Boston Bruins' David Backes (42) celebrates his goal with teammate Danton Heinen (43) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes in Boston, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Bruins' David Backes (42) celebrates his goal with teammate Danton Heinen (43) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes in Boston, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston — David Backes scored his first two goals of the season, helping the Boston Bruins beat the Arizona Coyotes, 6-1, on Thursday night.

It was Backes’ third game back after he missed 12 straight following surgery to remove part of his colon. The veteran forward scored his first goal with Boston on a tip-in 13:54 into the second period and then added another goal with 54 seconds left in the period.

Brad Marchand scored 15 seconds into the game for the Bruins, who won for the seventh time in nine games. David Krejci, Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork also scored, and Tuukka Rask made 20 saves.

Christian Dvorak had an unassisted goal for Arizona, and Scott Wedgewood made 25 saves.

Backes, the former St. Louis captain who signed with Boston as an unrestricted free agent in July 2016, was expected to miss up to eight weeks following his surgery on Nov. 2 to relieve inflammation caused by diverticulitis. He returned to the Bruins on Nov. 29 and got his 500th career point Monday with an assist during a loss at Nashville.

Backes deflected in Riley Nash’s wrist shot from the blue line at to break a 1-all tie with 6:06 left in the second. He also stole the puck from Alex Goligoski inside the Arizona zone and beat Wedgewood with a wrist shot at 19:06.

Krecji’s power-play goal in the opening minute of the third put Boston up 4-1 just 15 seconds after Luke Schenn was called for hooking.

The Bruins struck first when Marchand scored on a one-timer off a crossing pass from David Pastrnak. But Dvorak tied it with a high backhand with 2:53 left in the first after stealing a clearing attempt by Brandon Carlo.

Penguins 4, Islanders 3 (ot)

Pittsburgh — Matt Hunwick scored 1:29 into overtime, lifting Pittsburgh over New York.

Phil Kessel got his team-leading 14th goal on a power play, and Jake Guentzel and Riley Sheahan also scored for Pittsburgh.

Lightning 5, Avalanche 2

Tampa, Fla. — Steven Stamkos had a goal and two assists, and Tampa Bay became the first NHL team with 20 wins.

Flames 3, Canadiens 2 (ot)

Montreal — Sean Monahan scored his second goal of the game 1:14 into overtime, lifting Calgary over the Montreal.

Panthers 6, Jets 4

Sunrise, Fla. — Micheal Haley scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period to lead Florida over Winnipeg.

Notes

NHL Eyes Seattle

Manalapan, Fla. — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league’s board of governors has agreed to consider an expansion application from Seattle.

Bettman said the expansion fee has been set at $650 million for Seattle, which would become the league’s 32nd team, if approved. He made the announcement Thursday after the first day of the board of governors meeting.

Bill Foley paid a $500 million expansion fee for the Vegas Golden Knights. They began play this season.

Seattle plans to have a new arena ready by 2020 with the intent of luring an NHL and an NBA team as anchor tenants.

Bettman said Seattle is the only city being considered for expansion at the moment, which means an NHL team likely won’t be playing in Quebec City’s 18,259-seat Videotron Centre in the foreseeable future.

Deal Reached on Hurricanes Sale

Raleigh, n.c. — Dallas billionaire Tom Dundon has signed a purchase agreement to buy a majority stake in the Carolina Hurricanes from longtime owner Peter Karmanos.

The team announced the agreement Thursday, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the team would not move.

The move marks the latest step toward the end of Karmanos’ lengthy attempt to sell the team he moved from Hartford, Conn., to North Carolina two decades ago. Karmanos will retain an equity stake in the franchise.