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Hurricanes hope to continue recent surge versus Bruins

Jan 17, 2011 - 3:51 PM (Sports Network) - The surging Carolina Hurricanes will aim for a fifth win in six games when they visit the Boston Bruins for today's matinee battle at TD Garden.

Today's clash marks the opener of a home-and-home series between these clubs, who will meet again tomorrow night in Raleigh. The Hurricanes recorded a 3-0 victory when they visited Boston on Nov. 26 and Carolina goaltender Cam Ward stopped all 37 shots for one of his two shutouts this season.

Despite that shutout loss, Boston has still won eight of the last 10 overall meetings with the Hurricanes and Carolina had lost four in a row in Beantown prior to the win at the Garden in November.

The Hurricanes have won four out of five games and have suffered just one regulation loss in their last 10 games (7-1-2). As a result, Carolina has moved within one point of the eighth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Boston, meanwhile, is leading the Northeast Division with 55 points and is two ahead of Montreal for the top spot. However, the Bruins had a three-game winning streak halted in their last game when they dropped a close regulation decision to visiting Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Carolina suffered a 3-2 regulation loss Thursday in Buffalo, but was able to rebound Saturday on home ice against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jussi Jokinen scored two goals and collected an assist to help the Hurricanes beat the Lightning, 6-4, at RBC Center.

Eric Staal registered a goal and two assists for the Hurricanes and now has four goals and six helpers during an eight-game point streak. Jeff Skinner and Tuomo Ruutu are also carrying five-game point streaks into today's contest.

Erik Cole had three helpers in Saturday's win over the Lightning and Ward made 30 saves. Carolina killed off all five Tampa Bay power-play opportunities in the win.

"I thought our penalty killing was outstanding. Special teams was the difference in the game for us," said Carolina head coach Paul Maurice.

Carolina is 11-9-4 as the visiting team this season and has won six of its last eight road tests.

The Bruins were dealt a 3-2 setback by the Penguins on Saturday, as Jordan Staal posted the game-winning score early in the third period for Pittsburgh.

Dennis Seidenberg and Michael Ryder lit the lamp for the Bruins, who were coming off Thursday's 7-5 comeback victory over visiting Philadelphia.

"It's one of those games you want to step up and win the game for your team because they played so well," Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask said. "It's a tough loss to swallow, at least for me. I think nobody's happy here right now."

Rask suffered the loss despite making 33 saves and is expected to resume his back-up role to Tim Thomas this afternoon.

Bruins forward Milan Lucic (undisclosed) and defenseman Andrew Ference (upper body) are questionable for today's game, while blueliner Steven Kampfer is doubtful after suffering a broken nose in Saturday's loss.

Also, Boston defenseman Mark Stuart, who has been sidelined since early December with a broken right ring finger, has been activated from injured reserve and is expected to play today.

Boston, which is 11-8-3 as the host this season, is completing a four-game homestand today.