The Boston Bruins picked up a much-needed win last Sunday, cruising to a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers at TD Garden. With the win, the Bruins moved back into the lead for the Northeast Division over the Montreal Canadiens.

The Bruins, after losing their past four home games, came in struggling, having gone 1-3-1 over their past five games for the first time since March 2012. However, the Bruins dominated from wire to wire to end their first winless streak of three or more games at home this season.

Over the course of the win, though, fans were ecstatic, cheering for the first responders and military personnel who helped victims in last week's bombings. The game was bookended by ceremonies to honor the first responders of last week's events, as a number of officers from the Watertown Police Department were on hand during the national anthem, and ending with the Bruins' annual "Shirts off Their Back" campaign during which they honored various first responders with game-worn jerseys presented by players after the game.

"It was just obviously a great feeling to be able to do it on a personal level and right on the ice in front of the fans," said captain Zdeno Chara. "It wasn't as much for us as it was for them. To be able to recognize them and thank them in front of the fans and people who were watching on TV."

Bruins center Patrice Bergeron, who had an assist on an empty net goal that sealed the game, noted the importance of the win both for the Bruins and for the city of Boston.

"Especially this time of year, we need the wins, but also we know for the city it takes the minds off of everything that's happened the past week, so we're all aware of that, but also it's good momentum for us going towards the playoffs," he said.

The fans were given plenty to cheer for just over three minutes into the game, as the Panthers turned the puck over deep in their own zone. The puck found its way to the stick of Bruins right wing Jaromir Jagr, who fired a wrist shot into the top left corner of the net for an early 1-0 lead. The goal was Jagr's second as a Bruin and 16th overall, allowing left wing Carl Soderberg to record his first NHL point with a secondary assist.

From there, the Bruins dominated.

Midway through the second period, rookie defenseman Dougie Hamilton collected a pass from right wing Shawn Thornton, who dove to keep the puck in the offensive zone, firing home a slap shot for his fifth goal of the season. Hamilton's shot kicked off the post before crossing the goal line, bouncing out so quickly that he did not know it had even scored.

"I think it was obviously big," said Hamilton of the win, "just holding onto that one goal lead and just to get another one to kind of make sure with a little insurance."

The Bruins added a third tally late in the third period, as Brad Marchand produced an empty net goal.

Goalie Tuukka Rask recorded 28 saves for the shutout and impressed coach Claude Julien.

"I thought it was important for me to put him back in and say, 'here's an opportunity to go out and battle back. The quicker the better.' He responded well," said Julien.

Rask took home the honor of the first star, but there were no bigger stars than the heroes from the Boston Marathon bombings who were honored throughout the course of the game.
Players and coaches alike stressed the importance of the win both as a tool to help the city heal and as a return to normalcy after a tragic event.

"The last two games, it was an emotional [few] days," said defenseman Andrew Ference. "Today was nice to end with a positive note."

"It's another opportunity, but I think things have kind of settled down now and people are trying to get back to [their] normal lives," said Rask. "So, it's time to play hockey for us."