Hurricanes 3, Bruins 0
Brandon Sutter had a goal and an assist and Cam Ward made a season-high 47 saves for his third shutout of the season and 19th of his career as the Carolina Hurricanes completed their first-ever season series sweep of the Bruins with a 3-0 victory Thursday in Boston.
Sutter secured the win with his 12th goal of the season at 3:13 of the third period. Andreas Nodl blocked a Tuukka Rask clearing attempt in the corner and found Sutter in the high slot.
Ward, a perfect 4-0 against the Bruins this year, has only allowed 20 goals in his last 12 games.
Tuomo Ruutu gave the Hurricanes a 2-0 lead at 16:41 of the middle frame when he backhanded a rebound past a sprawling Rask. Ruutu’s 16th goal of the season came after Sutter forced a turnover and got a shot off that created the rebound.
Despite Carolina being outshot 22-8, Eric Staal scored the lone first-period goal. The play started when Ruutu impaled Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk on his own stick in the corner to leave the puck for Jiri Tlusty, who fired a pass to Staal alone in the slot for his 12th of the season.