BOSTON — Garnet Hathaway's goal broke a third-period tie to give Boston a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, notching the Bruins their 50th win of the season and making them the fastest team to reach the milestone in NHL history.
Boston accomplished the feat in only 64 games to reach 50 wins, beating the record of 66 that was originally set by the 1995-96 Red Wings and matched by the 2018-19 Lightning.
The Bruins could also end up being the first team this season to clinch a playoff berth, depending on the results of other games on Saturday.
Hampus Lindholm and Patrice Bergeron each scored goals just 88 seconds apart to help Boston rally from a two-goal deficit, and netminder Linus Ullmark stopped 30 shots.
Magnus Hellberg made 35 saves in the losing effort for Detroit.
Andrew Copp scored a short-handed goal and Alex Chiasson quickly followed with a goal to give the Red Wings a 2-0 lead less than five minutes into the first period.
But the Bruins responded with a dominant second period where they peppered the Detroit net with the first 12 shots on goal for an 18-2 edge in shots in the period.
Lindholm scored around the seven minute mark of the second to cut into the Red Wings lead.
Detroit appeared to stretch their lead back out with another quick goal. But Dylan Larkin's goal was waived off because he had smacked the stick out of David Krejci's hands seconds earlier.
Instead, Bergeron tied the game up on the power play, by deflecting a pass from Jake DeBrusk through Hellberg's legs.
The score remained 2-2 until Hathaway gathered in a rebound with his backhand and then poked the puck behind the goalie to give Boston a 3-2 lead.
It was Hathaway's first goal as a Bruin, as he arrived in Boston just before the trade deadline from the Washington Capitals. Hathaway has been playing on Boston's fourth line since his arrival.
The teams face off again in Detroit on Sunday.
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