Bruins explode for six and win in front of Kovalchuk

It was two nights before Christmas, and all through the Garden the players were stirring up an old fashioned shoot out.

It makes perfect sense that on the night the most coveted player in NHL trade talks comes to town the Bruins break out of their offensive slump.

Boston was on the power play in the first period, with the game still scoreless and Zdeno Chara was able to find Marc Savard cross-ice for the tally.

Just 48 seconds later it was Steve Begin in the offensive zone, who dropped a pass for Mark Recchi, who dished to a wide open Daniel Paille for the tap in goal.

As if that weren't enough, just 20 seconds after Boston's second goal, Shawn Thornton slid a pass over to Vladimir Sobotka, who tipped the pass into the back of the goal.

The massacre was on and Ondrej Pavelec was off; to the locker room that was after giving up three goals in a mere minute and eight seconds.

Atlanta, however, seemed to wake up after watching Pavelec skate off the ice. Bryan Little put the Thrashers on the board with a slap shot from the left hash, on a shot that Tim Thomas would stop more often that not.

Less than three minutes later, Ilya Kovalchuk fed Maxim Afinogenov, who beat Thomas through the wickets. It was the second scoring play in which Zdeno Chara had a bit of a hiccup and let Atlanta cut the lead to one.

As the second period started, Boston found themselves on an early five-on-three. Toward the tail end of the five-on-three, Chara found the back of the net after his slap shot was deflected off of an Atlanta defender.

After five goals in the first period, Chara's goal would be the only one in the second.

Just shy of half way through the third period, the Bruins looked to take a strangle hold of the game. On the power play it was Michael Ryder who was able to get the tally, putting home a loose puck courtesy of a Patrice Bergeron one-timer. The goal was Boston's second five-on-three goal of the evening.

However, Atlanta showed a lot of fight, and would mount another comeback on the Bruins. After Evander Kane made it a 5-3 game, it was the man in the spotlight who would cut the deficit to one.

Kovalchuk came in off the right wing on a breakaway and was able to beat Thomas through the legs. Chara left Kovalchuk alone and the sniper made him pay, potting his 21st goal on the year.

Kovalchuk's goal came with 4:52 left in the third period and the fans at TD Garden began to get a little antsy.

However, fear not as season MVP to this point, Patrice Bergeron won a key defensive zone face-off and then was rewarded with an empty net goal.

The final score was 6-4 and even though the Bruins and their fans have to be happy with their six goal explosion, they too have to be disappointed with the defensive mistakes.

It is not often where Chara will make multiple mistakes in the same game, but he did. Hopefully this was just a slight misstep for the reigning Norris trophy winner.

The Boston fans were also able to see what kind of player Kovalchuk really is. He showcased his speed, and wicked shot and showed why he expects a max contract for his services.

And with youngsters like Duncan Keith getting 13 year deals, why not a 10 year deal for a player of Kovalchuk's talent. If the Thrashers don't want to offer it, you better believe there will be a half dozen other teams that would love to.

Boston will enjoy a mini holiday break, until Sunday when they will be in Florida to face the Panthers.

Here's wishing all of Bruins nation a Merry Christmas, and a nice reminder to you all that there are only nine days left until hockey at Fenway.