Bruins Look to Salvage Pride, Season Series in Tilt With Eastern Conference-Worst Carolina

by Ryan Durling on Feb 2, 2012 3:00 PM EST in Game Previews

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 14: Milan Lucic #17 of the Boston Bruins is restrained by official Brian Murphy #93 and Brandon Sutter #16 of Carolina Hurricanes during a fight in the third period at the RBC Center on January 14, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 4-2. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

The Boston Bruins welcome the Carolina Hurricanes to TD Garden for the final time this season, looking for their first winning streak since January 12th tonight. But if history indeed repeats itself, Boston will be searching for a while longer.

The Bruins are 0-3 against Carolina this season, losing those three games by a combined score of 11-5. Despite their league-leading goal differential, Boston just hasn't been able to solve Cam Ward on a regular basis.

Carolina fell 5-2 to the New York Islanders on Tuesday night, while Boston came from a 3-1 deficit to beat Ottawa 4-3.

Three of Carolina's 18 wins on the season have come against Boston, and the Bruins will need a game effort to avoid being swept by the worst team in the Eastern Conference.

They'll get a boost with the return of defenseman Andrew Ference to the lineup after finishing serving a three-game suspension after charging the New York Rangers' Ryan McDonagh in a mid-January game. But Boston will still be without Nathan Horton, who's battling the ill effects of his second concussion in eight months.

Expect Tuukka Rask in net for Boston, after Tim Thomas returned to the win column with a workmanlike, 30-save effort on Tuesday night.

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Wasn’t McQuaid expected to be absent tonight as well? I know he didn’t practice yesterday.

Our intention isn't to discuss this... it's to see if you can bleed.

by BobbyOrrsBastard on Feb 2, 2012 3:12 PM EST reply actions

he was on the ice today, all sources seem to say he’s likely to play.

by androxin on Feb 2, 2012 5:34 PM EST up reply actions

"Expect Tuukka Rask in net for Boston,"

Any confirmation on that, or speculation on your part? This back & forth swapping keeps my head spinningngngng. (NOTE: BB’s are my All Time 2nd Favorite, behind my DTW of course). Double win tonight in Boston & Vancouver! Still waiting for my 2 favorites in a Finals Match-up. Is 2012 the year?

by eromnek on Feb 2, 2012 5:22 PM EST reply actions