Bruins beat Rangers 3-1 in season opener

Boston Bruins' Milan Lucic (17) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers in Boston, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. The Bruins won 3-1. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Hockey is back and that means Bruins hockey is back as the Bruins did not let their fans down. They came out and played strong and hard throughout the game. For most of the game they looked like they were in mid-season form and showed it by beating the New York Rangers 3-1. There were also two fights in the game, one going to each team and both had blood. We also got to see quite a few interference penalties which looks like we'll be seeing throughout the season. Update: Watch the game summary video

Quick game summary
In the first period, Milan Lucic scored his 1st goal of the season off a rebound from a David Krejci shot, making it 1-0 Bruins.

In the second period, Daniel Paille scored his 1st goal of the season, as he tipped a Gregory Campbell shot that hit the post and then went off the backside of Henrik Lundqvist and into the net, making it 2-0 Bruins. Later, Rangers Brad Richards scored to make it 2-1 Bruins.

Less than a minute after the Richards goal, things started getting more intense as Shawn Thornton and Mike Rupp dropped the gloves. They had a real good fight with both guys landing some punches. Thornton would come back with a left-right combo and bloody Rupp. After the Thornton-Rupp fight, off the next faceoff, Gregory Campbell and Stu Bickel dropped the gloves and Bickel got the better of Campbell, with a solid punch that bloodied Campbell's nose.

Shawn Thornton with a left jab to Mike Rupp's face. Photo is courtesy Getty Images

In the third period, it looked as if David Krejci scored a goal as Lundqvist grabbed Krejci's shot with his glove and the glove went behind the red line but NHL referees determined it was no goal.

But the hockey Gods would make sure things evened out as Johnny Boychuk scored his 1st goal of the season shortly after the no-goal call, making it 3-1 Bruins. With less than six minutes left in the game, Milan Lucic (who was on the ice between the benches) was having a conversation with Mike Rupp (who was on the Rangers bench) and somehow Lucic was the only one thrown out of the game. I don't get that.

Tuukka Rask played in net for the Bruins, making 20 saves on 21 shots and getting his 1st win of the season.

Game notes
The Bruins led the game in shots 34-21 and faceoff wins 35-23. The Rangers led the game in hits 34-27 and blocked shots 10-5.

The Bruins went 0-for-7 on the power-play while the Rangers went 0-for-5.

The Rangers had 10 giveaways and the Bruins only had 1.

Patrice Bergeron led the Bruins with 5 shots.

Milan Lucic and Adam McQuaid led the Bruins with 4 hits apiece.

Dennis Seidenberg led the Bruins in ice time with 23:59.

Dougie Hamilton played in his first NHL game, had 2 shots and 3 hits.

Onto the next one
The Bruins are now 1-0 this season. The next game for the Bruins is on Monday, hosting the Winnipeg Jets at 1pm ET.