STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS: Bruins survive late storm, edge Carolina in Game 3

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Boston Bruins held off a third-period surge by Carolina, besting the Hurricanes, 2-1, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. With the win, Boston moves one win away from a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Tuukka Rask (35 saves) held strong throughout the contest, allowing just one goal on the night. On offense, the Bruins got a pair of second-period goals from Chris Wagner and Brad Marchand.

The first period saw the Bruins survive a bevy of shots and offensive chances by the Hurricanes.

Multiple times Tuukka Rask was called upon to keep the game scoreless when Carolina was peppering the Boston net with chances.

In the opening frame, the home team outshot the Bruins, 20-6, but failed to best Rask as the two teams entered the first intermission scoreless.

And despite the beating they took in the first, the Bruins rebounded quickly in the second. In a near reverse of the opening period, Boston outshot Carolina, 18-6, in the middle frame. The difference: the Bruins potted two goals on netminder Curtis McElhinney to take the lead headed into the third.

Chris Wagner opened the scoring in the contest, deflecting home an excellent pass from Joakim Nordstrom on the doorstep of the Carolina net. That strike just 1:21 into the second period set the tone for the Bruins, who added another tally nearly five minutes later.

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On the man-advantage, Brad Marchand converted a backhand chance to double the Bruins lead 6:28 into the second.

Carolina halved the deficit with under 7 minutes to go in the frame as Calvin de Haan slipped a wrister through the five-hole of Rask to make the score 2-1 Boston headed into the third.

In the final period, the Hurricanes outshot the Bruins, 10-7, but Boston held on thanks to some key saves late by Rask. Boston will look to go for the sweep on Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C.

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