NHL: Boston 6, Ottawa 4

BOSTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Marc Savard scored the game-winning goal and had two assists Thursday, helping the Boston Bruins fight off Ottawa 6-4.

The Bruins had lost their two previous games and avoided equaling their longest losing streak of the season.

Ottawa overcame a two-goal deficit to forge a 3-3 tie going into the third period, but the Bruins got goals from David Krejci, Savard and P.J. Axelsson to pull away.

Savard's goal, which gave Boston a 5-3 lead with 5:31 to play, turned out to be the game-winner when Antoine Vermette scored for the Senators with 28 seconds remaining.

Manny Fernandez gave up all four Ottawa goals on 30 shots to get the win. Fernandez surrendered goals to Chris Kelly and Brendan Bell late in the second period that allowed the Senators to get back in the game, but the Boston goaltender shut down Ottawa while his teammates were rebuilding the lead.

Ottawa lost its fourth straight game and fell 32 points behind the division-leading Bruins.