Bruins Live Blog: Boston Knocks Out Carolina

Final, Bruins 5-2: The Bruins started strong and finished even stronger, and they completed their road trip with a 3-3-1 mark. They can finally set their sights on the heavily anticipated showdown with the Penguins on Thursday at the Garden.

Not lost in this victory, though, was Patrice Bergeron’s right leg injury. The Bruins have to hope it’s just a bad bruise, but he dropped to the ice in serious pain after taking Mark Stuart’s slap shot off of the inside of his right knee.

Third period, 2:33, Bruins 5-2: The Bruins just can’t catch a break. With the victory well in hand, Patrice Bergeron took a Mark Stuart slap shot off the leg (maybe on the inside of his right knee) and collapsed in agony. The play was whistled dead once the Bruins gained possession and it was determined Bergeron couldn’t get off the ice quickly enough, and this could be a huge blow for a team that is already lacking center Marc Savard. 

Third period, 7:33, Bruins 5-2: Anything you can do, I can do … worse? Well, maybe that turnover wasn’t as bad as Brian Pothier’s, but David Krejci got the puck in the Carolina zone, spun around and slid the puck past Manny Legace. Put this one in the books.

Third period, 10:12, Bruins 4-2: Brian Pothier has a better pizza delivery service than Domino’s. The Carolina defenseman had an awful, awful turnover in his own zone, and Michael Ryder intercepted the pass and buried his chance. Just when it looked like Carolina had the legs to make a little more noise, Pothier’s lousy pass sabotaged the mission.

Third period, 18:07, Bruins 3-2: Don’t write this one off just yet. Good guy Erik Cole scored his second goal of the night to answer Mark Recchi’s tally just 68 seconds earlier. The ‘Canes have been on a roll lately, and the Bruins have obviously had their struggles this season, so it should be interesting to see how each team reacts to that momentum changer.

Third period, 19:15, Bruins 3-1: Just seconds after Tuukka Rask made a pair of great saves to kill off the Carolina power play, Mark Recchi took long pass in the neutral zone, skated into the Carolina zone and wristed home the 560th goal of his long career. The Bruins have had some good jump out of the locker room in this one.

Third period, 19:55, Bruins 2-1: It’s hockey time in Carolina.

End of second period, Bruins 2-1: Carolina has picked up its play and is really giving it to the Bruins. The B’s just haven’t allowed themselves to generate their own momentum, though. They were called for four penalties in the final 8:03 of the second period, and Carolina has 36 seconds on the power play to start the third period.

Second period, 1:24, Bruins 2-1: This has turned into a parade to the penalty box. Mark Recchi was called for holding, and the teams have a four-on-four for 56 seconds before the Hurricanes get a power play for 1:04.

Second period, 2:28, Bruins 2-1: Dumb, dumb penalty for Carolina, which got called for too many men. There will be a four-on-four for 15 seconds, and the Bruins will follow that with a power play for 1:45. Marco Sturm, by the way, had two good scoring chances on the penalty kill, and David Krejci’s one-man forecheck generated one of those looks.

Second period, 4:14, Bruins 2-1: Patrice Bergeron was whistled for slashing, and the Hurricanes have a chance to tie the game with consecutive power-play goals.

Second period, 6:07, Bruins 2-1: It seemed like it was only a matter of time before the Hurricanes put one in the net, as they’ve had a few really strong chances lately. With four seconds remaining on the Carolina power play, Jamie McBain’s slap shot rebounded out to Erik Cole, who easily slid the puck past Tuukka Rask. It was McBain’s first career point.

Second period, 7:35, Bruins 2-0: You’ve just got to like the way Mark Stuart has been bringing it. Eric Staal got a little too close to Tuukka Rask after the whistle, Stuart got in his face and the two hit the deck together. Then they hit the penalty box together, each receiving a roughing minor.

Second period, 8:03, Bruins 2-0: Blake Wheeler got called for holding, and he’ll serve his second penalty of the game.

Second period, 11:33, Bruins 2-0: That’s not something you’ll see every day. Johnny Boychuk flew through the neutral zone, split through a pair of Carolina defenders and wound up on a quick breakaway. The defenseman made a quick little move with the puck and slid it through Manny Legacy’s five-hole. Nice goal there.

Second period, 12:49, Bruins 1-0: I just laughed out loud at Mark Stuart’s reaction to the official’s explanation after the last whistle. Stuart was unhappy when the puck wound up on the Carolina bench, and after the official passed him, Stuart made a face like, “I don’t know how you’re able to walk without falling.”

Second period, 14:20, Bruins 1-0: Zdeno Chara should forfeit his paycheck from that last shift. After a couple of mellow attempts to wheel in the puck behind Tuukka Rask’s net, Chara should give a stick salute to his teammates for bailing him out and getting the puck out of the zone.

Second period, 16:30, Bruins 1-0: Some close calls on the last sequence. The Bruins had a tough time clearing their zone, most notably due to a bad turnover by Brad Marchand along the half boards, but the B’s really packed the low slot and didn’t allow the Hurricanes to get any good wood on the puck.

Second period, 19:58, Bruins 1-0: It’s time for the Bruins to keep up the pressure and make sure the Hurricanes are as uncomfortable as possible in their own building.

End of first period, Bruins 1-0: That was some pretty good hockey by the Bruins, who had an 18-7 shot advantage in the opening frame. The B’s did the little things — fighting for the puck along the boards and making life miserable when Carolina tried to clear the puck from its zone — but they were too lackadaisical on the power play and couldn’t put a crooked number on the scoreboard. That might be a little frustrating for Boston, but if this effort remains consistent, the Bruins should be in good shape.

First period, 3:20, Bruins 1-0: The B’s had some better chances on that power play, but the result wasn’t any better. Eventually, they just need to start slinging the puck at the net and get aggressive around Manny Legace’s crease.

First period, 5:20, Bruins 1-0: So much for that Carolina rush. Eric Staal got bagged for interference, and the Bruins are back on the power play.

First period, 6:07, Bruins 1-0: There simply wasn’t enough urgency on the Bruins’ 5-on-3, and they couldn’t capitalize on a huge advantage midway through the first period. The Carolina crowd really came to life after the ‘Canes killed off their penalties, and the Bruins have to make sure they can counter a Carolina rush.

First period, 8:15, Bruins 1-0: Joni Pitkanen’s delay of game has given the Bruins a two-man advantage for 1:41, and this is a crucial time for the Bruins to validate a pretty good start in Carolina.

First period, 8:34, Bruins 1-0: Jussi Jokinen got called for interference, and the Bruins get their first power play of the game. On another note, Boston’s forecheck has been really tough on Carolina, and it’s been a chore for the Hurricanes to get the puck out of their zone on a few occasions.

First period, 13:40, Bruins 1-0: The Hurricanes generated some pressure on their power play but couldn’t bury the puck. The teams are back at even strength.

First period, 14:40, Bruins 1-0: Big play by Dennis Wideman to save a goal. With the Hurricanes on the power play, the puck dangled in the crease behind Tuukka Rask, and Wideman rushed in to slap the puck out of harm’s way.

First period, 16:11, Bruins 1-0: Blake Wheeler got busted for high-sticking, and he’ll leave for two minutes. It’s the first power play of the night for either team.

First period, 17:36, Bruins 1-0: Patrice Bergeron has been credited with the Bruins’ first goal, as he tipped Dennis Seidenberg’s shot past Manny Legace just 23 ticks into the contest. One thing you’ve got to love about hockey players: They never want to take credit for a goal that wasn’t theirs. I’ve heard so many stories of guys — in college and the pros — going back to the bench and saying they shouldn’t have been credited with a goal when it’s someone else’s tally.

First period, 19:37, Bruins 1-0: This is a whole lot better of a start than last night. Dennis Seidenberg whipped the puck to the net from above the right point, and it breezed through traffic and into the net. It might have been deflected by Marco Sturm or Patrice Bergeron, so we’ll update you with the official scoring once it comes in.

First period, 19:58, 0-0: It’s Tuukka Rask and Manny Legace between the pipes, and the puck has been dropped at the RBC Center.

6:57 p.m.: I don’t know if this is one of those trap games for
the Bruins, since they’re playing the team that bounced them last season
and they need every point they can get at this point. But the whole
town is abuzz about Thursday’s game against Pittsburgh for obvious
reasons. If the Bruins can keep their focus on Tuesday night’s matchup
in Carolina, all the power to them.

7:52 a.m.: The Bruins’ season-long seven-game road trip concludes Tuesday night in Carolina, and this should be a good indicator of Boston’s mettle.

The B’s were flat and disinterested in the first period of their 3-2 loss to the Devils on Monday, but they played with some real intensity in the final two periods. If the Bruins believe they’re a playoff-caliber team — and one that should actually be taken seriously — they’ll build off of that late-game momentum. If not, obviously, expect more of the same up-and-down play.

Boston is 2-3-1 on this trip, and it looks like a real possibility Tuukka Rask will get the start in net after Monday’s flawless performance in relief of Tim Thomas.