Final, Bruins 3-2: And the Bruins escape.
Jarome Iginla did some incredible stickhandling into the Carolina zone, and he eventually found David Krejci coming in behind him. Krejci waited, waited and waited some more for Cam Ward to go down, and then the Bruins center put it in for the win.
End third period, 2-2: The Bruins came close to scoring the winning goal in the final seconds, but a deflected puck went up over Cam Ward’s outstretched arm and over the net.
So, we go to overtime. The Hurricanes, who improbably steal at least a point, feel much better about that development than the Bruins.
Third period, 18:30, 2-2: Looks like disaster has been avoided, at least for Torey Krug. The defenseman appears to be back on the bench after blocking a shot a couple of minutes ago.
Third period, 16:50, 2-2: Things are going from bad to worse for the Bruins.
Torey Krug just blocked a short, and he paid for it dearly. He got hit pretty square in the leg, and he struggled to get back to the bench. He was eventually down the tunnel, so we’ll keep an eye on it.
Third period, 14:27, 2-2: The Bruins were able to easily kill off the penalty, and the game is back to even strength.
Third period, 12:25, 2-2: Things are getting a little more hairy for the Bruins.
Dougie Hamilton was just called for interference, and the Bruins will have to kill off a penalty. That came just one second after the Carolina penalty expired, without the Bruins scoring of course.
Third period, 11:10, 2-2: The Bruins really haven’t done a very good job of putting this game away in the third period, and it just cost them.
The power play committed a turnover at the top of the Carolina zone, and Patrick Dwyer used his speed to fly out of the zone with the puck, and he got a breakaway all alone with Chad Johnson. The Canes forward went to the backhanded, and the shorthanded goal ties the game.
Third period, 10:24, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins are getting another power play, and they’re hoping it goes a little better than the last one.
The Hurricanes were just whistled for too many men on the ice, and the Boston power play will try to put things away.
Third period, 9:08, Bruins 2-1: David Krejci came close to ending a five-game pointless streak on the power play, but he couldn’t convert.
Milan Lucic burst into the neutral zone and he ended up falling to the ice (with maybe a little bit of a trip?), but he was able to get the puck to David Krejci who went flying into the zone. Krejci couldn’t get it by Cam Ward, though, and the game is still 2-1 in favor of the Bruins.
Third period, 7:08, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins are going to get another power play here in the third period.
Elias Lindholm was just called for slashing Johnny Boychuk’s stick, which probably isn’t going to go over very well with the Hurricanes after Zdeno Chara’s slash earlier wasn’t called.
Boychuk and Lindholm got tied up after the play, and it looked like Boychuk eventually took an unintentional kick to the head. He was a little shaken up, but he skated off and seems fine.
Third period, 2:03, Bruins 2-1: The goals are going to come at some point for Jarome Iginla, right? Right? Maybe?
The Bruins forward just had a tremendous opportunity in front of the net when he picked up a loose puck in front, and from about 4 feet away, he hit the post.
Third period, 0:01, Bruins 2-1: The third period is underway with the Bruins looking to put the finishing touches on this one.
End second period, Bruins 2-1: The second period is over, and that’s good news for the Hurricanes. The Bruins thoroughly dominated that period, and they were able to take the lead in the process. Were it not for Cam Ward, this would be a rout by now.
The Bruins are outshooting the Hurricanes 26-10 after holding a 12-4 advantage in the middle period.
Second period, 18:35, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins just got a little bit lucky.
Jiri Tlusty got free on a breakaway with Zdeno Chara eventually catching up to him. The Bruins defenseman slashed Tlusty’s stick and the stick broke in half.
The Hurricanes bench exploded, as they were obviously more than displeased that there was no call on the play.
Second period, 17:24, Bruins 2-1: Zdeno Chara almost gave the Bruins a 3-1 lead shortly after Reilly Smith scored the go-ahead goal.
The Bruins captain uncorked a 100 mph (presumably) slap shot from the left point that beat Cam Ward glove side, but the puck ended up hitting the post.
Second period, 13:31, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins’ third line has been absolutely fantastic today, and that’s the reason they’re now in the lead.
Matt Bartkowski was able to pinch down the right wall and keep the puck in the zone, which ended up being huge. Carl Soderberg attempted a shot that was blocked, but Reilly Smith was right there coming across the slot. He skated by the net and then scored with a backhander that beat Cam Ward.
Second period, 12:18, 1-1: The Hurricanes had a shot on goal. The way this is going, that’s a development.
Carolina went more than 20 minutes without putting a shot on goal, as their offense has been pitiful so far. The Bruins are doing a great job of bottling things up, and they’re also getting chances at the other end.
Again, Cam Ward is the only reason this game is still tied.
Second period, 9:55, 1-1: The Bruins just had their best chance of the period, but Cam Ward was able to make the save.
Patrice Bergeron made a gorgeous pass ahead to a streaking Brad Marchand, but the Carolina goalie sprawled to make the save.
The Bruins continue to dominate play — Carolina has gone more than 21 minutes without a shot — but Cam Ward is keeping them in it.
Second period, 6:54, 1-1: The Bruins weren’t able to do much of anything on the power play there, but they’re still dominating play.
Loui Eriksson had the best chance of the advantage when he was left all alone in front, but he couldn’t quite lift the puck enough to get it by Cam Ward.
The Hurricanes don’t have a shot on goal in this period, and they haven’t had a shot on goal since 9:13 of the first period.
Second period, 4:09, 1-1: The Bruins will have a chance to take their first lead of the afternoon on the power play.
Andrej Sekera is going off for delay of game, and the Bruins will try to add another power-play goal.
Second period, 1:46, 1-1: The Bruins are getting the most of the second period in the couple of minutes played so far.
The Davdi Krejci just dominated about a minute of play and we’ll see if that sets the tone for the rest of the period.
Second period, 0:01, 1-1: The second period is underway here at the Garden with the game all tied 1-1.
End first period, 1-1: The siren just sounded, and we’re done with one period of hockey here from TD Garden.
The Bruins outshot Carolina 14-6.
First period, 14:49, 1-1: Zdeno Chara continues to do damage in front on the power play.
The Hurricanes couldn’t clear the puck, which was held in by Torey Krug, and that turned into good news for the Bruins. Krug eventually passed it to Milan Lucic who got free in the slot. Lucic put it on net and Cam Ward made the original save, but Chara was able to swipe the rebound by Ward.
First period, 12:03, Hurricanes 1-0: Now the Bruins will get their chance to do something on the power play.
Manny Maholtra just caught David Krejci with a high stick as they went for a puck along the boards, and the Bruins will look for the power-play equalizer.
It will actually be a four-minute power play for the B’s. It was originally posted as two-minute, but apparently there was some damage done and it’s a double-minor.
First period, 10:47, Hurricanes 1-0: The Bruins aren’t doing much of anything after a quick start. They had the game’s first six shots on goal, but since then they have been outshot 6-1.
However, the Bruins continue to get a strong performance out of the third line. Aside from the phantom hooking call, Carl Soderberg has been great again. He and Reilly Smith have really found some chemistry, and Soderberg had another nice chance in front that he couldn’t quite handle.
First period, 5:53, Hurricanes 1-0: The Hurricanes average 1.91 goals per game coming into this one, but they are the ones who strike first this afternoon.
Andrej Sekera, who left the ice for a bit after taking a Shawn Thornton slap shot to the foot, just scored the game’s first goal on the power play. He put a quick shot on goal with some traffic in front, and Chad Johnson couldn’t get it with the blocker as it beat him to his right.
First period, 4:47, 0-0: The Hurricanes will get the first power play of the afternoon.
Carl Soderberg was called for hooking, supposedly. Didn’t look like there was much there, but he’ll go to the box and the penalty kill goes to work.
First period, 2:21, 0-0: The Bruins get the game’s first real good chance.
Torey Krug found Carl Soderberg wide open to Cam Ward’s left, but the pass was too hot to handle. That came a few moments after Soderberg lifted a stick to steal the puck in the Carolina zone, which eventually led to a shot on goal for Reilly Smith.
The B’s are already outshooting the Hurricanes 4-0.
First period, 0:01, 0-0: Matinee hockey. Let’s do it. The game is underway.
12:50 p.m.: As mentioned earlier, Kevan Miller is in the Bruins lineup today. He appears to be paired with Matt Bartkowski. They ended up skating together for much of Thursday night’s game, and they have some familiarity from their time together in Providence. Torey Krug will skate with Johnny Boychuk and Zdeno Chara is paired with Dougie Hamilton.
Other than that, the Bruins lineup remains the same.
On the other side of the ice, Jeff Skinner is back for Carolina, and he is in the lineup. He actually returned Thursday against Detroit, and the Bruins were obviously fortunate enough to miss him last time around on Monday.
12:30 p.m.: The mystery has been solved. Chad Johnson is the Bruins’ starting goaltender. Cam Ward will go for the Hurricanes.
12:20 p.m.: We’re just a few minutes away from pregame warmups, which is apparently when we’ll find out who the Bruins’ starting goalie is.
B’s coach Claude Julien met with the media about a half hour ago, and he was asked if Chad Johnson would be the starting goaltender. Instead of answering the question, Julien replied with this.
“If I tell you, you’re going to be eating popcorn instead of watching warm-up. I know you, so I want you to watch warm-up.”
So, yeah. We’ll find out soon enough. Also, Adam McQuaid will be out once again for the Bruins, as he’s apparently not quite ready to return from a lower-body injury. He’ll be replaced in the Bruins lineup by Kevan Miller who made his NHL debut Thursday against the Blues.
11 a.m.: The Bruins turned in one of their finest efforts of the season Thursday against the St. Louis Blues, but it wasn’t quite enough as the B’s fell victim to the Blues in the shootout. If they give anything close to that effort Saturday afternoon, they should have much better luck.
That’s because the B’s will welcome the Carolina Hurricanes to TD Garden for a Saturday matinee, which is a rematch of a matchup Monday down in Raleigh that Boston easily won 4-1. The loss to the Bruins was sandwiched by losses to the Blues and Red Wings, so the Canes come in on a three-game losing streak.
The Bruins, despite not playing their best hockey, are on a bit of a roll right now. Boston is 6-1-2 in its last nine games, and they’re 5-0-2 at home over that stretch. The Garden has been a tough place to play for road teams all season, with the Bruins holding an 8-3-2 record on home ice.
It’s likely that Chad Johnson gets the start in net for the Bruins. Tuukka Rask started the last four games, including three games in four days this past week, so it would make sense that Johnson would get his fourth start of the season against a Carolina team that can’t score goals. We’ll know for sure soon, though, as Claude Julien will meet with the media at 11:50.
Puck drop is set for 1 p.m.
