2023-24 Regular Season, Game 76: Hurricanes vs. Boston Bruins (Postgame)

After a nice four-day break, the Hurricanes were finally back in action as they began their final homestand of the regular season. First on the list was the Boston Bruins, who sit atop the Atlantic Division at the moment over the Florida Panthers. The Canes, with a playoff spot and home ice in the first round locked up, hoped to begin the homestand on the right foot as they continue to chase down the New York Rangers for the Metropolitan Division crown.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

BOS (2:12)- Brad Marchand (28) (assisted by Morgan Geekie (22) & Charlie Coyle (33))

BOS (7:42)- David Pastrnak (47) (assisted by Pavel Zacha (35) & Danton Heinen (18))

BOS (10:46)- Danton Heinen (16) (assisted by David Pastrnak (59) & Pavel Zacha (36))

2nd Period

CAR (15:12)- Jake Guentzel (25) PP (assisted by Stefan Noesen (21) & Brady Skjei (30))

3rd Period

BOS (17:49)- Hampus Lindholm (3) EN (unassisted)

My Thoughts

This wouldn't have happened with Scott Morrow and Jesperi Kotkaniemi in the lineup. Ok, maybe it would've, but I just needed to get it out of my system. Honestly, this was ten bad minutes, and that's it. If you eliminate the first ten minutes of the game, the Hurricanes win this game 1-0 (because the empty-net goal wouldn't have happened). Unfortunately, that's not how sports work. When you start sluggishly against a top-tier team, it's going to show. You might be able to get away with stuff like that against the San Jose Sharks. Not against the Boston Bruins. David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand got it going and their defense just stifled the Canes at every turn from there. It would be easy to overreact to this loss, but there's no point in doing that. I hate that it's against the Bruins, whose fans I don't particularly have an affinity for, but they'll have a chance to get them back in five days in Beantown. 

The anatomy of the first 10:46 of tonight's game is fascinating. First, you have Marchand's breakaway goal. Morgan Geekie burnt the team that drafted him by putting a beautiful pass on Marchand's stick. I think a challenge here would've been interesting, but it likely ends in the Canes taking a penalty. Marchand clearly makes contact with Frederik Andersen, though it's Brent Burns' fault that it happens. Ultimately, it was the right call. Then, it turned into The David Pastrnak Show, courtesy of some brutal defense from the top line. Seth Jarvis obviously thought that Burns was going to take Pastrnak. He didn't, allowing Pastrnak free range to shoot it over Andersen. To finish it off, Pastrnak made something out of nothing. He fanned on a shot, but he recovered to find Danton Heinen to make it 3-0. It felt like nothing was going the Canes' way early, and that's what cost them the game tonight.

I usually keep a level head while watching games since I live in an apartment and don't like to disturb my neighbors. Tonight, I had a tiny outburst when Sebastian Aho was called for tripping for the first penalty of the game. To that point, everything but murder had been allowed. Dmitry Orlov was clearly tripped right before the call against Aho, and Andrei Svechnikov looked like he took a stick up high in the first period. All of a sudden, Aho is being sent to the box for a phantom trip. Had that led to the 4-0 goal, we might've had a riot. Fortunately, the penalty kill came through, killing that and Svechnikov's double minor later in the period. Stuff like this makes Hampus Lindholm's confusion about the call against him that much more infuriating. Lindholm planted his stick parallel into Seth Jarvis' back, shoved him into the boards, and looked absolutely dumbfounded when he got called for it. It led to a 5-on-3, where Jake Guentzel scored Carolina's only goal of the night. 

There's going to be a small subset of the fan base that thinks the world is going to fall after this loss. They rear their heads every time something like this happens. While most of us are level-headed in times like this, allow me to impart some wisdom into the situation. The Carolina Hurricanes are postseason-bound for the sixth year in a row. If they were to lose every game in regulation between now and the end of the season, they would still finish second in the division with over 100 points. They can't finish lower than second place. The world isn't coming to an end any time soon. They're going to be just fine. Their goaltending has been great, including Andersen tonight, who I don't blame for this loss at all. Pyotr Kochetkov will be in the net tomorrow night, coming off a shutout win over Montreal on Saturday. The Hurricanes are going to be fine, and so will you. 

My Three Stars of the Game

3rd Star- Stefan Noesen- 1 assist

My three stars of the night combined for the Gordie Howe hat trick. Noesen kicks it off after recording the primary assist on Carolina's only goal tonight. His pressure below the goal line allowed Guentzel to pop the puck home. He finished the night with five shots, second only to the Canes' goal scorer. 

2nd Star- Jack Drury- 1 fight

While he didn't get on the scoresheet tonight, Drury helped to provide somewhat of a spark by dropping the gloves in the first period with his team down 3-0. When he was on the ice, his line with Noesen and Fast was the team's best, especially in the third period. His placement is more honorable for his willingness to drop the mitts and win the fight.

1st Star- Jake Guentzel- 1 goal

Overall, the top line didn't have a great night. They didn't do much together at 5-on-5, but they had a few chances. Guentzel's goal came on the power play during a 5-on-3 to help make it seem like the team had a shot to make a comeback. He had a game-high six shots, getting another good chance in the third period to go along with his goal. 

Postseason Watch- With the New York Rangers refusing to lose, it's looking more likely that the Hurricanes will be locked into the second spot in the division, which might be better for them. The Rangers hold a five-point lead over the Canes, with both teams playing 76 games. The Canes still have a mathematical chance, but it's looking less and less promising that we see a repeat as division champions.

As for the Hurricanes' potential opponent in the first round, the Flyers are back in the third spot in the division, but they have some company. The Islanders, who hold a one-point lead for the second Wild Card spot, are just one point back of Philly, as are the Capitals. Not to be forgotten are the Penguins, who are two points behind the Flyers. Washington holds a game in hand over all three teams. It doesn't feel like anyone really wants the spot, so we might not know who the Canes will be playing until the final night of the season.

Up Next- The homestand continues tomorrow night to conclude the final back-to-back of the season against the Washington Capitals. The final home game will be on Sunday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The remainder of the Canes' schedule will be on the road, beginning a four-game trip in Boston next Tuesday night.