Marat Khusnutdinov netted his first goal of the season to beat Buffalo in overtime. Can the Bruins carry that momentum over against a quality opponent?
Here’s the preview:
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Where: TD Garden, Boston
TV, radio: NESN, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Carolina -185. O/U: 6.5.
HURRICANES
Season record: 7-3-0. vs. spread: 6-4. Over/under: 6-4
Last 10 games: 7-3-0. vs. spread: 6-4. Over/under: 6-4
BRUINS
Season record: 6-7-0. vs. spread: 9-4. Over/under: 8-5
Last 10 games: 3-7-0. vs. spread: 7-3. Over/under: 7-3
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored: Carolina 39, Boston 43
Goals allowed: Carolina 30, Boston 47
Power play: Carolina 9.7%, Boston 22.2%
Penalty minutes: Carolina 98, Boston 146
Penalty kill: Carolina 82.1%, Boston 81.5%
Faceoffs won: Carolina 50.0%, Boston 55.0%
Stat of the day: Morgan Geekie is tied for the NHL lead in goals, with nine. He has scored in six consecutive games.
Notes: The Bruins look to follow up Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win against Buffalo and complete a three-game homestand sweep when they host the Carolina Hurricanes for another Eastern Conference clash on Saturday afternoon. … Joonas Korpisalo made 37 saves in his second straight start. Could he get another? Coach Marco Sturm did not commit. “At the start of the season, I would say no just because we have so many games coming up and we have the luxury to have these two really, really good goaltenders,” Sturm said. … Marat Khusnutdinov has been scratched five times amidst Sturm’s early-season lineup shuffling. But when his name has been called, including Thursday on the leading line with Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak, he has responded well. “A player has to understand that is it fun when you get scratched? No. But the player has to be ready when your opportunity comes,” Sturm said. “Any time he was scratched, he worked really hard in practice. He just waited for his opportunity and then he took advantage.” … The lineup looked different later though, as Lindholm left with a lower-body injury following a knee-on-knee collision with Buffalo’s Jordan Greenway in the second period. He is expected to miss multiple weeks. … Brandon Bussi, who began his career in the Bruins organization but never played in a NHL game, has found a home in Carolina. He has backstopped three wins in four starts, making 15 of his 26 saves in the first period on Thursday. … “I think I’ve worked really hard to get to this point, and obviously you never take it for granted,” Bussi said. “You never know when it might end or not. But I think with my game, I’ve gotten more and more comfortable every start.” … In another roster move Friday, Carolina placed defenseman K’Andre Miller on IR with a lower-body injury. The move is retroactive to Oct. 20, so he can return when he is healthy and when a roster spot is open.
Cam Kerry can be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.
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