Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask saves a shot by Tim Cook in Saturday's game at the Odyssey Arena

A packed Odyssey Arena revelled in the presence of the Boston Bruins as the NHL side beat a Belfast Giants select 5-1 in an entertaining friendly clash.

The Giants select had the temerity to take the lead as Nottingham Panthers player Jade Galbraith notched the opening goal in the 36th minute.

However stung by the goal, Tyler Seguin, Zdeno Chara and Brad Marchand replied immediately with three goals.

Milan Lucic and Seguin added final-period goals for the Bruins.

Giants netminder Stephen Murphy made a great double early save but the Giants select showed their own attacking intentions as Rich Seeley and Galbraith both went close at the other end in front of over 5,000 spectators.

Slovak star Chara missed a great chance to put the Bruins ahead late in the first period but the Nottingham Panthers player Galbraith gave the Giants select a shock lead in the 36th minute with a superb shot past Tuukka Rask.

However, the Bruins immediately stepped up a couple of gears as Tyler Seguin, Chara and Brad Marchand all netted within three minutes.

The Giants select held out in the opening eight minutes of the final period before Milan Lucic added Boston's fourth goal.

Seguin notched his second goal of the night with three minutes and 38 seconds remaining and that was the final scoring action as the Giants select continued to battle bravely right to the end.

Murphy took the Giants man-of-the-match award with Seguin being named the Bruins player of the night.

The Bruins are one of the most famous hockey teams in the NHL and one of the league's original six teams, officially forming back in 1924.

Boston have won five Stanley Cups in their team history and last season, the Bruins made it to the semi-finals of the Stanley Cup play-offs, eventually bowing out to the Philadelphia Flyers in the final match of their seven-game series.

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