Bruins continue climb up Atlantic Division

NEW YORK — Patrice Bergeron scored three goals to lead Boston to a 5-2 victory over the Islanders on Thursday night, giving the Bruins at least a point for the 15th consecutive game.

Brad Marchand had a goal and two assists as Boston improved to 11-0-4 since its last regulation loss, Dec. 14 against Washington. This is its best stretch since going 15-0-1 from March 2-30, 2014.

Ryan Spooner had a goal and an assist, and Anton Khudobin stopped 22 shots as the Bruins moved within five points of the first-place Lightning in the Atlantic Division.

Jordan Eberle and John Tavares scored for New York, which has dropped seven of 10, with each of the losses coming in regulation. Jaroslav Halak made 29 saves while facing fewer than 35 shots for the first time in his past 11 games.

Bergeron completed his third career hat trick — 12 days after a four-goal, five-point night against Carolina — when he took a pass from Marchand, spun and fired the puck in from the left circle at 3:45 of the third period. It was his 19th goal of the season.

Tavares pulled the Islanders within two with about 51/2 minutes remaining with his 25th goal. Marchand capped the scoring with his 20th with just over a minute to go.

Game highlights: Taylor Hall scored on a breakaway 34 seconds into overtime and the host Devils beat the Capitals 4-3. The Devils have won two straight after breaking a six-game winless streak (0-3-3). … Pavel Buchnevich scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period, lifting the host Rangers over the Sabres 4-3. … Sean Couturier scored 18 seconds into overtime to give the host Flyers a 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs.

Around the league: Nearly 17 years after a bitter breakup, the Flyers retired Eric Lindros' No. 88 in a stirring tribute to the Hall of Fame center before the game against the Maple Leafs. "Very blessed that I could've played in Philadelphia," Lindros said as the Wells Fargo Center crowd roared. Lindros, 44, became the sixth Flyer to have his number retired, joining Bernie Parent (1), Mark Howe (2), Barry Ashbee (4), Bill Barber (7) and Bobby Clarke (16). It was a feud with Clarke, then the Flyers' general manager, that led to Lindros' ugly exit. It stemmed mostly from the treatment Lindros received for a number of concussions and a collapsed lung, with his parents often criticizing the Flyers' medical team.