Game 5 Recap: Bruins 5, Hurricanes 3

The Carolina Hurricanes kept coming from behind but the Boston Bruins controlled the end of the game and eventually skated away with a 5-3 victory on Monday night at Raleigh. The loss dropped the Hurricanes record to 2-3 while the Bruins have yet to lose in regulation and sport a 4-0-1 record.

The visitors came out strong to start the game and outshot and out-chanced Carolina while jumping out to a 2-0 lead.

Brad Marchand would open the scoring with a shorthanded tally 3:16 into the game. Then Zdeno Chara would score a powerplay goal three minutes later to stake the Bruins to their lead.

Mid-way through the period, Tim Gleason dropped the gloves with Milan Lucic and the defenseman succeeded in firing up the crowd as well as his teammates.

Shortly after the fight, Jamie McBain chipped in a nice pass from Eric Staal to make it 2-1.

After a pretty evenly played second period up to that point, Nathan Horton would put the Bruins back up by two with 4:08 left in the period. But Carolina would come roaring back on goals by Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal to tie things up before the end of the period.

Skinner gathered in a pass from Jordan Staal,took the puck inside to goalie Anton Khudobin, and scored top shelf. Just 50 seconds later, Alexander Semin made a nice steal inside the blueline and fed the streaking Carolina Captain, who also scored in close.

The third period was played cautiously but with about five minutes left the Bruins were controlling play in the Carolina zone and eventually scored when David Krejci potted his first of the season with just 1:50 left in the game.

Eric Staal was called for slashing shortly after that and the Canes would not be able to mount a serious scoring threat the rest of the way. Tyler Seguin scored the empty netter to close things out.

It was a disappointing game for special teams as the Canes powerplay looked ineffective against the top penalty killers in the league, who have yet to allow a powerplay goal all season.

Coach Muller said that would be one of the main focuses of the team in their next stretch of three days off.

Next up for the Hurricanes will be the Ottawa Senators at home on Friday night.

Game Notes:

• The Canes were 0-6 on the powerplay while allowing their first shortie of the year. That puts them at 3-26 so far this season, (11.5%).
• For the first time this season the team was outshot in a game, (38-32). The Bruins had an 18-8 advantage in the deciding third.
• Alexander Semin led the team with five shots on goal, was credited with two takeaways, had a team high +3, and chipped in with two assists.
• Bobby Sanguinetti posted a team high five hits. Chad LaRose had four. The Bruins outhit the Canes 25-20.
• Joni Pitkanen skated over 29 minutes, a high for both teams. Next highest time on the ice for Carolina was Jamie McBain with 25:48.
• The team only won 41% of their faceoffs: J Staal, (50%), E Staal, (29%), Jokinen (33%), Brent (50%).
• Tim Gleason fought a tough customer in Lucic, pretty much to a draw. He was doing well early, but the bigger Bruin was wearing him out at the end.
  
• Jeff Skinner now has goals in four straight games. Jordan Staal has assists in four straight.