Eriksson, Bruins edge Islanders

Loui Eriksson scored the go-ahead goal with 7:34 left in the third period and Tuukka Rask stopped 39 shots to lift the surging Boston Bruins to a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders Saturday night in Boston for their ninth win in 12 games.

Patrice Bergeron added a first-period, power-play goal for the Bruins, who have collected points in 14 of their last 16 games (102-4).

John Tavares had a power-play goal for the Islanders, who have lost four of five. Former Bruin Chad Johnson made 34 saves.

Eriksson scored the winner out of a scramble in front when he spun around and sent a backhand shot under Johnson’s left arm.

The teams traded firstperiod power-play goals, but were scoreless in the second in a contest that featured many good scoring chances and plenty of open-ice breakouts.

Tavares one-timed a rebound past Rask from the bottom of the left circle 9:06 into the game for his team-leading 24th goal.

Bergeron tied it 4:06 later when he collected Michael Grabner’s errant clearing pass in the slot and fired a wrister over Johnson, who was on his stomach after making a save on a shot.

Both goaltenders made nice stops early in the second. Rask flashed his left pad, robbing Andres Lee’s close bid, and Johnson made two good saves on Carl Soderberg, who cut in front for a shot and turned and had a rebound chance.

The Bruins had an excellent scoring chance early in the third, but Daniel Paille’s backhander sailed over the wide-open side of the net to Johnson’s left at the end of a 2-on-1 break.

Seconds later, the Islanders went on a power play after Brad Marchand was whistled for high sticking, but Rask made a few stops to keep it tied. PREDATORS 3, RANGERS 2 >> at Nashville, Tennessee, Mike Ribeiro scored with 7:14 left in the third period and Nashville bounced back from a rare home loss to beat the Rangers.

The Predators, coming off their third regulation loss at home this season against Anaheim on Thursday night, improved to 110-1 after a regulation loss this season. Pekka Rinne made 30 saves in his second game back from a knee injur y.

Ribeiro’s goal was his 700th career point. Roman Josi and captain Shea Weber also scored. Josi also had an assist in giving Nashville defensemen 134 points and 36 goals this season, both the most in the NHL.

Rick Nash scored his league-leading 33rd goal, and Ryan McDonagh also scored for the Rangers. They had won three straight.

Cam Talbot got his second straight start in net for the Rangers with goalie Henrik Lundqvist out at least three weeks with a vascular injury after taking a puck in the throat a week ago. Talbot had a shutout win in his last game at Nashville last season, just 90 miles from where he played college hockey in Huntsville, Alabama.

The Rangers have been pretty dominant against Western Conference teams this season and better on the road at 7-1-0. They also had won four straight in Nashville.