The Boston Bruins lost to the Carolina Hurricanes. Yes, those Carolina Hurricanes. The worst team in the Eastern Conference Carolina Hurricanes.
Fortunately for the Bruins, they earned one point in their 2-1 shootout loss, but it was another disappointing effort by Boston.
The Bruins generated 20 shots, but there was a combined stretch of nearly 35 minutes with only two shots. They produced only four shots in the first period and only two in the third period.
Former Bruins and current Hurricanes goalie Anton Khudobin finished with 19 saves, while Boston netminder Tuukka Rask made 35.
Boston's opening period was one of its worst of the season. The Bruins did not record a shot on net until 16:55. Reilly Smith's quality scoring chance woke the Bruins up and they finished the period with four shots.
Patrice Bergeron scored Boston's lone goal in the second period, but the lifeless Bruins could not claim a critical -- a very attainable -- two points.
Leaning on No. 1: With the Bruins desperate for points, Bruins coach Claude Julien decided to start goalie Tuukka Rask in back-to-back games. Julien said prior to Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators that Rask hasn't "stood on his head" this season, so he saw giving the team's No. 1 goalie the start against the lowly Hurricanes as a way to get him going in the right direction.
More tweaks: Still trying to generate offense, Julien made a few more lineup tweaks, inserting Reilly Smith on the right side with David Krejci and Milan Lucic. Seth Griffith played the right side with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. The third line of Chris Kelly, Carl Soderberg and Loui Eriksson remained the same, as did the fourth line of Daniel Paille, Gregory Campbell and Craig Cunningham. In overtime, Julien decided to start with Bergeron, Marchand and Paille as a line.
