RALEIGH — The Bruins’ window as a Stanley Cup contender appears over. The Hurricanes proved again on Halloween that their chance isn’t dead and buried yet.
Jack Roslovic and Andrei Svechnikov each scored twice, Martin Necas had four points, the power play scored three times, and the Hurricanes routed visiting Boston 8-2 on Halloween at Lenovo Center.
“We’ve got to save some goals for the next game,” Svechnikov said with a smile.
The Hurricanes manhandled the Bruins, outshooting them 37-15 for the game and allowing Boston to attempt just eight 5-on-5 shot attempts through 40 minutes.
Things could have gone differently, however, had Boston better capitalized on a parade to the penalty box.
Fourteen penalty minutes were assessed in the first period, and the three penalties on Carolina — one a four-minute minor —gave Boston a pair on 5-on-3 power plays.
The Bruins scored on the first — a Brad Marchand pass hit Jaccob Slavin and deflected in — to tie the game at 1-1 after Roslovic had scored at 6:28. The second two-man advantage came after Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty.
“With the officials, we have a pretty good rapport. We go back and forth,” said Brind’Amour, who said he was arguing the penalty that gave Boston its first two-man advantage. “And he usually comes over and gives you a warning … and then I know he’s letting me have my vent, and (he) didn’t give me the warning. So that’s what happened.”
Carolina, however, picked up their coach, killing off the remaining penalties.
“It changes the whole complexion if they get another one there,” Brind’Amour said. “So that was huge. … That was probably the game right there.”
The Hurricanes then proceeded to take control.
In 52 seconds late in the opening period, power play goals by Svechnikov and Necas sandwiched an even-strength goal by Jackson Blake — the third of the year for the rookie — gave the Hurricanes a commanding 4-1 lead.
“Battled a little bit of adversity in the first and then kind of just took off,” Roslovic said.
A goal by Boston defenseman Hampus Lindholm cut it to 4-2, but Carolina responded with two more quick goals — the second each by Svechnikov and Roslovic.
That sent Jeremy Swayman (six goals allowed on 22 shots) to the showers, though Joonas Korpisalo didn’t fare much better, giving up a pair of goals on 15 shots.
Roslovic now has a team-high six goals after scoring nine all last season with the Blue Jackets and Rangers.
“When you can score, it’s great to add that value to the team,” Roslovic said. “I’ve just gotta pass a couple more maybe now.”
Third period goals by Sean Walker, his first since joining the Hurricanes, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, his first of the season, poured salt on the wounded Bruins, who fell to 4-6-1 on the year and haven’t won in regulation since Oct. 16.
“Right now, we’re not happy,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “Nobody’s happy with what’s going on.”
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, improved to 7-2-0, building off their five-win road trip to stay tied with the Capitals for the best winning percentage (.778) in the Eastern Conference.
“Usually you go on a road trip, you go 5-1, it might be a little hard to refocus with the whole time change and everything,” Roslovic said. “But (it was) amazing how we showed up to the rink today.”
Notes: Dmitry Orlov played in his 800th career game. … Martinook earned his 200th career point with an assist on Roslovic’s second goal. … Necas had a goal and three assists for his third career four-point game, and he leads the team with 15 points in nine games. … Pyotr Kochetkov had 13 saves to improve to 4-1-0 on the season.
