BOSTON – Marc Savard and Patrice Bergeron had a goal and an assist each to lead Boston to its eighth victory in nine games, a 4-2 decision over Florida on Friday night that moved the Bruins into a tie for the Eastern Conference lead.

The Bruins, 11-1-1 in their last 13 games and the winners of seven straight at home, matched the idle New York Rangers with 30 points in the conference race.

Phil Kessel and David Krejci added goals for Boston.

David Booth and Ville Peltonen scored for Florida.

The victory was also only the second for the Bruins in their last nine home games against Florida. The Panthers are one of only two NHL teams – Minnesota is the other – with winning records against the Bruins in Boston.

Savard, who has two goals and nine assists during a five-game points streak and three goals and 15 assists in the last 17 games, sent Kessel in on a breakaway to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead just 2:46 of the first period. Kessel has goals in each of the last three games and three goals and three assists during a five-game points streak. He is the first Bruin to 10 goals this season.

After Booth tied it, Bergeron tipped Matt Hunwick’s shot past Tomas Vokoun for his first goal in eight games. David Krejci and Savard scored in the second period as the Bruins peppered Vokoun with 35 shots in the first 40 minutes.

Bruins goalie Tim Thomas improved to 5-0-1 in his last six games.

Ville Peltonen scored his first goal of the season late to make it closer.

Booth’s goal came on a breakaway and was first ruled no goal, even though it appeared to be in. A review confirmed Booth’s sixth goal in the last nine games.

The Bruins, who haven’t lost in regulation this month, are one game from matching their longest home winning streak since Nov. 2-29, 2002. They will face the New York Islanders on Nov. 29 after two straight road games.

Hurricanes 5, Coyotes 2

RALEIGH, N.C. – Eric Staal scored three goals in less than 24 minutes to lead the Carolina Hurricanes past the Phoenix Coyotes, 5-2 on Friday night.

Busting out of an eight-game scoring drought in a big way, Staal completed his fifth career hat trick in the final minute of the second period to lead the Hurricanes to their season-high third straight victory.

Ray Whitney scored two late goals, including one into an empty net. Joni Pitkanen had three assists and Cam Ward stopped 26 shots for Carolina.

Shane Doan and Kevin Porter scored and Ilja Bryzgalov made 28 saves for the streaky Coyotes, who have lost four straight since winning three in a row.

Flyers 3, Sabres 0

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Martin Biron made 40 saves for his first shutout of the season and 24th overall in the Philadelphia Flyers’ 3-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.

Biron made several spectacular saves against his former team to help the Flyers win their third straight and fourth in the last five games.

Jeff Carter scored twice and Scott Hartnell added a goal for Philadelphia.

Devils 5, Islanders 2

NEWARK, N.J. – David Clarkson and Travis Zajac scored 10 seconds apart late in the first period, and Kevin Weekes made 25 saves for his 100th career victory in the New Jersey Devils’ 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Friday night. Bryce Salvador, Brian Gionta and Paul Martin also scored, and Jamie Langenbrunner and Zach Parise each had three assists to help the Devils win their third straight game and snap the Islanders’ winning streak at three.

Andy Hilbert and Sean Bergenheim scored for the Islanders.