Horton remains out with concussion

--Right wing Nathan Horton, again living in the unpredictable world of concussions, missed his third straight game Thursday night with what was still being called a "mild concussion," and there was no indication of when he'd be back.

"He's still where he was a few days ago. He's feeling better, but not the stages of where he's working out," coach Claude Julien said Thursday. "The day he does (feel better), I'm going to be the first to let you know that he's on the bike now and that he's moving forward."

Horton was literally knocked out of the Stanley Cup finals on a Game 3 hit by Vancouver's Aaron Rome. He returned at the start of this season but was knocked out on a hit by Tom Sestito of the Flyers Jan. 22.

Now, the waiting game continues.

Remember, Bruins center Marc Savard has likely had his career ended by a pair of concussions, and the club lost center Patrice Bergeron for most of the 2007-08 season with the same thing, so the organization is understandably wary on the issue.

The Sestito hit wasn't captured on clear video and there was no penalty nor league discipline for the hit.

--Strength down the middle? The club's centers are struggling to find the net. David Krejci has one goal in the last 11 games, Patrice Bergeron one in the last seven and Chris Kelly one in the last 12. Fourth-liner Gregory Campbell does have two in the last six, none in the last three.

--The Bruins were swept in a season series by the Hurricanes for the first time, dating all the way back to when the 'Canes were the rival Hartford Whalers. The B's were outscored 14-5 in the four games.

--The Bruins were shut out for the third time this season, all at home, and Thursday's shutout was the first of the B's since Dec. 8.

--The loss was the third in regulation for the Bruins in their last 20 home games, the second in the last 10.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"We had a lot of shots, but we let him see the puck pretty well and then didn't go to the net too hard at times and let him get those easy shots. "I mean ... tough game." -- G Tuukka Rask, after Thursday night's 3-0 loss to the Hurricanes.

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