NHL: Boston 4, Atlanta 0

ATLANTA, March 23 (UPI) -- Tuukka Rask racked up his fourth shutout of the season, making 27 saves and lifting the Boston Bruins to a key 4-0 win over Atlanta.

The Thrashers were chasing Boston for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Bruins by only a point coming in. But Rask came up big, making a huge second-period save on a Colby Armstrong penalty shot to preserve the Bruins' 2-0 lead.

David Krejci and Milan Lucic each notched a goal and an assist for the Bruins, which moved three points ahead of the Thrashers and swept the four-game season series between the teams.

Atlanta's Johan Hedberg let in four goals on 33 shots as the Thrashers stumbled in their bid to win a season-high fifth straight game.