First Round, Game 6: Hurricanes at Boston Bruins (Carolina leads 3-2)

The first elimination game of the series is upon us the Boston Bruins are on the ropes. After two bad games in Boston from the Hurricanes, they bounced back in a big way in Raleigh on Tuesday night. The Canes scored early and often in a 5-1 victory that swung the momentum back in the Canes' favor. Seth Jarvis recorded his first multi-goal playoff game, while Tony DeAngelo, Vincent Trocheck, and Teuvo Teravainen each finished with three points. Antti Raanta returned to his Game 1-form and stopped 33 shots. The series was already guaranteed to return to Boston after Boston won Game 4, so tonight is the Canes' chance to get the job done on the road. The Canes are going with their same lineup from Tuesday and Raanta will get the start again, looking to celebrate his birthday with a series victory. Boston has opted to keep the Perfection Line apart for now, with Jake DeBrusk returning to the top line, while David Pastrnak will start with Taylor Hall and Erik Haula. Jeremy Swayman, who played well in Boston's two wins at home, will start his fourth-straight game. After getting Charlie McAvoy back in Game 5, Hampus Lindholm will return tonight after missing the last three games because of a hit from Andrei Svechnikov. The same rules will apply tonight for the Canes. If they want to win, they must stay disciplined and stay out of the box, like they did in each game at home. They know Boston is going to be a desperate team with their season on the line. They need to stick to their game, score on Swayman early, and finish this series tonight. It wouldn't be smart to tempt fate and let this series come back to Raleigh. 

1st Period

Scoring

None

Thoughts

For all intents and purposes, that was a boring period. It was boring, but I didn't mind that. I tend to think that low-event periods are going to more likely favor the Canes and their defense. They took the only penalty of the period and the kill came up big. It didn't feel like either team had any dangerous chances that made me feel like something big was going to happen. There was a scary collision between McAvoy and Aho, but they both looked fine after it happened and they each finished the period. It's very clear when Tony DeAngelo has the puck because he's getting the same treatment the Caniacs gave Brad Marchand. I thought the Canes did a very good job of reading the Bruins' passes and intercepted quite a few. I don't think this game will be scoreless after 40 minutes and I'd love to see the Canes with the lead going into the third period. 

2nd Period

Scoring

(BOS) 0:46- Brad Marchand (4) (assisted by Connor Clifton (1) & Charlie Coyle (4))

(BOS) 18:04- Charlie Coyle (2) PP (assisted by David Pastrnak (3) & Brad Marchand (7))

Thoughts

This was the antithesis of how the Canes needed this period to go. Marchand scores in the first minute of the period to bring the fans alive. The Canes drew four penalties and had almost a minute of a 5-on-3, and they got nothing out of it. They were millimeters away from scoring twice on their first man-advantage, but both Jarvis and Niederreiter hit the crossbar. After that, they didn't generate anything and just meant that Boston was one bounce away from making it a two-goal game. That bounce came after a Pesce penalty. Pastrnak's shot was blocked from the circle, but it bounced right to Charlie Coyle in front of the net and he beat Raanta to make it 2-0 with less than two minutes left in the period. Pesce appeared to be hurt before the end of the period, but I didn't see what happened. It's bad news for the Canes if he isn't able to come back. The chances of a Game 7 in Raleigh are looking more and more likely. The offense needs to come alive in the third period if they want to end this series tonight. 

3rd Period

Scoring

(CAR) 3:24- Andrei Svechnikov (2) (assisted by Seth Jarvis (2))

(BOS) 7:08- Erik Haula (1) (assisted by Charlie McAvoy (3))

(BOS) 10:43- Derek Forbort (1) (assisted by Tomas Nosek (1))

(BOS) 15:43- Curtis Lazar (1) EN (assisted by Nick Foligno (1) & Tomas Nosek (2))

(CAR) 17:30- Andrei Svechnikov (3) PP (assisted by Martin Necas (3) & Jaccob Slavin (4))

Thoughts

The way this period started, it felt like the Canes were going to get back into this one and complete the comeback. Andrei Svechnikov buried one less than 3:30 into the period to put the momentum back in the Canes' favor. The shift that changed everything happened because the Canes failed to clear the puck from the zone. Boston kept it in, completed a line change, and Haula eventually redirected one past Raanta from the top of the crease to restore the two-goal lead. Add goals from Forbort and Lazar and the comeback was put to rest. Andrei Svechnikov scored on a late power play to make it two for the night, but it was too little too late. I'm not sure what happened tonight, but it seems like they can't get anything going in Boston. Fortunately, they aren't going to be playing in Boston anymore this season. The Bruins kept themselves alive for a few more days with a great effort tonight. 

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

Third Star- Nino Niederreiter (5 hits, 2 shots)

He didn't show up on either goal tonight, but Niederreiter was one of the few bright spots on the power play tonight. He made a great move to his backhand that was millimeters away from going off the crossbar and in. His five hits led the team tonight as well, playing a solid game both ways. He's been huge in the team's wins in this series, so he'll need to bring it Saturday night. 

Second Star- Seth Jarvis (Assist)

Jarvis joined Niederreiter on the crossbar club, ringing the iron right before him on the same power play. The moment still doesn't feel too big for him as he picked up another point tonight. He set up the first Svechnikov goal tonight and helped the Canes get back into it for a few moments early in the third period. 

First Star- Andrei Svechnikov (2 Goals)

I'll start by saying that him finishing -2 tonight doesn't mean anything to me. The one silver lining from tonight is that Svechnikov scored twice after just one goal in the first five games, proving all of the offense tonight. For someone that has disappeared to this point in the series, this has the makings of a huge game for him despite the loss. 

Final Thoughts

I'll start with the bad news. For the third time in this series, the Canes didn't bring it on the road, which is a problem if the Canes do manage to make it past the first round. Boston played another solid game in front of their fans and they did it by getting everyone involved in the third period. Marchand added two points in the second period, but then it was the third and fourth lines that scored twice in the third period. Here's the good news going into Saturday. Since relocating to Raleigh, the Hurricanes are 5-0 in Game 7s. They are 2-0 in Game 7s at home, both coming in 2006. Three of those wins came after the Canes lost Game 6, including the Canes' win in Game 7 on the road in Boston in 2009. This team has a clutch gene in winner-take-all games. Win or lose, I'll be proud of this team if they put it all on the line to win Saturday. If it happens, that's great. If it doesn't, then I won't lose sleep. I'm not someone that judges a successful season solely on postseason performance. This team has what it takes to win this series and to do it at home would be amazing.