the year.
"Weird things happen," New Jersey captain Scott Stevens said. "That is a part of the game. You want to do well (at home) because it's important. Last year, we did well."
Murray stretched the lead to 4-2 when he converted Thornton's pass from behind the net. Thornton capped Boston's most lopsided win of the season when he put home a rebound of defenseman Dan McGillis' shot.
The Bruins won at New Jersey for the first time since November 3, 2001 and got a great effort from rookie goaltender Andrew Raycroft. Making his first career start against the Devils and fifth of the season, Raycroft made 25 of his 31 saves in first 40 minutes, including one on a great chance by Brian Gionta late in the second.
New Jersey, which scored three power-play goals in its season-opening 3-3 tie at Boston, struck early with its special teams.
Elias tipped in a pass from Scott Gomez just 2:27 into the game and, after Martin Lapointe deflected Samsonov's attempt for a power-play tally, Langenbrunner restored the lead with his third of the year.
