Bruins, 3-2 (SO)

Within a 20-second span late in regulation, Carolina wiped out a 2-0 Boston lead with goals by Ray Whitney and Erik Cole. Carolina scored both goals with Cam Ward pulled for an extra skater.

But Tim Thomas (45 saves) shook off the late goals, stoning Matt Cullen and Sergei Samsonov in the shootout. At the other end, Phil Kessel and David Krejci beat Ward to give the Bruins the two points.

"For 59 minutes, we played pretty good hockey," said Claude Julien.

* Julien has been waiting to use Krejci in the shootout. Krejci would have been the third shooter on Feb. 8 against Buffalo, but Kessel, gunning in the second slot, sealed the decision by beating Ryan Miller. Julien referenced Krejci's shootout success in the AHL last season as well as his proficiency in practice.

* Marc Savard scored points on both power-play goals, assisting on the first and netting the second. Savard has been stationed mostly on the right-side half-boards during the power play this season, but positioned himself higher on the formation tonight. Both Savard and Julien said the positioning opens up more options, including shooting lanes and room down low for Marco Sturm.

* Milan Lucic wore a white hard hat after the game, a recent introduction to the dressing room. The hat is awarded to players who contribute in ways other than recording goals, assists, or saves. Zdeno Chara and Glen Murray shared the hat after the last win, and they awarded it to Lucic because of his two-fight night. Lucic went toe-to-toe with Wade Brookbank in the first period, then hunted down Tim Gleason in the third period after the defenseman ran over Savard. "He was backing up and showing me up," said Lucic of Brookbank. "You don't want to be showed up, so I had to get in there and stick up for myself." Lucic lost both fights, looking wary to take pops on his still-healing beak.

* Savard won 22 of 29 draws, including a third-period defensive-zone faceoff against Cullen. But the Bruins couldn't clear the puck, leading to Cole's tying goal.

* The Bruins practice tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. at Incredible Ice in Coral Springs, Fla., the Panthers' practice facility.