Boston Bruins left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) shoots the puck through the legs of Calgary Flames goaltender Mike Smith (41) for a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Boston Bruins left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) shoots the puck through the legs of Calgary Flames goaltender Mike Smith (41) for a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Boston — The Boston Bruins slowed down Johnny Gaudreau just enough on Thursday night, and that got them past the high-scoring Calgary Flames.

Jake DeBrusk and Brad Marchand each had two goals, and Boston built off its Winter Classic victory by beating the Western Conference-leading Flames, 6-4.

Boston has won three in a row and six of eight. Jaroslav Halak stopped 33 shots, and John Moore and David Pastrnak also scored.

“We have been offensively challenged for quite some time,” Krug said. “We’ve had to win a lot of tight, low-scoring games, so it was nice to win one like this.”

Even in a high-scoring game, Boston needed a few key stops on Gaudreau. The former Boston College standout scored from a tight angle with 9:27 left to cut Boston’s lead to 4-3 and also had an assist, but he failed to convert on two breakaways. The diminutive All-Star was coming off consecutive four-point games.

“Gaudreau is a special player with his height and how he came into the league,” DeBrusk said. “He’s so nifty.”

Mike Smith had 21 saves for Calgary, which has dropped five of eight. Michael Frolik, Elias Lindholm and Mikael Backlund also scored.

Pastrnak, David Krejci, Torey Krug and Patrice Bergeron each had two points for Boston. Krejci was all smiles after he and his wife had a baby boy Thursday morning.

“It was a special day,” Krejci said. “They (Calgary) are really good and to get the two points was a cherry on top.”

After Gaudreau’s goal, DeBrusk quickly stretched the lead off a pass from Krejci with 6:14 to play. Backlund scored less than three minutes later to make it 5-4, but Marchand iced it with an empty-netter with 1:50 left.

“Caught him (Smith) off guard,” DeBrusk said. “It was lucky, but I’ll take it.”

Frolik got Calgary going with a short-handed goal 7:46 into the game. He charged out of the box after he and Lindholm were called for penalties five seconds apart and beat Halak.

Wild 4, Maple Leafs 3

Toronto — Zach Parise broke a tie off a turnover early in the third period and Minnesota rallied to beat Toronto.

Auston Matthews lost the puck to Parise, who beat goalie Michael Hutchinson high over his glove at 4:21 for his 18th goal of the season. Minnesota overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-2.

Toronto got a power play midway through the period, with Matthews hitting the post short side on Devan Dubnyk. The Leafs pulled Hutchinson with 2:45 left, but were unable to get anything past the Wild netminder, including a chance that dribbled off the post in the dying seconds.

Hurricanes 5, Flyers 3

Philadelphia — Dougie Hamilton, Justin Williams and Teuvo Teravainen scored second-period goals to lead Carolina past Philadelphia.

The Flyers fired coach Dave Hakstol and general manager Ron Hextall last month and the shake-up has yet to spark any kind of sign of playoff life for a franchise that hasn’t won a Stanley Cup since 1975. The Flyers lost their fifth straight game and fell to 3-5-1 under interim coach Scott Gordon.

Sabres 4, Panthers 3

Buffalo, n.y. — Jeff Skinner scored twice and Buffalo ended a seven-game skid against Florida.

Sam Reinhart had a goal and an assist, and Tage Thompson also scored in a game the Sabres played minus injured captain Jack Eichel. Buffalo coach Phil Housley said Eichel will miss at least one more game with an upper-body injury after he was hurt in the first period of a 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Monday.