Recap: Hurricanes 2, Bruins 1 - SO

The Carolina Hurricanes have now won two games in a row as they took advantage of a slow start by the Boston Bruins and defeated them, 2-1 in a shootout in front of 17,212 fans at the PNC Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Eric Staal came through with the game-winner and scored the only goal in the shootout.

Anton Khudobin did not allow anything in the shootout and made 19 saves on 20 shots in the game, earning his second win of the season.

The Bruins, who had lost to Ottawa in OT on the previous day, started out extremely slow and did not have a single shot on goal in the game until late in the opening period.

The Canes did not take full advantage though until Patrick Dwyer lit the lamp with just 34 seconds left.  It was Dwyer's third goal of the season and the second game in a row that Carolina's fourth line contributed with a goal.

Brad Malone earned an assist on the play, giving him a two game point streak.  Malone also dropped the gloves with Gregory Campbell in the first, and dropped Campbell in the process.  He came close to completing his "Gordie Howe hat trick" later in the game but just fell short.

The Canes outshot the Bruins in that period 14-4 but the visitors picked up the pace in the second.

Patrice Bergeron would tie things up later in the second when he was left alone for a point blank shot just a few feet in front of the net.

Things tightened up in the third and both goalies stopped key shots when they needed to.  The game went to overtime and remained scoreless in that period, even as the teams skated 3-on-3 as Reilly Smith got called for holding and Victor Rask, "embellishment" with just a minute and change left in the extra period.

While coach Bill Peters liked the 3-on-3 play and would like to see more of it, he didn't necessarily like the calls, or lack of them.  Just before the Bergeron goal, Justin Faulk had been clipped in the face with a high stick and there was no call.  Faulk had to go to the treatment room to get stitched up and was bleeding after the hit.

When Peters was asked about that play he quipped, "you mean the high sticking that was obvious to everyone?"

After the exciting overtime, Peters went with Chris Terry, Jeff Skinner, and Staal in the shootout.  Terry, who has had good luck in the shootout previously missed on his chance and is now 4-7 lifetime.  Skinner's shot went wide but Staal beat Tuukka Rask, high stick side for the win.

At the other end, Khudobin shut down Smith, Krug, and Bergeron.

Rask also played  an excellent game and kept his team in it when they needed it.  He made 35 saves on 36 shots in the loss.

The Canes will fly to Nashville for their next game on Tuesday night.

Game Notes:

• The Canes outshot the Bruins 36-20 and were led by Jiri Tlusty with five.  Several players had four.
• Brett Bellemore had a team high four blocked shots.
• Dwyer scored on his only shot but also led the team with six hits. 
  
• Even though Faulk had to leave to get stitches, he led the team with 26:58 of ice time.  Sekera was next with 25:18.