BOSTON (AP)—Brad Boyes scored three goals for his first career hat trick, leading the Boston Bruins past the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 Saturday for their second consecutive win.
Boyes, who ranks third among rookies in points scored with 54, scored all three of his goals in the third period, helping the Bruins avoid a season sweep by Carolina. He has recorded a point in five consecutive games.
Patrice Bergeron added a goal and an assist and Tim Thomas saved 38 shots for Boston. Thomas, who earlier Saturday signed a three-year contract extension with the Bruins, improved to 10-7-5 since being called up from Providence on Jan. 10.
The Bruins, who beat Ottawa 3-2 in a shootout Thursday, remain last in the Northeast Division despite defeating the Eastern Conference’s top two teams in the past three days. Carolina entered Saturday with a conference- and NHL-best 96 points, while Ottawa was second in the Eastern Conference with 94 points.
After Boston squandered a 2-0 lead by allowing two goals in less than 2 minutes early in the third period, Boyes retrieved a Marco Sturm pass and snuck the puck to the right of Carolina goalie Cam Ward 7:45 into the period to put the Bruins up 3-2.
Boyes then deflected a Brian Leetch shot midway through the third period for his third goal of the game and 21st of the year, making the score 4-2.
Eric Staal and Rod Brind’Amour scored for Carolina, which fell to 6-3-1 in March. Bergeron gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead 2:26 into the second period when he poked in a rebound of a Brad Stuart shot. Boyes extended the Bruins’ lead to 2-0 1:04 into the third period.
Notes
The Bruins are 11-3-2 against Southeast Division opponents. … Left wing Brad Isbister returned to the Boston lineup after missing 17 games with an ankle injury. … Staal has earned points in five straight games. … Carolina fell to 9-3-0 in its last 12 games in Boston. … Carolina beat Boston 4-3 three times earlier this season. … Both teams failed to score on a 5-on-3 power play.
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