Bruins Bounce Back to Get Win #40

With four straight losses the Bruins were eager to get going in Carolina. However, the pregame celebration for Glen Wesley carried on for what seemed to be an eternity and the Bruins started slow.

The first half of the first period had a slow and sleepy pace and it lead to a Carolina goal just past the half way mark. It was Ray Whitney finding Matt Cullen for the tally. Whitney collected the pass at the hip and was able to rip a wrister past Tim Thomas.

As the period ticked away the Bruins caught a break, when Eric Stall slashed Chuck Kobasew, putting the Bruins on the Power Play. Blake Wheeler, who started to show his old form in Nashville tied the game when a rebound from a blue line shot lay off the post. Wheeler buried and the Bruins and Hurricanes skated into the room tied at one.

In the second period with a faceoff coming in the Carolina end, David Krejci won the draw back to Shane Hnidy who threw a quick wrist shot at Cam Ward. Ward was not able to handle to shot and the Bruins took their first lead at 2-1.

The rest of the period was played with the Bruins having the best of the scoring chances, but no more goals were scored.

The third period was a tight battle until the final minutes. Boston was actually on the PK, but no fear, Krejci is here. Krejci picked up a pass and broke in on Cam Ward. Krejci was able to pull the puck to his backhand and beat Ward, stick side.

One minute later, with the Bruins on a Power Play, Zdeno Chara teed one up and beat Cam Ward. The shot from Z was tipped on the way in, giving Ward no chance.

With under one minute to go, Boston continued to pile it on as Patrice Bergeron scored an empty netter. The goal was the Bruins third goal in under three minutes. The goal by Bergeron, (empty net) was his first goal in nearly three months.

With the win the Bruins picked up win number 40 and maybe more importantly moved 11 points ahead of Washington and New Jersey for the top seat in the East.

The Bruins are off until Saturday night when they will face off against the Florida Panthers. Three days off in Sunrise, Florida? The Bruins should send a fruit basket to the NHL for that schedule making.