The Bruins couldn’t have scripted a better start to what could be considered a key – if not critical – conclusion to their season-long seven game road trip. And they took advantage of the early momentum to take a 1-0 lead after one.

Just 23 seconds into the game, Patrice Bergeron re-directed a shot from Dennis Seidenberg from the right point past a stunned Manny Legace for his 16th goal of the season.

Bruins outshot the Hurricanes, 18-7, in exerting their dominance.

The biggest concern, however, continues to be taking advantage of their momentum to build onto a lead, particularly on the power play as the Bruins couldn’t convert on a 5-on-3 power play and a more conventional 5-on-4 advantage.

Since their best playmaker Marc Savard went down with a concussion, the Bruins have scored just once in 11 tries on the power play and haven’t scored in their last nine tries.