The Bruins move into second place in the East with the win, which completes a home-and-home sweep of Carolina.
The Bruins will now come back to Boston for a clash with the Sabres in a Northeast Division matchup against Buffalo on Thursday.
Third Period, 19:32, Bruins 3-2: The Bruins will get a power play as Tuomo Ruutu trips up Wheeler. The Canes use their timeout for a final strategy session.
Third Period, 18:37, Bruins 3-2: The Canes have pulled Ward for the extra attacker. Empty net for the Bruins to shoot at.
Third Period, 17:19, Bruins 3-2: Thomas with his 43rd save of the night, a new season-high in a season of highs for the Bruins netminder.
Third Period, 15:04, Bruins 3-2: Things have been a little different in the third, with the Bruins holding a 7-6 edge in shots and scoring on two of them. Carolina still holds a 44-27 edge overall, but the Bruins have played much better in the third.
Third Period, 11:49, Bruins 3-2: The Bruins jump ahead again with a power-play strike by Milan Lucic, who finally ends his drought with his first goal in 13 games.
Steven Kampfer began the play by gaining the blue line with speed, then Mark Recchi drove down the left wing and behind the net, feeding it out front to a wide open Lucic left alone in the slot for a quick shot.
Third Period, 10:42, 2-2: LaRose could go from hero to goat quickly as he gives the Bruins a power play for elbowing Chara.
Third Period, 9:19, 2-2: The Canes pull back even as Chad LaRose bangs in a shot at the left post.
After the puck popped up in a scramble in front, Ruutu shoveled it over to LaRose for the tap in.
Third Period, 8:20, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins are back on their heels again. They can't count on this one-goal lead standing up if they don't press their own attack a bit as well.
Third Period, 6:09, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins nearly made it 3-1, but Nathan Horton was robbed by Ward on a bid from the slot.
Third Period, 5:30, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins haven't had many hits in this one, but they just had two for the highlight reels with Boychuk blasting Jeff Skinner at the blue line and Thornton nailing Jokinen.
Third Period, 3:55, Bruins 2-1: After all of Carolina's chances, it's the Bruins who take the lead on a rebound goal by Brad Marchand.
After an icing, Mark Recchi, replacing Patrice Bergeron who was tossed, won the draw back to Zdeno Chara at the left point, and Marchand collected the rebound of Chara's shot and flipped it in with a backhander at the top of the crease for his 10th goal of the season.
Third Period, 2:27, 1-1: Scary sight there as Thomas takes a tumble playing the puck behind the net, but the Bruins clear the zone before the Canes can take advantage.
Third Period, 1:10, 1-1: Sloppy start for the Bruins, with several more turnovers leading to Carolina scoring chances.
Third Period, 0:00, 1-1: The final frame is under way, with the Bruins looking for a much better effort than they showed in the second.
Second Intermission Notes: Brutal second period for the Bruins, who were dominated by Carolina as badly as they dominate the Canes on Monday. The only difference is that Tim Thomas, and his stellar play have given Boston a chance to steal this one in the third.
If the Bruins do rally in the third, they'll also owe a debt of gratitude to Shawn Thornton and linemates Greg Campbell and Blake Wheeler. Their strong work late finally stopped the bleeding a bit and gave the Bruins a chance to regroup.
Still, they were outshot 19-9 in the period and 38-20 overall. They've also been outhit 36-11 so far, and had just three hits nearly halfway through the game. Zdeno Chara did pick up the physical play a bit and leads Boston with three hits, but Milan Lucic still has none after also not registering a hit on Monday.
End Second Period, 1-1: The second period is over, and it couldn't have ended too soon for the Bruins, who are fortunate to get out the second without any damage as the Hurricanes dominate that period.
Second Period, 18:17, 1-1: The Bruins can't convert on the power play, but they did at least slow Carolina's attack a bit for two minutes.
Second Period, 16:17, 1-1: The Bruins finally get something going with the fourth line providing the spark. Shawn Thornton's strong work along the boards leads to a feed to Greg Campbell for a bid in front.
Ward made the save, but Patrick Dwyer clears the puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty as the Bruins go on a power play.
Second Period, 12:11, 1-1: The Bruins survive another Carolina power play, though they still show no signs of turning the momentum of this game around.
Second Period, 10:11, 1-1: The Bruins are back in the box again, this time Boychuk going off for tripping.
The shots are now 34-15 (15-4 in the second) in favor of Carolina, which also holds a 27-4 edge in hits.
Second Period, 8:19, 1-1: The Bruins survive another Carolina power play with more great work by Thomas.
The Canes now have a 12-3 edge in shots in this period and a 31-14 advantage overall as the Bruins are completely on their heels.
Second Period, 6:19, 1-1: After getting robbed by a glove save by ward early in the power play, Nathan Horton gets called for slashing and the sides will play 4 on 4 for 48 seconds before the Canes have a brief power play.
Second Period, 5:06, 1-1: The Bruins get a chance to turn the momentum back their way with a power play as Tuomo Ruutu is sent off for elbowing Wheeler.
Second Period, 4:17, 1-1: After a Bruins turnover, Chad LaRose drives to the net, but Thomas comes up with another big save. He's covering for a lot of lapses by the Bruins in this one.
Second Period, 3:46, 1-1: Johnny Boychuk did get his first goal of the season after all, as the scoring has been changed yet again and the goal given back to the Bruins defenseman. Nice to see the official scorers in Carolina are so decisive.
Second Period, 2:00, 1-1: The Bruins are able to kill off that penalty, with Thomas making a series of big saves to atone for taking the minor in the first place.
Second Period, 0:00, 1-1: The middle frame is under way, with the Bruins needing to kill off Thomas' roughing penalty to start this period.
First Intermission Notes: The Bruins got off to the start they wanted with an early power-play goal, but Carolina settled down quickly and carried the play for the rest of the first.
The Canes had a 19-11 edge in shots and an embarrassing 17-2 advantage in hits. Mark Recchi and Steven Kampfer were the only Bruins to record hits in the first. Boston needs its physical players like Milan Lucic and Zdeno Chara to pick up their play in that aspect of the game and start carrying the attack to Carolina.
It will be tough to do that early though, as they'll start the second with a penalty to kill. The Bruins will also have to do a better job of protecting the puck, as Carolina had 10 takeaways in the first to just three for Boston.
End First Period, 1-1: The opening period ends deadlocked at 1-1, but Carolina will open the second period on the power play as Tim Thomas was called for roughing for a gloved punch at Zach Boychuk at the whistle after the Canes threatened on a rush in the closing seconds.
First Period, 18:39, 1-1: The Hurricanes pull even just before the power play expires on a Jussi Jokinen goal.
The Canes were all over the Bruins on that power play, but Wheeler had a chance to clear it late and couldn't. Jokinen tapped the puck in behind Thomas at the top of the crease after Staal attempted to stuff it in at the right post.
First Period, 16:43, Bruins 1-0: Rough shift for Marchand, who fans on a rebound in the right slot, then takes a hooking call to put Carolina on the power play again.
First Period, 13:20, Bruins 1-0: Thomas is forced to make a pair of big saves on Erik Cole, who got around Chara down the right wing for a bid, then later had a chance in front on a rebound of a Samsonov shot.
First Period, 12:25, Bruins 1-0: Things get a little nasty as a scrum develops after Blake Wheeler gave Jussi Jokinen a shove following an offsides. A big crowd gathers, but nothing further develops.
First Period, 10:00, Bruins 1-0: Thomas makes his first highlight-reel save of the night, robbing old friend Sergei Samsonov in front.
First Period, 9:34, Bruins 1-0: The sides are back at even strength with all the penalties now expired without any further scoring.
First Period, 8:00, Bruins 1-0: Boychuk still doesn't have a goal this season, as the Bruins' goal has been changed to Marc Savard, who tipped Boychuk's shot in front.
Boychuk still gets an assist for his first point in nine games. Michael Ryder gets the other assist.
First Period, 7:34, Bruins 1-0: Staal gets called for slashing Marchand's stick. It will be 4-on-4 for 1:11 before the B's get a brief power play.
First Period, 6:44, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins will have to kill their first penalty as Seidenberg is sent off for cross-checking Eric Staal.
First Period, 5:24, Bruins 1-0: The first big collision of the night comes as Dennis Seidenberg and Troy Bodie come together along the left boards in teh Carolina end. Carolina isn't a physical team, but Bodie is their toughest player and the Canes will be looking to throw their weight around after being embarrassed Monday.
First Period, 4:49, Bruins 1-0: The Canes aren't exactly getting the start they were looking for coming off Monday's blowout, as the Bruins continue to dominate with a 5-1 edge in shots and the game's first goal.
First Period, 2:04, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins strike quick again, as Johnny Boychuk scores his first of the season late in the power play.
Boychuk sent a blast in from the right point, as the Bruins continue to get offense from the defense after four goals from blueliners on Monday.
First Period, 0:17, 0-0: The Bruins get a quick power play with Jokinen headed to the box for tripping.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: And this one is under way, with the Bruins looking to build off Monday's big win and Carolina out for some revenge.
7 p.m.: The Bruins will once again open with the line of Patrice Bergeron between Brad Marchand and Mark Recchi, with Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk on defense and Tim Thomas in goal.
Carolina counters with Jussi Jokinen, Brandon Sutter and Patrick Dwyer up front, Joe Corvo and Tim Gleason on the blue line and Cam Ward in net.
6:55 p.m.: No surprises in the scratches, as Andrew Ference remains out with an upper-body injury and Daniel Paille is a healthy scratch again.
Carolina has scratched Jiri Tlusty again. He came off injured reserve on Monday, but remains out of the lineup. That leaves both clubs with the same lineups as Monday's matchup.
6:30 p.m.: Tim Thomas was the first on the ice for warm-ups, so he will get the start again as expected coming off his shutout.
He'll be plenty motivated to build off that effort, but the Hurricanes also have plenty of motivation to avenge Monday's 7-0 loss, so this one could get a little testy.
6 p.m.: The Bruins and Hurricanes will do it all again in just about an hour, and Boston hopes it will have as good a result as Monday's 7-0 rout when the Bruins complete their home-and-home series against Carolina in Raleigh.
With the back-to-back games, both teams held optional morning skates. Tim Thomas will likely get the start in goal again after posting his league-leading seventh shutout on Monday. Claude Julien went right back to him after each of his previous six shutouts, and Thomas responded by going 6-0-0 and allowing just 11 goals in those six games.
Andrew Ference is questionable for this game as he works his way back from an upper-body injury, but with the strong play of the rest of the defense of late, the Bruins may opt to play it safe and give him some extra time to recover regardless.
Carolina could also get forward Jiri Tlusty back from an upper-body injury of his own, while Cam Ward will be back in goal after being pulled in the first period on Monday.
8 a.m.: The Bruins wrapped up an impressive four-game homestand with a dominating 7-0 win over Carolina on Monday afternoon, but now they have to venture away from the Garden again.
And first up on their travels is a trip to face those same Hurricanes on their home turf in Raleigh on Tuesday night to complete a home-and-home series.
The Bruins dominated in all facets of the game on Monday. They got contributions from all four lines, which featured some new combinations with the return of Milan Lucic after missing three games with an undisclosed injury. Lucic had an assist while playing with Tyler Seguin and David Krejci, who chipped in two helpers himself.
The top line of Michael Ryder, Marc Savard and Nathan Horton remained intact and accounted for a goal while finishing a combined plus-7, while Patrice Bergeron remained red hot with a goal and an assist while skating with Mark Recchi and Brad Marchand. And even dropping down to the fourth line alongside Greg Campbell and Shawn Thornton didn't slow Blake Wheeler, whose assist gave him 1-5-6 totals in the last six games.
But the forwards took a backseat to the defense in Monday's game, with Zdeno Chara collecting his first career hat trick, Mark Stuart scoring his first goal of the year in his return from a broken hand and Adam McQuaid chipping in two assists. Those defenders also helped Tim Thomas post his league-leading seventh shutout of the season.
The Bruins will try for a repeat performance, but it won't be easy against a Carolina club that will be plenty motivated to avenge Monday's embarrassing loss. And prior to that setback, the Hurricanes were among the hottest teams in the league. Even with that defeat, they are still 7-2-2 in their last 11 games and continue to hover just out of a playoff spot, sitting one point behind eighth-place Atlanta.
After getting Lucic and Stuart back on Monday, there's a chance that defenseman Andrew Ference could return in this one after missing the last two games with an upper-body injury.
The puck drops at 7 p.m., so check back here throughout the day for updates on all the action.
