The Boston Bruins scored five unanswered goals in the third period en route to a 6-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday night at PNC Arena. David Pastrnak registered a third-period hat trick in the win.
Pregame notes.
Bruins forward Brad Marchand, who missed Sunday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks due to an upper-body injury, will be in the lineup tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Marchand is still feeling the effects of an open-ice collision with the Blackhawks' Anthony Duclair during Saturday's game at TD Garden.
Bruins forward David Backes returns to the lineup tonight after serving a three-game suspension. He'll center Danton Heinen and Brian Gionta. Tommy Wingels will be a healthy scratch. Defenseman Adam McQuaid will be the healthy scratch on the back end.
Masked men: Tuukka Rask will start tonight. He's 28-11-4 with a 2.31 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 44 games. He's 8-3-3 with a 1.97 GAA and a .937 SP in 15 career games against Carolina. Cam Ward is getting the nod for the Hurricanes. He's 19-11-4 with a 2.70 and a .907 in 36 games this season. He's 16-16-4 with a 2.61 and a .919 in 36 career games against the Bruins.
Observations from the first period.
- Safe to say that Backes will be dialed in tonight.
- It appears that Jake DeBrusk has turned the corner and the rookie ruts could be behind him.
- Now the Bruins just need to get Danton Heinen to that point.
- That's a solid puck battle by Matt Grzelcyk, not sure that's a penalty.
- Noel Acciari does such a good job on the PK. Does a solid job eliminating passing and shooting lanes.
- Bruins allowed only two shots during Carolina's first PP. Good PK by Boston.
- 4-on-4 for 1:25. Brandon Carlo draws a tripping penalty.
- On that last net drive by the Bruins, it's a perfect example how of DeBrusk is focused. He possesses the puck, curls back along the right half wall and sends it on net, knowing Heinen is crashing the crease.
- I'm willing to bet that Rask has more than doubled the number of times he's played the puck this season.
- With 10.5 seconds remaining in the period, Marchand scores his 30th goal of the season to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
- David Pastrnak has mastered that pass from behind the net. Probably from watching Patrice Bergeron do it time and again.
- Rask is moving well for a goalie dealing with a lower-body injury.
- Some may believe that Bruce Cassidy is too animated on the bench, but you've got to appreciate the passion.
- With Pastrnak in the box for hooking, the Hurricanes tie the game at 1-1 on the power play.
- Bruins need to clean up their breakouts.
- Rask making more than a couple of timely saves this period.
- Grzelcyk is so strong on his edges.
- Jordan Staal just overpowered Carlo to create a quality scoring chance, but Rask makes another save.
- Now with DeBrusk and Rick Nash on his wings, Krejci wants to pass the puck more.
- Gionta has been a great acquisition. He's relentless.
- Not good when two of your best penalty killers are in the box as Carolina gets a 5-on-3.
- And just like that the Hurricanes score on a two-man advantage to gain a 2-1 lead.
- Still 1:38 remaining on Marchand's penalty.
- Staal is handling Carlo tonight.
- DeBrusk shaken up after being hit in the corner. It'll be interesting to see if he's sent to the quiet room.
- DeBrusk doesn't miss a shift. However, a spotter can still pull him.
- Justin Williams gives the Hurricanes a 3-1 lead with 1:17 remaining in the period. That's a tough one for Rask to allow.
- Heinen keeps his legs moving and draws a penalty with 35 seconds remaining in the period.
- Carolina dominated that period.
- Bruins need a better period.
- And that's not the case as Carolina gains a 4-1 lead on a shorthanded goal only 51 seconds into the period.
- DeBrusk still looks like he's struggling a bit since that hit in the second period.
- Gotta get more pucks on net.
- This battle between Carlo and Staal has been entertaining.
- Chara going to the room.
- Fourth line going to get a lot of ice time the rest of the way in this game.
- Grzelcyk scores to cut Boston's deficit to two. He deserved that goal for his efforts of late. It's his third of the season.
- Pastrnak's been too cute tonight but finally scores to pull the Bruins within one goal. Great shot to score on the short side. Two goals in 56 seconds for the Bruins.
- Now the Bruins tie it at 4-4 on Heinen's goal. Wow. Boston scores three goals in a span of 1:17.
- DeBrusk, Chara and Krug all back in the locker room.
- With 4:08 remaining in regulation and the game tied at 4-4 the Bruins are going on the power play.
- Incredible comeback by the Bruins. Pastrnak scores a power-play goal to give the Bruins a 5-4 lead. They've scored four goals in a span of 6:26 in this period.
- A five-goal third period for the Bruins as Pastrnak scores an empty-net goal for a 6-4 advantage with 1:34 remaining for a hat trick.
- Incredible comeback for the Bruins.