Michael Dwyer/AP

The Bruins saw a pair of three-goal leads turn into one-goal margins. But Patrice Bergeron sealed the win with an empty-net goal, giving the Bruins a 6-4 victory and sending them into the two-day breather on a good note.

"We'll enjoy our Christmas break now," said Mark Recchi.

Marc Savard scored a power-play goal in the first period by roofing a shot over Ondrej Pavelec. Savard set up Zdeno Chara's five-on-three goal in the second by drawing Rich Peverley and Ron Hainsey.

John Anderson didn't think much of the goaltender interference called on Colby Armstrong early in the second. "I don’t know where [Colby] Armstrong is supposed to go there," Anderson said. "He’s going out in front of the net and the guy drives him into his own goalie, and we pick up the puck and score. That’s a game-changing call. I just don’t understand the rule. I guess I just don’t know what the rule is there. Protect the goalies. I agree to protect the goalies but we still have to play the game."

Again, Dennis Wideman led all Bruins with 27:52 of ice time. Wideman had two assists.

STICK SALUTE: Tim Thomas. Stops the momentum in the first period by gloving Ilya Kovalchuk's wrister.

SIN BIN: Blake Wheeler. On the ice for two Atlanta goals. Zero shots and little offensive presence.

***

All done at the Garden. Bruins, 6-4.

19:56 (3). Bruins, 6-4. Patrice Bergeron with the ENG.

19:19 (3). Timeout Atlanta. Six-on-five faceoff coming up in Bruins zone.

15:08 (3). Bruins, 5-4. Ilya Kovalchuk on the breakaway. No Bruins defensemen in sight.

13:58 (3). Bruins, 5-3. Evander Kane with the close-range tip-in.

9:32 (3). Bruins, 5-2. Michael Ryder tucks in the rebound of a Patrice Bergeron one-timer for a five-on-three goal. Forty-five seconds remaining on Max Afinogenov's slashing penalty.

6:59 (3). Roughing on Adam McQuaid. Not sure a veteran gets called for that.

Second intermission

After 40 minutes, Bruins with a 4-2 lead.

• They may be an adventure on defense, but the Thrashers are fun to watch up front. Tons of speed. D's are encouraged to jump up all the time. They're never out of a game.
• The fourth line has strung together four excellent games in a row. Vladimir Sobotka looks far more comfortable at center than wing. It should be his permanent position.
• Adam McQuaid had an active shift late in the period. Recorded two thumps and blocked one shot. McQuaid has to remember not to run around too much, but he's looked pretty solid in his three NHL games.

14:48 (2). Ilya Kovalchuk on the power play for an Ovechkin-like 1:59.

9:24 (2). Christoph Schubert rattles a wrister off the crossbar.

7:43 (2). Another chance for Byron Bitz. Shawn Thornton with another clever setup.

7:05 (2). Byron Bitz charges to the net and puts several pucks on goal. Johan Hedberg stands tall. Fourth line clicking once more.

2:14 (2). Bruins, 4-2. Zdeno Chara hammers a five-on-three shot through an Atlanta stick and past Johan Hedberg.

0:28 (2). No goal. Interference on Colby Armstrong.

First intermission

After 20 minutes, Bruins with a 3-2 lead.

• Ilya Kovalchuk is showing why he's one of the five best players in the league. Deceptively fast. Wicked wrister. And a deadly slap shot. Kovalchuk deserves max money from the Thrashers. If Atlanta decides he's not worth it, they need to get a bounty back for Kovalchuk at the deadline.
• After a dominating showing against Ottawa on Monday, Zdeno Chara is not looking as sharp tonight. Bad giveaway from behind the net leading to the first goal. Had his doors blown off by Kovalchuk on the second. The Boston captain is not very pleased in the room right now.
• Sure looked like Tim Thomas should have stopped Bryan Little's shot.

19:20 (1). Tim Thomas gloves Ilya Kovalchuk's wrister. Great speed by Kovalchuk toward end of PP.

17:28 (1). Bruins, 3-2. Ilya Kovalchuk blows past Zdeno Chara and feeds Maxim Afinogenov in front. Afinogenov beats Tim Thomas five-hole.

14:44 (1). Bruins, 3-1. Zdeno Chara with the giveaway to Maxim Afinogenov, and Bryan Little beats Tim Thomas with a slapper.

12:00 (1). Adam McQuaid steps in front of Chris Thorburn's slot shot.

10:52 (1). Bruins, 3-0. Vladimir Sobotka with the tip from Shawn Thornton. That's it for Ondrej Pavelec. Rotten play by his teammates.

10:32 (1). Bruins, 2-0. Mark Recchi feeds Daniel Paille backdoor for the easy tap-in. Steve Begin with the secondary assist, dropping a pass to Recchi with speed.

9:44 (1). Bruins, 1-0. Marc Savard with the clever PPG. Zdeno Chara goes diagonal to Savard at the right post. Savard has Marco Sturm in front, but goes top shelf.

3:10 (1). Tim Thomas stops Colby Armstrong's partial breakaway.

0:51 (1). Tim Thomas starts things off with a glove save.

This is Claude Julien's 200th game behind the Bruins bench.