BOSTON -- With a 3-5-2 record and only 23 goals this season, it was clear the Boston Bruins needed to find an offensive spark.

That offensive spark might might have arrived last night in the form of Marco Sturm. While Sturm was out, Boston coach Dave Lewis had been juggling lines to try to find one that worked. Sturm was originally expected to miss last night's game and Saturday's contest against Tampa Bay after he was injured during practice on Oct. 18 when he took the puck off of his right knee on a Brad Stuart slap shot. Sturm was on crutches for several days and had fluid drained from the knee last week, but told the Bruins that he felt ready to go last night after having strong practices on Tuesday and Wednesday.

His return makes a big difference as the Bruins can now reunite him with Patrice Bergeron a unit that formed a fearsome line last season. They produced almost half of Boston's offense last year (69 of the 148 goals).

In addition, rookie Phil Kessel (2-2-4) can now move from wing back to his normal position -- center. Kessel can make a lot of things happen when he has the puck, but on a line with shooter Glen Murray and Bergeron, who likes to handle the puck, Kessel had few opportunities to really play his game.

That should change now that Sturm is back.

Last night, Kessel saw a lot of time with Wayne Primeau, Murray and Boyes in Boston's 5-4 shootout loss to Northeast Division power Buffalo (11-1-1).

Alperts returns

Boston is also benefiting from the return of physical defenseman Andrew Alperts. Alberts, a second-year player, separated his right shoulder on Oct. 19 and had been watching his teammates from the TD Banknorth Garden press box.

Alperts was expected to miss 2-4 weeks with the injury but last week learned his shoulder wasn't as damaged as he thought. Before the injury, Alperts had been the only Boston defenseman with a positive plus-minus rating (plus-3).

His number came in

Many athletes are superstitious. Marc Savard And you can bet that what happened last night won't change his beliefs any time soon.

Savard, wearing No. 91 last night for the first time this season, scored his second goal of the season and assisted on two others.

Savard wore No. 9 in Atlanta last year but could not wear that number in Boston because it's retired in honor of John Bucyk. Savard said he likes No. 9 because his daughter was born on the ninth day of the month. Savard, who is coming off a career season where he finished ninth overall in the league's scoring race with 28-69-97 totals, wore No. 71 with the Bruins prior to last night.

He has no plans of changing back after last night's performance. Bruins defensman Nathan Dempsey, who started the season wearing No. 29, wore 21 last night.

A night of firts

Bruins rookie defenseman Matt Lashoff earned his first NHL point last night when he assisted on P.J. Axelsson ' second -eriod goal that gave Boston a 1-0 lead. Mark Mowers later scored his first goal of the season for Boston.

roblee@projo.com / (401) 277-7340