Hurricanes 3 - 0 Bruins
Final
  for this game

Ward sensational as 'Canes finish off season sweep of Bruins

Feb 3, 2012 - 6:44 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Cam Ward was sensational between the pipes, stopping a season-high 47 shots for his third shutout of the year, as the Carolina Hurricanes completed the franchise's first-ever season sweep of the Boston Bruins with a 3-0 victory.

Brandon Sutter had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who went 4-0 against the defending champs this season. Tuomo Ruutu and Eric Staal also lit the lamp.

"When we play like that we are capable of beating very good teams," said Ward. "They are the Stanley Cup champions and have a very good team. They just seem to bring out the best in us."

Tuukka Rask made 28 saves for the Bruins, who have alternated wins and losses in their last 10 games.

"We have to understand that we are not that great of a team when we go out there and just play through the motions," said Boston head coach Claude Julien. "The reality is that right now we are playing like a team that is at the bottom of the standings, not near the top."

Carolina's offense got going 11:51 into the game. Jiri Tlusty gathered a loose puck below the goal line and slid a pass in front for Staal, who put the disc into the back of the net.

The visitors maintained a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes because of Ward's 22-save performance.

Ruutu made it a 2-0 game at the 16:41 mark of the middle stanza. Sutter stole the puck away from a Boston player in front of Rask, before firing a shot on net. Ruutu controlled the rebound and made a nice spin move before putting a backhander past a sprawling Rask.

Sutter put the game away early in the third, scoring 3:13 into the period.

Ward came up big once more to preserve the clean sheet, making 20 saves in the final frame.

Game Notes

Ward recorded his 19th career shutout...Carolina was without forward Chad LaRose due to flu-like symptoms...Hurricanes defenseman Jaroslav Spacek (facial injury), who had been out since January 12, returned to the lineup with a full cage affixed to his helmet...Boston's Nathan Horton (mild concussion) missed his third straight contest...Boston's Andrew Ference was back in the lineup Thursday after he wrapped up a three-game suspension on Tuesday.






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