Martin St. Pierre scored the only goal of the second, tying the game with 53.9 ticks remaining in the period.

On the play, Martins Karsums, driving down the right wing, faked a slapper, then pulled a cross-ice pass to St. Pierre. The pass bounced off St. Pierre's body, but the slick center gained control, got it on his stick, and tapped a shot past Daniel Larsson to make it a 2-2 game. Karsums has assisted on both goals.

* At last, some life from Marc Savard and Michael Ryder. Savard, after taking a pass from P.J. Axelsson, fed Ryder for a backhand scoring chance in the slot. But Larsson took away the bottom of the net and stood tall, smothering Ryder's backhand flip at 11:43.

Jeremy Reich will have to do a little of everything to make the team. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff)

* Blake Wheeler is moving well. St. Pierre set the big winger up for a chance in front, but Wheeler ran out of room after trying several moves. Once Wheeler develops a power game, he should be a significant asset because of his size, speed, and skill.

* Vladimir Sobotka threw down in the opener to stake his claim to an NHL job. Tonight, it's been Jeremy Reich making a case for one of those last spots. Reich scored in the first and had another chance in the second. Reich has also been skating hard and hitting everything.

* The No. 1 PP unit: Savard, Ryder, P.J. Axelsson, Andrew Ference, Dennis Wideman. No. 2 PP: Wheeler, Marco Sturm, Phil Kessel, Patrice Bergeron, Aaron Ward.