Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) controls the puck and pivots around Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Boston, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) controls the puck and pivots around Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Boston, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Credit: Charles Krupa

Boston — Led by their young players, the Boston Bruins put up their highest scoring game of the season.

Rookie Jake DeBrusk set up second-period power-play goals by David Backes and fellow rookie Charlie McAvoy and added a goal of his own, Tuukka Rask stopped 16 shots to keep up his hot stretch, and the Bruins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 7-2, on Monday night.

Brad Marchand, Danton Heinen, Torey Krug and Patrice Bergeron also scored for the Bruins, who halted a two-game skid. Rask improved to 6-0-1 in his last seven starts. McAvoy also had an assist and his first career NHL fight.

“It was an opportunity for them to show their abilities and their talents,” Backes said of the young players. “They didn’t disappoint one bit.”

Josh Anderson and Seth Jones scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 38 saves — including a penalty shot by Tim Schaller — for the Blue Jackets.

Kings 4, Flyers 1

Philadelphia — Adrian Kempe jumped out of the penalty box and scored a big goal in the third period, Jonathan Quick made 36 saves and Los Angeles ended Philadelphia’s six-game winning streak.

Alec Martinez, Trevor Lewis and Tyler Toffoli also scored for the Kings, who avoided a winless four-game trip and prevented the Flyers from matching an NHL record.

Jakub Voracek scored a power-play goal and Brian Elliott stopped 21 shots for the Flyers, who were trying to become the first team since the 1966-67 Toronto Maple Leafs to immediately follow a 10-game winless streak with seven straight victories.

Devils 5, Ducks 3

Newark, n.j. — Stefan Noesen scored on a rebound with 4:07 to play and added an empty-net goal as New Jersey rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Anaheim.

Myles Wood had two goals, Jesper Bratt also scored and Brian Boyle added three assists as the Devils won their second straight game to start a six-game homestand. Cory Schneider had 21 saves and was helped by a goalpost on a shot by Rickard Rakell during a power play before Neosen, a former Duck, scored the go-ahead goal.

Caps’ Oshie Returns

Arlington, Va. — Star winger T.J. Oshie is expected to return to the Washington lineup tonight at Dallas after missing six games with a concussion.

Oshie participated in his first full practice with teammates Monday, skating on the second line with rookie Jakub Vrana and center Evgeny Kuznetsov. Oshie practiced on the first power-play unit and says he feels ready to go.

Coach Barry Trotz says he will make a final decision Tuesday morning.

Oshie was injured on a hit from San Jose’s Joe Thornton on Dec. 6. The 30-year-old says this is his fourth documented head injury but is the least severe one.

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Follow Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno

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