Not only isn’t Carolina on top of the Eastern Conference, the Hurricanes are stuck at the bottom. They are 15-25-9 against the rest of the NHL, but outscored Boston 14-5 in the season sweep.
This franchise had never pulled that off, even back when it was the Hartford Whalers.
“We have to play every team like they are the Bruins,’’ Ward said. “It is a real compliment to our team to beat the champs four times.’’
Brandon Sutter had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who scored in each period.
Staal netted a goal in the first, Tuomo Ruutu converted Sutter’s rebound in the second, and Sutter added a goal 3:13 into the third.
Ward, 11-11-2 against the Bruins, posted his third shutout of the season and 19th of his NHL career — including three over Boston.
Despite the high number of shots, the Bruins, just 4-4-1 in their last nine games after winning 25 of the previous 30, had few quality scoring chances.
They were booed by the home crowd.
“We had a lot of shots, but we let him see the puck pretty well and then didn’t go to the net too hard at times and let him get those easy shots,’’ said Tuukka Rask, who played well in making 28 saves, but lost his third straight start. “I mean . tough game.’’
Not for Carolina.
“It was probably the best game we have played all year,’’ Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller said. “Guys get excited to play the Stanley Cup champs. Seems to bring out the best in our game.’’
Rask did all he could to keep the Bruins in it, but they were blanked for the third time this season — all at home. Boston lost in regulation for the third time in 20 home games and second in the past 10.
“We are not that great of a team when we’re just going out there and going through the motions,’’ said Bruins coach Claude Julien, whose team played a poor second period against Ottawa on Tuesday before rebounding in the third. “Right now we’re playing more like a team that should be at the bottom of the standings then at the top of the standings, and that’s the reality of it.’’
