After finishing Monday with the NHL’s best record by points percentage, the Boston Bruins gear up for another matchup against a playoff contender when they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night.
The Bruins won their fifth straight and extended their unbeaten streak to nine (6-0-3) on Monday with a 4-1 victory over Winnipeg.
Charlie Coyle had a goal and an assist to help lead the Bruins, who became the first team to score more than three goals on Winnipeg in 35 games. Coyle’s first-period goal was the game-winner and his 17th of the season, setting a new high mark in his Boston career.
“He’s someone that helps you win every night, even when he’s not generating,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “I do see his offensive confidence. He’s wanting to shoot pucks. He’s playing with (David Pastrnak). He’s not looking for Pasta. He’s taking the shot when it’s there. … That’s the level of confidence that I think he’s grown into being our No. 1 center.”
Offensive contributions continued up and down the lineup, though. The Bruins have scored 18 goals in just their last three games.
Jakub Lauko scored his second goal in three games, while Jake DeBrusk tallied for a third straight contest and has eight goals and 14 points in his last 14 contests.
“It was nice to have a 2-1 lead going into the third and be able to extend the lead again,” Montgomery said. “If you make anyone defend (for) long enough in their own end, they’re going to make mistakes.”
The Bruins have not lost in regulation since Jan. 4 against Pittsburgh.
“I feel like we’ve just been building our game ever since (the holiday break),” Coyle said. “It’s not always perfect, but when we start to stray off, we get right back. That’s the sign of a good team.”
Carolina’s first clash with Boston this season marks its first road game since Jan. 5, when it capped a five-game win streak that was eventually extended to eight games unbeaten (7-0-1).
Of late, the Hurricanes have lost two of three and have been idle from game play since falling 5-2 to Minnesota on Sunday despite a 42-19 shot advantage.
“We’ve got to stay with our game and we felt (Minnesota) creeping in,” Carolina captain Jordan Staal said.
Martin Necas opened the scoring against the Wild, giving him two goals and three points in two games since returning from injury.
“It’s a grind in the NHL. Obviously, he’d been out for a while, but he was a difference maker (in his first games back),” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He was all over it. I don’t know what else to tell you. That’s the kind of play we need out of him.”
Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov will miss his second straight game due to a lower-body injury. He will not travel to Boston, with the team immediately returning for two games at home beginning Thursday against New Jersey.
There could be a new face in Carolina’s goal, Brind’Amour said, as Spencer Martin was claimed off waivers from Columbus last Friday. Pyotr Kochetkov (concussion) has been sidelined since Jan. 11 and is on injured reserve.
“The goalie is probably the easiest guy to come in fresh and just fit in because you’ve just got to stop the puck, right?” said Brind’Amour, who said Martin could “possibly” be in net on Wednesday.
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