NHL: Boston 4, Pittsburgh 2

BOSTON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- P.J. Axelsson put Boston in front for good in the first period Thursday and the Bruins went on to win their 10th straight game -- 4-2 over Pittsburgh.

The 10-game winning streak is Boston's longest in 36 years. The Bruins' record for most victories in a row is 14, set during the 1929-30 season.

Dustin Jeffrey, called up last week, gave Pittsburgh the lead with his first goal of the season just 2:59 into the game. However, David Krejci, tied it on a tip-in 66 seconds later and Axelsson produced a power-play goal midway through the first period.

The game-winning goal came from Milan Lucic in the second.

Ruslan Fedotenko brought Pittsburgh within a goal early in the third and it stayed that way until Marc Savard scored into an empty net with 3 seconds to play.

Manny Fernandez stopped 30 shots and Dany Sabourin allowed three goals on 25 shots to take the loss.

Pittsburgh lost its third in a row, as Boston took over the best record in the NHL with 62 points -- one more than San Jose.