BOSTON -- Boston winger Milan Lucic didnt hide the thoughts many of his teammates may have had in the Bruins locker room following a fairly easy win over Carolina. Vapormax Pas Cher Du Tout . "I just hope were not peaking right now and keep wanting more," Lucic said after the Eastern Conference-leading Bruins beat the Hurricanes 5-1 on Saturday afternoon for their eighth straight victory. "Weve done a good job of staying focused and keeping on the task at hand," he said. "It seems like were playing at our highest level of the season so far. It seems to have gotten better since the start of February and Olympic break." Jarome Iginla scored a pair of goals and backup goaltender Chad Johnson made 29 saves, helping extend the Bruins longest winning streak since a 10-game stretch in November 2011. Lucic had a goal and two assists, Torey Krug and Chris Kelly each scored a goal and David Krejci added three assists, his first coming as he was falling to the ice on Lucics score. Bruins coach Claude Julien wasnt about to say his team is playing its best. "If he thinks were peaking too soon I can show him areas where we can play better," he said, breaking into a grin. "Were playing well and working hard." Alexander Semin had the goal and Cam Ward made 36 saves for the Hurricanes, who lost for the eighth time in 11 games. Johnson, playing with regular goalie Tuukka Rask getting the day off, is 8-0-1 in his past nine starts. Bruins defenceman Johnny Boychuk had to be helped off the ice favouring his right leg after going off-balance into the boards midway into the third period. He was back about a minute later and ended up blocking a shot before limping off on his next shift. Boston grabbed a 1-0 lead on Lucics goal 15:28 into the opening period. Krejci was falling after being tripped on what would have been a penalty on Eric Staal, but he pushed the puck ahead to Lucic. The winger then snapped off a quick shot inside the right post into a wide-open area with Ward over near the other post. "Its funny. I was talking to him after the play," Lucic said, smiling. "He said he was going to shoot it. Its a bit of a lucky play to come back to me. Again, youve gotta be lucky to be good sometimes. Thats what happened there. Thats how it goes sometimes. You can be working hard and playing well and things dont go your way." Lucic then set up Iginla to make it 2-0 at 17:24 of the second. The Bruins rugged winger outworked defenceman Jay Harrison for the puck in the corner, hustled to it behind the net and sent a pass out front to Iginla, who fired a wrist shot inside the far post over Wards glove. Semin ended Johnsons shutout bid 3:53 into the third when his shot caromed off the stick of Boychuk and bounced into the net. Boston broke it open with two goals later in the period before Krug scored in the final seconds. "Yeah, you know what, theyre a good hockey team, theyre physical," Carolina coach Kirk Muller said. "It was disappointing for us because weve been playing pretty good hockey recently. Usually, as the game goes on we get stronger and stronger, but I dont think we pushed back well enough tonight after they came out hard in the first. They set the tone and I dont think we really responded -- even though the game was a 2-1 game for the most part." Kellys score made it 3-1 at 12:49 and Iginla scored his team-leading 23rd goal 13 seconds later, firing a wrister past Ward from the slot. Johnson had a key save late in the second after Boston made it 2-0 when he made a right pad stop on Staal at the end of a 2-on-1 break. "I thought we didnt capitalize on opportunities, and that always hurts us obviously early in the game, and then they just kept coming," Hurricanes forward Nathan Gerbe said. NOTES: Bruins C Matt Lindblad played his first NHL game and Krug was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch in the previous game. ... The Hurricanes entered the game with the leagues 29th ranked power play and went 0 for 3. ... Playing a Carolina team not known for physical play, Julien elected to make enforcer Shawn Thornton a healthy scratch. ... Iginla played his 1,300th career game. ... Boston swept the three games against Carolina this season. ... Boston F Gregory Campbell impressed the crowd and drew some loud oohs when he tipped a shot between his legs with his back to Ward in the second period. ... Boston C Patrice Bergeron was whistled for three minor penalties. ... The Hurricanes host Edmonton on Sunday. ... Boston D Dougie Hamilton sent Jeff Skinner flying to the ice with a hard check in the third. Vapormax Off White Pas Cher . Pretty good hitting, too. Dan Haren pitched six innings and sparked the go-ahead rally with a single, leading Los Angeles to another win over the skidding Atlanta Braves, 4-2 on Tuesday night. Vapormax Pas Cher France . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer.CLEVELAND - The pieces, old and new, are beginning to fit together.Its taken some time, and theres a long way to go. But the critiqued and criticized Cavaliers are starting to play like the team they were supposed to be.I like the way weve been the last few games, LeBron James said following a 108-94 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. I like the way weve played the last week. Weve played some really, really good basketball.James scored 26 points and J.R. Smith added 20 as the Cavs, remodeled by two trades in recent weeks, entered a favourable portion of their schedule with their third straight win.Back home after salvaging a drama-filled trip out West with two wins in Los Angeles, the Cavs had little trouble with the Central Division-leading Bulls. Cleveland opened a 25-point lead in the third quarter and handed Chicago its fourth loss in five games.Jimmy Butler scored 20 and Derrick Rose 18 for the Bulls, who played their third game in a row without starting centre Joakim Noah (sprained ankle). Chicago has dropped six of eight, and coach Tom Thibodeau doesnt like what hes seen from his team lately.Weve got to decide when enough is enough, a disgusted Thibodeau said. Weve got to get better. Its really that simple. The way were playing is not acceptable, so we have to change it.Smith made six 3-pointers, Kyrie Irving scored 18 with 12 assists and Kevin Love added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs, who have temporarily quieted talk that theyre not NBA title contenders and first-year coach David Blatt is in trouble. Cleveland can improve its record with three more home games this week and nine of its next 12 in Quicken Loans Arena.This was our best defensive game of the year, said Blatt, who dismissed some recent negative analysis of his team. We have a long way to go but the ship is sailing in the right direction.Cavs centre Timofey Mozgov scored 15 with 15 rebounds in his first home game for Cleveland since being acquired in a Jan. 7 trade from Denver.Playing his fourth game since missing eight with a strained back and knee, James didnt have to carry the offensive load as Clevelands other starters combined for 69 points. And, the Cavs played with better energy on defence, which hasnt been the casse most of the season. Vapormax Plus Homme Pas Cher. Leading by 15 at halftime, the Cavs opened the third with a 10-2 run to open a 23-point lead. Love and Smith drained 3-pointers in the spurt that wobbled the Bulls. Chicago got to 90-78 in the fourth, but James scored on a drive and Smith drilled a 3 to put the Cavs back in control.If we dont have that edge, were going to continue to get our butt whupped, said Rose, who sat out the fourth quarter. Basketball should be fun. It seems like were overthinking.Rose missed his first seven shots and didnt make his first field goal until there was 1:10 left in the first half.___SECOND CITYBulls G Kirk Hinrich didnt score in 26 minutes. ... Chicago has a tough stretch ahead with games vs. San Antonio, Dallas, Miami and Golden State. Were halfway through the season, Thibodeau said. Somehow the notion that its OK, well be all right — no, no, it doesnt work like that. This is what we have. Its on us to figure it out. No ones coming in to save the day. Weve got to find the answer.TIP-INSBulls: Rose came in averaging 25.5 points and 8.0 assists in his previous four games. Thibodeau believes Rose is finally getting back to form after two injury-plagued seasons. Hes gaining confidence, Thibodeau said. I think he was going through a long period of time where he wasnt playing and just getting that competitive edge back. Thats what made him so special prior to the injuries. When hes like that, no opponent wants to see him. ... The Bulls are 15-6 on the road. ... F Mike Dunleavy missed his 10th straight game with an injured ankle.Cavaliers: G Iman Shumpert, who hasnt played since being acquired in a recent trade with New York, could make his Cleveland debut later this week from a dislocated left shoulder. Shumpert has participated in contact drills the past two days, and Blatt said its even possible the solid defender could start immediately. ... Fresh off Ohio States national championship, Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer and starting quarterback Cardale Jones — a Cleveland native — were introduced to thunderous ovations. Before the game, Meyer visited with Irving and owner Dan Gilbert, a Michigan State alum.UP NEXTBulls: Host San Antonio on Thursday.Cavaliers: Host Utah on Wednesday. ' ' '
BOSTON -- Boston winger Milan Lucic didnt hide the thoughts many of his teammates may have had in the Bruins locker room following a fairly easy win over Carolina. Vapormax Pas Cher Du Tout . "I just hope were not peaking right now and keep wanting more," Lucic said after the Eastern Conference-leading Bruins beat the Hurricanes 5-1 on Saturday afternoon for their eighth straight victory. "Weve done a good job of staying focused and keeping on the task at hand," he said. "It seems like were playing at our highest level of the season so far. It seems to have gotten better since the start of February and Olympic break." Jarome Iginla scored a pair of goals and backup goaltender Chad Johnson made 29 saves, helping extend the Bruins longest winning streak since a 10-game stretch in November 2011. Lucic had a goal and two assists, Torey Krug and Chris Kelly each scored a goal and David Krejci added three assists, his first coming as he was falling to the ice on Lucics score. Bruins coach Claude Julien wasnt about to say his team is playing its best. "If he thinks were peaking too soon I can show him areas where we can play better," he said, breaking into a grin. "Were playing well and working hard." Alexander Semin had the goal and Cam Ward made 36 saves for the Hurricanes, who lost for the eighth time in 11 games. Johnson, playing with regular goalie Tuukka Rask getting the day off, is 8-0-1 in his past nine starts. Bruins defenceman Johnny Boychuk had to be helped off the ice favouring his right leg after going off-balance into the boards midway into the third period. He was back about a minute later and ended up blocking a shot before limping off on his next shift. Boston grabbed a 1-0 lead on Lucics goal 15:28 into the opening period. Krejci was falling after being tripped on what would have been a penalty on Eric Staal, but he pushed the puck ahead to Lucic. The winger then snapped off a quick shot inside the right post into a wide-open area with Ward over near the other post. "Its funny. I was talking to him after the play," Lucic said, smiling. "He said he was going to shoot it. Its a bit of a lucky play to come back to me. Again, youve gotta be lucky to be good sometimes. Thats what happened there. Thats how it goes sometimes. You can be working hard and playing well and things dont go your way." Lucic then set up Iginla to make it 2-0 at 17:24 of the second. The Bruins rugged winger outworked defenceman Jay Harrison for the puck in the corner, hustled to it behind the net and sent a pass out front to Iginla, who fired a wrist shot inside the far post over Wards glove. Semin ended Johnsons shutout bid 3:53 into the third when his shot caromed off the stick of Boychuk and bounced into the net. Boston broke it open with two goals later in the period before Krug scored in the final seconds. "Yeah, you know what, theyre a good hockey team, theyre physical," Carolina coach Kirk Muller said. "It was disappointing for us because weve been playing pretty good hockey recently. Usually, as the game goes on we get stronger and stronger, but I dont think we pushed back well enough tonight after they came out hard in the first. They set the tone and I dont think we really responded -- even though the game was a 2-1 game for the most part." Kellys score made it 3-1 at 12:49 and Iginla scored his team-leading 23rd goal 13 seconds later, firing a wrister past Ward from the slot. Johnson had a key save late in the second after Boston made it 2-0 when he made a right pad stop on Staal at the end of a 2-on-1 break. "I thought we didnt capitalize on opportunities, and that always hurts us obviously early in the game, and then they just kept coming," Hurricanes forward Nathan Gerbe said. NOTES: Bruins C Matt Lindblad played his first NHL game and Krug was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch in the previous game. ... The Hurricanes entered the game with the leagues 29th ranked power play and went 0 for 3. ... Playing a Carolina team not known for physical play, Julien elected to make enforcer Shawn Thornton a healthy scratch. ... Iginla played his 1,300th career game. ... Boston swept the three games against Carolina this season. ... Boston F Gregory Campbell impressed the crowd and drew some loud oohs when he tipped a shot between his legs with his back to Ward in the second period. ... Boston C Patrice Bergeron was whistled for three minor penalties. ... The Hurricanes host Edmonton on Sunday. ... Boston D Dougie Hamilton sent Jeff Skinner flying to the ice with a hard check in the third. Vapormax Off White Pas Cher . Pretty good hitting, too. Dan Haren pitched six innings and sparked the go-ahead rally with a single, leading Los Angeles to another win over the skidding Atlanta Braves, 4-2 on Tuesday night. Vapormax Pas Cher France . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer.CLEVELAND - The pieces, old and new, are beginning to fit together.Its taken some time, and theres a long way to go. But the critiqued and criticized Cavaliers are starting to play like the team they were supposed to be.I like the way weve been the last few games, LeBron James said following a 108-94 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. I like the way weve played the last week. Weve played some really, really good basketball.James scored 26 points and J.R. Smith added 20 as the Cavs, remodeled by two trades in recent weeks, entered a favourable portion of their schedule with their third straight win.Back home after salvaging a drama-filled trip out West with two wins in Los Angeles, the Cavs had little trouble with the Central Division-leading Bulls. Cleveland opened a 25-point lead in the third quarter and handed Chicago its fourth loss in five games.Jimmy Butler scored 20 and Derrick Rose 18 for the Bulls, who played their third game in a row without starting centre Joakim Noah (sprained ankle). Chicago has dropped six of eight, and coach Tom Thibodeau doesnt like what hes seen from his team lately.Weve got to decide when enough is enough, a disgusted Thibodeau said. Weve got to get better. Its really that simple. The way were playing is not acceptable, so we have to change it.Smith made six 3-pointers, Kyrie Irving scored 18 with 12 assists and Kevin Love added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs, who have temporarily quieted talk that theyre not NBA title contenders and first-year coach David Blatt is in trouble. Cleveland can improve its record with three more home games this week and nine of its next 12 in Quicken Loans Arena.This was our best defensive game of the year, said Blatt, who dismissed some recent negative analysis of his team. We have a long way to go but the ship is sailing in the right direction.Cavs centre Timofey Mozgov scored 15 with 15 rebounds in his first home game for Cleveland since being acquired in a Jan. 7 trade from Denver.Playing his fourth game since missing eight with a strained back and knee, James didnt have to carry the offensive load as Clevelands other starters combined for 69 points. And, the Cavs played with better energy on defence, which hasnt been the casse most of the season. Vapormax Plus Homme Pas Cher. Leading by 15 at halftime, the Cavs opened the third with a 10-2 run to open a 23-point lead. Love and Smith drained 3-pointers in the spurt that wobbled the Bulls. Chicago got to 90-78 in the fourth, but James scored on a drive and Smith drilled a 3 to put the Cavs back in control.If we dont have that edge, were going to continue to get our butt whupped, said Rose, who sat out the fourth quarter. Basketball should be fun. It seems like were overthinking.Rose missed his first seven shots and didnt make his first field goal until there was 1:10 left in the first half.___SECOND CITYBulls G Kirk Hinrich didnt score in 26 minutes. ... Chicago has a tough stretch ahead with games vs. San Antonio, Dallas, Miami and Golden State. Were halfway through the season, Thibodeau said. Somehow the notion that its OK, well be all right — no, no, it doesnt work like that. This is what we have. Its on us to figure it out. No ones coming in to save the day. Weve got to find the answer.TIP-INSBulls: Rose came in averaging 25.5 points and 8.0 assists in his previous four games. Thibodeau believes Rose is finally getting back to form after two injury-plagued seasons. Hes gaining confidence, Thibodeau said. I think he was going through a long period of time where he wasnt playing and just getting that competitive edge back. Thats what made him so special prior to the injuries. When hes like that, no opponent wants to see him. ... The Bulls are 15-6 on the road. ... F Mike Dunleavy missed his 10th straight game with an injured ankle.Cavaliers: G Iman Shumpert, who hasnt played since being acquired in a recent trade with New York, could make his Cleveland debut later this week from a dislocated left shoulder. Shumpert has participated in contact drills the past two days, and Blatt said its even possible the solid defender could start immediately. ... Fresh off Ohio States national championship, Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer and starting quarterback Cardale Jones — a Cleveland native — were introduced to thunderous ovations. Before the game, Meyer visited with Irving and owner Dan Gilbert, a Michigan State alum.UP NEXTBulls: Host San Antonio on Thursday.Cavaliers: Host Utah on Wednesday. ' ' '