Palmieri gave New Jersey a 1-0 lead at 16:37 of the first period when Ty Smith's shot redirected in off the forward's stick.
"I think, especially when playing against these guys, we've had a recipe that we've gotten rewarded for with wins," Palmieri said. "And I think sometimes it's a lot easier for a group to stick with a game plan when you find those rewards. We knew the kind of game we had to play. We had to play great D and I think as a whole group we did that tonight, and obviously the score reflected it."
Patrice Bergeron appeared to tie the game with Halak pulled for the extra skater at 18:50 of the third period, but Ruff challenged the play for goaltender interference, and the call was reversed after it was determined that David Krejci knocked the puck out of Blackwood's glove.
"Well, you know, immediately when I saw it, it looked to me like he pitchforked [Blackwood] when he basically had the puck covered," Ruff said. "And I just said right then we're going to challenge this. I said to the other coaches, 'I'm challenging it for sure.' You know I think you can be wrong, you can be right, some of these challenges are really hard, but with the way that my goaltender played, it's one that you have to challenge."
Boston, which outshot New Jersey 17-5 in the third period, still has yet to score a goal at 5-on-5 against the Devils this season.
"I think we have to build from that," Bergeron said. "A lot of really good looks in the third and the way we want to generate and bring it to the net and get second and third chances. And I thought we did that, and we have to find a way, that's what it comes down to."
NOTES:The teams will complete the two-game set here Tuesday. ... The Devils were 4-for-4 on the penalty kill, which included a double minor in the third period, and are 12-for-13 in their past five games. … Bruins forward Charlie Coyle played his 600th NHL game. … Boston forward Karson Kuhlman returned after missing one game because of an upper-body injury.