NHL: Carolina 5, Boston 2

BOSTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Ryan Whitney scored three times to register a hat trick Thursday night to lead the Carolina Hurricanes past the Boston Bruins, 5-2.

Whitney scored all of his goals in the second period -- two of them in a span of 1:40 -- to help Carolina wipe out a 1-0 deficit at the first intermission.

Rod Brind'Amour and Justin Williams each had a goal and two assists, and Cam Ward stopped 34 of 36 shots for the Hurricanes, who have won two in a row following a four-game losing streak.

Brandon Bochenski scored both Boston goals, but Tim Thomas gave up four goals on 35 shots for the Bruins, who had won their previous two games.

Williams scored the game's lone power-play goal.