Bruins Point Streak Ends in Loss to Hurricanes

The Boston Bruins’ point streak has come to an end. 

The Bruins (9-3-1) fell to the Carolina Hurricanes (10-2-2) 2-1 on Tuesday night at Lenovo Center. It is the Bruins’ first regulation loss since October 5. Pavel Zacha (3) scored the lone goal for the Bruins, while Jeremy Swayman made 28 saves on 30 shots in the loss.

JJ Peterka drew a slashing call on Andrei Svechnikov just 61 seconds into the game. The Bruins’ top power play unit hopped over the boards, and after Elias Lindholm won the faceoff against Mark Jankowski, the Bruins held onto the puck. From behind the goal line, David Pastrnak played it to Lindholm, and he turned to set up Pavel Zacha just outside of the crease to open the scoring at 1:31. 

Tanner Jeannot went to the box just before the 7:00 mark of the first period for a hook on Shayne Gostisbehere. The Hurricanes got three shots through to Jeremy Swayman, but Marat Khusnutdinov stepped up, handing his stick to Will Borgen, blocking a Juuso Valimaki shot, and punching the puck out of the zone. 

Jeannot and Nic Deslauriers dropped their gloves seven minutes later. The two have fought before, including a go-around in February when Deslauriers was with the Flyers. Both players landed heavy punches, but neither got the takedown.  

Jackson Blake, who took two minor penalties during the first 20 minutes, tied the game with 52 seconds to play in the first. Nikolaj Ehlers took advantage of a Frederic Brunet turnover and played it to Blake in front. Blake moved in and beat a sprawled-out Swayman.

Matt Poitras skated to the bench in discomfort after blocking a shot, and play stopped when Charlie McAvoy went down after a high stick from Hampus Lindholm. Both players returned to the ice after a few minutes on the bench, much like Pavel Zacha in the first period. 

The second period did not feature any scoring. There were three penalties, all on the Bruins. Nikita Zadorov and Hampus Lindholm took tripping minors in the final minute that set the Hurricanes up for a long 5-on-3 to start the third period. 

The Bruins also recorded just two shots on goal during the second period, with their last one coming with 12:19 to play. Mark Kastelic recorded one with 11:40 to play in the third period, a whole 20:39 later.

The Bruins killed off the two tripping minors, including 1:36 of 5-on-3 time, to start the third period.

Sebastian Aho broke the tie halfway through the third. The Hurricanes entered the offensive zone on a 3-on-2, and Andrei Svechnikov played the puck across the ice. William Carrier got his stick on it, which was enough for the puck to move past Mason Lohrei, and Aho whacked it and beat Swayman with a backhand.

The Bruins had two power plays late in the game but could not convert on either. Jordan Martinook sat with 4:41 to play in regulation, and Sebastian Aho tripped Charlie McAvoy with 2:27 to go.

The Bruins have Wednesday off and return to the ice on Thursday morning. They will hold a morning skate before closing out their two-game road trip that night against the St. Louis Blues. 

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