A point is a point, and the Boston Bruins will take it.

It had already been dubbed a trap game before it even began, and the contest at home against the Carolina Hurricanes lived up to it. The Bruins were able to get an important point out of the 3-2 loss, their fourth straight overtime game, and were in first place by themselves for the first time this season, though it was short lived.

Patrice Bergeron was going off the ice for an ill-timed line change during the 3-on-3 overtime period and it left Jeff Skinner in alone for a breakaway. Tuukka Rask, celebrating his 29th birthday, made the save but it was Phillip Di Giuseppe who picked up the rebound and put it in the net for the Carolina victory.

The Bruins have picked up a point in six straight games since the trade deadline when they acquired defenseman John-Michael Liles and forward Lee Stempniak. It started with a home win against the Calgary Flames followed by a victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, an overtime loss to the Washington Capitals and two straight overtime wins on the road against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Cam Ward, the goalie for the Hurricanes, struggled despite surrendering just two goals, giving up hefty rebounds and being completely fooled by David Pastrnak on the Bruins second goal of the night. It was his tenth goal of the season, tying his total from last season.

Loui Eriksson got on the board to move his goal total to 25 on the season, breaking a slump where he had just one goal in eight games. Eriksson had been having his best season in the black and gold before the trade deadline, when the team was looking to move the upcoming free agent, but he has struggled since.

The Bruins will be back in action on Saturday night to take on the New York Islanders, who are in a playoff position in the Metropolitan Division with a six point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins for the third seed in the division.