Boston Bruins 3, Carolina Hurricanes 3 FINAL OT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ The Boston Bruins seem quite comfortable on the road.

Brian Rolston scored with 7:19 left in the third period to give the Bruins a 3-3 tie with Carolina on Saturday night.

The Bruins, who have at least a point in 12 straight games, completed a seven-game road trip with a 4-0-1-2 record. They are 9-1-2-2 in their last 14 road games and have earned points in 28 of 34 games away from home.

``I think we're just being smarter,'' Rolston said. ``All the little things are getting done. ... When a play's there, make it. And that's something that we're doing right now.''

Glen Murray scored twice, both off assists from Joe Thornton, to help the Bruins remain two points behind Toronto and Ottawa for the Eastern Conference lead.

``The other teams in front of us are still winning,'' Murray said. ``We have to make sure we get the points ... because obviously we want to step up and be on the home ice (in the playoffs).''

Carolina's Ron Francis scored his 544th goal in the first period, tying Maurice Richard for 20th place on the NHL's career list. Josef Vasicek added a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, and Erik Cole had a third-period goal.

Carolina is 13th in the 15-team Eastern Conference.

``It probably would be a good feeling in here if we were in a playoff situation and we had a playoff spot,'' Hurricanes defenseman Bret Hedican said, ``but obviously one point's not going to do us much good.''

Cole gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 lead at 12:03 of the third period, grabbing a loose puck off a shot by Craig Adams and pushing it past rookie Andrew Raycroft.

But the Bruins responded quickly. Rolston pushed the puck up the ice, passed it to Jiri Slegr, then got it right back to beat Kevin Weekes on the right side at 12:41.

Slegr finished with two assists.

The Hurricanes outshot the Bruins 37-28, but went 0-for-5 with the man advantage. Carolina is now 0-for-11 on the power play in its last two games, including Thursday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs.

``We're pressing, we're looking, we're down there and we're trying to create, and we come up short,'' Carolina coach Peter Laviolette said. ``A goal on the power play tonight could've been the difference.''