NHL: Bruins edge ahead of Blackhawks in Stanley Cup finals

Goaltender Tuukka Rask stops 28 shots as the Boston franchise beat Chicago 2-0 in Game 3.

Tuukka Rask, right, made 28 saves for the Boston Bruins to continue his hot form this season. Harry How / Getty Images / AFP

BOSTON // Tuukka Rask stopped 28 shots on Monday to lead the Boston Bruins to a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks and into the lead in the NHL Stanley Cup finals.

The Bruins took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series thanks to second-period goals from Daniel Paille and Patrice Bergeron. In the third, the Bruins relied on Rask to preserve the lead and once again he came through with his third shut-out of the play-offs.

The Blackhawks have now lost two straight after their triple-overtime triumph in the series opener.

Chicago goalie Corey Crawford stopped 33 shots, but he was backed by little offence as the Blackhawks went 0-for-4 on the power play.

The Blackhawks were hindered by the absence of Marian Hossa, who was hurt in warm-ups. Hossa, who was tied for the team lead in play-off points with 15, was replaced by forward Ben Smith, who was playing his first game in this post-season.

After a scoreless first period, Paille scored his second goal of the series to put the Bruins ahead. He kept the puck in the Chicago zone along the left wall and found Tyler Seguin for a great chance in the slot that Crawford got a piece of. Chicago's Dave Bolland tried to clear it, but Paille corralled the puck, turned and fired at 2:13 of the second.

Patrice Bergeron scored a power-play goal at 14:05 of the second.

The Bruins host Game 4 on Wednesday.

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