The Carolina Hurricanes outplayed the Bruins for most of the night, but Tim Thomas (43 saves) held down the fort and the B's were able to escape Raleigh with a 3-2 win on Tuesday night to sweep their home-and-home series with the Hurricanes.
The Bruins took advantage of an early power play opportunity 17 seconds into the game after a tripping call on Jussi Jokinen. Johnny Boychuk's slapper from the point on the power play gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 2:04 of the first period. Michael Ryder and Marc Savard picked up the helpers on the game's first goal.
Jussi Jokinen knotted it up at 1-1 with power play goal with 1:21 left in the first period after Brad Marchand was whistled for hooking. Tim Thomas made a save at the right post and tried to cover the puck up for a face-off, but Eric Staal jammed the puck free and the loose puck went across the crease to Jokinen, who tapped the gimme goal in for his 11th goal of the season.
Brad Marchand roofed a backhander from the slot to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead 3:55 into the third period. The goal was Marchand's 10th of the season.
Chad LaRose hit the reset button for the Hurricanes with 10:41 left in the third period on a wacky play in front of the Bruins net. The puck was flipped about 15 feet into the air. As players battled for the "jump puck", Jeff Skinner tipped the puck. Tuomo Rutuu tried to gain possession of the puck but could not control it, but LaRose was on the doorstep to put the puck in the net.
Milan Lucic got the game-winner for the B's on the power play with 8:21 left to play in the game with Chad LaRose in the box for an elbow (that should have been called a high stick) on Zdeno Chara. Mark Recchi lugged the puck below the goal line, stopped in the trapezoid, and feed a pass out front to Milan Lucic all alone in the slot for a one-timer.
Notes:
- Andrew Ference (upper body injury) traveled with the team to Raleigh, but remained out of the lineup tonight.
- The Hurricanes out-shot the Bruins 45-28. They put 19 shots on goal in both the first and second periods.
- The Hurricanes attempted a total of 87 shots (45 on goal, 28 blocked, and 14 misses).
- Carolina out-hit the Bruins 43-19. Some of that might be hometown scoring, but there is no denying that Carolina had the physical edge.
- Tim Thomas flat-out carried the Bruins in this game. The B's had no business still being in this game in the third period and they found a way to win because Timmy kept them in the game.
- Marc Savard is looking more comfortable on the ice each game.
- 12 different Bruins blocked shots. Dennis "Dikembe" Seidenberg led the Boston block party with 5 blocks.
- Referees Bill McCreary and Eric Furlatt called a very tight game tonight. Perhaps they were instructed to keep both teams on a short lease due to the potential for things to boil over after yesterday's game. At any rate, it was a constant parade to the penalty box for ticky-tack infractions by both teams.
- Carolina edged Boston in face-offs 33-32.
- Next Game: Thursday vs. Buffalo Sabres 7:00 PM ET
- For more on tonight's game from down in Dixie, check out Canes Country