Carolina's players kept their cool as the Boston Bruins filled the penalty box. The Hurricanes finally cashed in on their chances.
Cam Ward stopped 33 shots, and defenseman Joni Pitkanen had a goal and two assists to lead the Hurricanes to their second win over the undisciplined Bruins in a week, 4-1 on Tuesday night.
''I think we showed we were disciplined, but at the same time we were able to hold our own,'' Ward said. ''You look at the game out there, we battled extremely hard, we didn't back down from anything and I think you're sensing the chemistry in the locker room - that the guys really want to do it for one another and it showed out there.''
Tuomo Ruutu, Anthony Stewart and Eric Staal had the other goals for Carolina, which beat the defending Stanley Cup champions 3-2 at home last Wednesday. The Hurricanes had two 5-on-3 goals in the final period.
Rich Peverley had a power-play goal for the Bruins, who had a number of seemingly senseless penalties and dropped their third in four home games. Boston was called for 11 penalties in the second and third periods, many during scrums. The Hurricanes took five penalties during the last two periods.
''It's good to be emotional and physical as long as you're not frustrated,'' Boston defenseman Andrew Ference said. ''This sport's designed where you're allowed to be physical, but as long as you're not punching guys in the head all the time.''
Bruins coach Claude Julien was given a game misconduct with 3:44 to play.
''We have to take responsibility for our actions,'' Julien said.
Tuukka Rask stopped 19 shots in his second start, both losses. The other was a 1-0 defeat to Colorado last Monday.
Peverley's wrist shot beat Ward on the glove side with 9:01 to play. Shortly after, Nathan Horton was given a double-minor for roughing to halt Boston's momentum. Bruins captain Zdeno Chara then took a high-sticking penalty seconds later.
That's when the Hurricanes sealed the win.
Staal scored during a 5-on-3 power play to give Carolina a 3-1 lead with 6:34 to play. Ruutu's goal was also during a two-man power play.
''We obviously frustrated them in their play,'' Staal said. ''We were in their face and aggressive, and they were trying to get something going. When they're doing what they're doing, the refs have no choice but to call penalties when they're penalties. We capitalized, eventually on the 5-on-3s and it was a great win.''
Peverley's goal was the first for the Bruins on the power play after they went 0 for 22 following Brad Marchand's goal on their first man advantage of the season.
Asked if his players let their emotions take over Julien said: ''That was in the third period. It was pretty obvious when the penalties mounted and mounted and they kept getting 5-on-3s.''
Carolina went ahead 1-0 2:47 in when Stewart scored off a rebound during a scramble in front. He beat defenseman Matt Bartkowski to a loose puck to the left of Rask.
The Hurricanes made it 2-0 when Pitkanen beat Rask with a slap shot 10:19 into the second.
Boston's frustration showed during a scrum behind the Hurricanes' net late in the second. Chara and Bruins wing Milan Lucic both charged into a group of players, and Chara ended up squaring off with defenseman Jay Harrison. During the melee, Rask skated to the other end and went mask-to-mask with Ward, but neither threw a punch.
Boston ended up down two players, but killed off the 5-on-3 power play without allowing any decent scoring chances. Just 7 seconds later, however, defenseman Dennis Seidenberg was whistled for interference. But the Bruins killed that power play, too.
Julien switched up his lines in the third period, but the Bruins showed little spark until Peverley's goal and a few scrums.
Notes: Carolina D Tomas Kaberle, a midseason pickup by Boston last season before he signed a three-year, $12.75 million contract with the Hurricanes, got his Stanley Cup ring from Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli in the morning. ... Bruins D Joe Corvo left the bench after taking a hard hit into the boards, but he returned in the second period. ... It was Boston's first of four straight home games. ... The Bruins' three previous losses were by one goal. ... Boston C David Krejci missed his third straight game with an undisclosed injury. ... Brett Sutter, who played most of last season with Charlotte of the AHL after being acquired from Calgary in November assisted on Stewart's goal for his first career point. ... Boston has four goals total in its losses.
