RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Bruins felt the intensity was there, the energy was there, and, for the most part, the execution was there. But at this time of the year -- with the season on the line down the stretch run -- it is all about getting points, and last night Boston didn't get it done.
The Bruins lost two leads, one heading into the third period, on the way to a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC Center.
The player who did the most damage was Hurricanes defenseman Aaron Ward, who potted a pair of goals, including the winner with 4:24 left in regulation, and drove P.J. Axelsson from the contest late in the second period with what appears to be a minor left knee injury. Axelsson, just back from winning a gold medal with Sweden in the Olympics, said he doesn't believe the injury is serious.
What is serious is Boston's quest for points in the neck-and-neck Eastern Conference. The Bruins dropped to 11th, 4 points behind eighth-place Montreal. The Bruins have to take on the ninth-place Atlanta Thrashers at home tonight, then host the pesky Buffalo Sabres Saturday.
''The result wasn't what we wanted it to be but the effort pretty much was," said goalie Tim Thomas. ''They're a good team, but we had the lead and we should've won the game."
The Bruins certainly had the opportunity. They took the lead early on Marco Sturm's 21st goal at 6:21 of the first period. Defenseman Hal Gill started the play, relaying the puck from behind his blue line to Brad Boyes, who was taking off up the right side. Four Hurricanes were caught behind the play and Boyes dished the puck to Sturm, who was skating through the slot. His shot beat goalie Cam Ward to the stick side.
The Hurricanes tied it at 11:19 on an even-strength goal by defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky, who beat Thomas high over the blocker. Carolina went ahead at 5:09 of the second on Ward's first tally. With the teams skating four a side, center Rod Brind'Amour led his team on a three-on-two break. Skating down the middle of the ice, he passed the puck to Ward, who beat Thomas on a slapper from the right point. ''I should've had it," said Thomas. ''It was a five-hole shot. It was a little funny. I didn't think it was going right on the ice, he fooled me. In that area, you shouldn't be fooled. I didn't even know there was a hole there."
The Bruins rallied for two goals in 23 seconds to go back on top.
Axelsson tried to pass to defenseman David Tanabe. Instead, it hit Erik Cole but still found its mark and Tanabe beat Ward from the slot at 11:30 as Cole slid into the net and took his netminder out of the play.
