NEWARK, N. J. ( AP) — Mired in somewhat of a minislump, the Boston Bruins needed only one good period to beat the New Jersey Devils and get back on track.

Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell scored in a 35- second span in a four- goal third period and the Bruins avoided a rare losing streak with a 4-1 victory over New Jersey on Thursday night.

“We weren’t happy with the way we had performed in the game and we talked in the locker room, obviously about being better,” said Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, who finished with 30 saves.

The win came at the end of a four-game trip that has seen Boston lose in Carolina, beat Florida in a shootout and lose in Tampa.

Trailing 1-0 and limited to 12 shots in the opening 40 minutes, it seemed that the Bruins were about to lose consecutive games for only the fourth time this season.

The momentum shifted early in the third period when defenseman Andrew Ference took a cross- ice pass from Shawn Thornton and scored on a slap shot at 3:01.

The goals by Horton and Campbell put the Bruins ahead for good as they beat New Jersey for the third time in three games this season and snapped the Devils’ threegame winning streak. Chris Kelly added an empty-net goal in the final minute.

Devils goalie Martin Brodeur didn’t have a chance on any of the three goals in the 4:44 outburst.

Ference blistered a shot high into the top corner of the net. Horton’s 17th of the season came on a deflection in front on a power play. Campbell got his fifth on a rebound.

Devils coach Peter DeBoer wasn’t happy with the officials on Horton’s goal. He said Horton interfered with defenseman Matt Taormina at the blue line.

“ Our defenseman falls down and they choose to ignore it,” DeBoer said. “That’s the game right there.”

The play allowed the Bruins to enter the offensive zone and they kept the pressure on. David Krejci eventually slide a puck from the left circle in front and Horton redirected it past Brodeur. For a split second it appeared that the puck might have hit off Taormina’s skate.

It was more confusing when it was announced that Milan Lucic, who was standing at the side of the net, was awarded the goal, but eventually Horton got credit.

Before the debate was over, Campbell had made the score 3-1. Brodeur made a save on a shot by Thornton and Campbell deposited the rebound into an open net.

Petr Sykora scored for the Devils, who played a much better game than their last meeting with the Bruins, a 6-1 debacle.