The Bruins (4-0-1) notched a couple more milestones on Monday night as they picked up their first road win of the season, 5-3, at PNC Arena against the Hurricanes (2-3-0).
Anton Khudobin’s (29 saves) 2013 debut was good enough to pick up two points. Boston’s penalty kill is still perfect (the only team in the NHL that can say that) having gone 6-for-6 Monday, making them 23-for-23 overall.
David Krejci potted the game-winner (his first goal of the season) at 18:10 of the third period and Tyler Seguin clinched it with an empty-netter. This was the start of the Bruins first back-to-back contests of the season, hence why Tuukka Rask got his first game off.
The Hurricanes rallied from a pair of two-goal deficits but they couldn’t match the Bruins who put up a season-high five goals. Brad Marchand made it 1-0 at 3:16 with a short-handed goal from Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron. Nearly three minutes after that, Chara gave Boston its second power-play goal of the season thanks to a Milan Lucic screen and helpers from Krejci and Seguin.
Jamie McBain’s tip-in gave Carolina some life before the first period ended but Horton seized back the momentum with a highlight reel goal from Chara and Johnny Boychuk.
The B’s appeared headed to their third straight overtime game but Krejci saved them following a scramble in front of Cam Ward (33 saves). Rookie Dougie Hamilton had the puck on his stick and could have shot it but he slid it across to Krejci for the better chance. Horton had the other assist then Seguin finally got a goal, albeit on an empty net.
Boston hosts New Jersey (3-0-1) Tuesday (7 p.m., NESN) at TD Garden. The Devils went to the Stanley Cup Finals last season (losing 4-2 to the Kings) and they are off to a solid start of their own behind the ageless Martin Brodeur and a deep roster.
