Bruins at Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes have gone six weeks without losing in regulation at home, a streak they will put on the line when they host the Boston Bruins on Friday night in the final game before the Christmas break. The Hurricanes have points in nine consecutive games (8-0-1) at PNC Arena and have not lost in regulation at home since Nov. 10.
Due to an issue with the ice-making equipment that forced a postponement of Carolina's home game against Detroit on Monday, the Hurricanes had five days between games of what essentially became a sweep of a home-and-home against the Buffalo Sabres. "I think (not playing Monday) hurt, actually," Carolina coach Bill Peters said after Thursday's 2-1 win at Buffalo. "I didn't think we were as sharp as we would have been if we could have kept in the rhythm of playing." Boston kicked off a four-game road trip with a 3-1 victory at the Florida Panthers on Thursday night. The Bruins have played better away from home, improving to 10-5-3 on the road as opposed to an 8-9-0 record at TD Garden.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FSN Carolina
ABOUT THE BRUINS (18-14-3): Boston's offense needed a spark and Frank Vatrano wasted no time providing one, scoring the opening tally against Florida in his season debut. The 22-year-old Vatrano, who had been sidelined after undergoing surgery to repair ligament damage in his ankle in September, had eight goals with the Bruins last season while scoring 36 times in as many times for the club's American Hockey League affiliate in Providence. David Pastrnak, the NHL's second-leading goal scorer, returned to the lineup after a two-game absence.
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (13-11-7): Jeff Skinner is prone to scoring goals in bunches and he's in another hot stretch, scoring the opening goal against Buffalo to give him four tallies in his last four games. Skinner, who tops the Hurricanes in goals (13) and points (27), has been instrumental in the team's success at home with eight goals and 14 points in 13 games at PNC Arena. Victor Rask collected his 16th assist and 26th point Thursday, but he has been held off the scoresheet in seven games versus Boston.
OVERTIME
1. Hurricanes G Cam Ward has allowed one goal in each of his last two starts as Carolina improved to 4-1-2 in its last seven games.
2. Pastrnak has two goals and four points in five games against the Hurricanes.
3. Carolina's Justin Faulk set a franchise record for defensemen on Thursday with his 12th career game-winning goal.