RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Matt Beleskey scored goals in the first and third periods, leading the Boston Bruins to a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.
It was the 388th regular-season victory for Boston coach Claude Julien, who needs two wins to tie Art Ross as the Bruins’ career leader.
The Hurricanes lost in regulation for just the third time in their last 16 home games (10-3-3). But, Carolina has lost in regulation on back-to-back nights.
Patrice Bergeron scored for Boston in the first period, and Brad Marchand added an empty-net goal in the closing seconds. Tuukka Rask stopped 39 shots.
Noah Hanifin had Carolina’s lone goal.
Hurricanes center Brad Malone, who is currently on waivers, played in his first game since Jan. 24.
The Bruins led 2-0 after a first period in which the Hurricanes had 12 shots on goal to Boston’s 11.
Bergeron put the Bruins ahead at 10:26 of the first, taking Brett Connolly’s pass low in the right circle and roofing the puck over Ward’s right shoulder.
Beleskey doubled the lead on the power play at 12:38, scoring on a rush by lining the puck over Ward’s glove from the left circle with Torey Krug on the helper.
Carolina outshot the visitors 10-6 during a second period played without a penalty.
Hanifin halved the lead at 3:00 of the third, lighting the lamp by ricocheting the puck off Rask’s skate. But Beleskey got his second goal of the night at 6:24, beating Ward from the low slot on an assist from Ryan Spooner.
NOTES: The Hurricanes host St. Louis on Sunday before playing their next two on the road. ... Boston hosts Tampa Bay on Sunday in the opener of a four-game homestand. ... Carolina D Justin Faulk (lower body) missed his second straight game, while C Andrej Nestrasil (back) C Jay McClement (upper body) and D Justin Faulk (lower body) were also out. ... C Max Talbot, RW Tyler Randell and D Zach Trotman were all healthy scratches for the Bruins. ... Boston D Dennis Seidenberg was a member of the Hurricanes’ 2006 Stanley Cup champions. ... The teams’ other meetings this season are in Boston on March 10 and April 5.