2023-24 Regular Season, Game 79: Hurricanes at Boston Bruins (Postgame)

The Hurricanes faced their last true test of the season by traveling to Boston for the final meeting of the season. With the next three games against teams outside of the playoffs, the Canes hoped to get their road trip started on the right foot against a Bruins team that beat them in Raleigh five days ago. Boston came into the game on a four-game win streak, hoping to lock up the Atlantic Division with a win and a little bit of help.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

None

2nd Period

CAR (10:55)- Andrei Svechnikov (19) (assisted by Jordan Staal (20) & Jaccob Slavin (29))

CAR (13:05)- Teuvo Teravainen (23) (assisted by Andrei Svechnikov (30) & Jaccob Slavin (30))

BOS (16:56)- Charlie McAvoy (12) (assisted by Jakub Lauko (7))

3rd Period

CAR (10:14)- Jake Guentzel (28) (unassisted)

CAR (13:22)- Seth Jarvis (30) SH (assisted by Brady Skjei (33) & Jordan Staal (21))

My Thoughts

I hate the Boston Bruins with a passion, especially Brad Marchand. Tonight encapsulated everything about Marchand that I don't like. Early in the game, he took a run at Brett Pesce on a dangerous hit that I will also clarify probably wasn't a penalty and then backed down when pressed by Pesce at the bench. He also threw a hissy fit on the ice after being called for a crystal clear kneeing penalty against Stefan Noesen. I'm genuinely unsure if I'd even like him if he were on the Hurricanes. Then again, I'd be upset, too, if I was completely shut down by the opposing team. Marchand was a -1 with zero shots, while David Pastrnak managed just one shot and a measly -3. Trent Frederic was Boston's best player, finishing with a game-high six shots. It wasn't exactly a recipe for success in Beantown for the home team.

If you were to compile a list of Carolina's best wins this season, this has to be near the top. There wasn't a single area of the team's game that I didn't like. All 18 skaters had good nights, albeit imperfect. All six defensemen shone. Pyotr Kochetkov continued to make his case for Calder consideration. It resulted in the Hurricanes winning their 50th game to win the season series against the Bruins. Andrei Svechnikov led the charge. It wasn't just the fact that he scored a lacrosse goal, either. He has a strong case for being the team's best player tonight. The top line also had a good night, getting another goal from Jake Guentzel and a short-handed marker to put the game away from Seth Jarvis. You could go down the entire roster tonight and pinpoint one or two moments for each player. 

I said before the game that this was going to be the Hurricanes' last big test of the season, and they passed with flying colors. I don't care what they do in their final three games against the Blues, Blackhawks, and Blue Jackets. I think the second spot in the division is likely where they'll end up, which stinks because they're now the second-best team in the conference based on points. For the final two games, I'd seriously consider giving all of the young guys and extras some time. Put Scott Morrow and Bradly Nadeau out there against Chicago and Columbus. Let them get some experience while the top-end guys get a break before the playoffs. Also, give Spencer Martin some love to preserve your starting tandem. It's clear what this team is, so there's no point in pushing it once the division crown is off the table.

The final thought I have tonight has to do with what transpired in the first two minutes tonight. Martin Necas put a shot on the net from a sharp angle that was called a goal on the ice, only to be overturned by a Toronto review. Personally, I didn't think there was enough to overturn the call on the ice. All of the stills of the puck on the line didn't do enough for me to confidently say the puck didn't cross the line. Regardless of the result, this begs a bigger issue within the league. Why doesn't the NHL have a way to definitively say when a puck does or doesn't cross the line? To me, that technology seems like it should be accessible in 2024. If you've ever watched a soccer match, VAR has either been the bain of your existence or the greatest thing in the world. Why can't hockey adopt a similar system along the goal line? We're incredibly lucky that this didn't end up being a one-goal win for Boston because I would've gone scorched earth if that one call was the difference in the game. Fortunately, the Canes were the better team by a pretty wide margin.

My Three Stars of the Game

3rd Star- Pyotr Kochetkov- 22 saves

After the Canes lost the goalie duel last week to Swayman, this was a perfect response by Kochetkov, beating the Bruins netminder to pick up his third straight win. Kochetkov wasn't busy during the first 40 minutes but was on his game early in the third period as Boston pushed. The more he wins, the more I feel he should be a finalist for the Calder. 

2nd Star- Seth Jarvis- 1 goal

He only finished with one goal, but Jarvis had a few incredible chances to score his 30th goal. He hit a post early in the game before being stoned by Swayman on a breakaway in the second period. Eventually, the 30th goal came, thanks to some persistence on the penalty kill. You could tell how excited he was when the puck crossed the line and how much it meant for him to hit this mark.

1st Star- Andrei Svechnikov- 1 goal, 1 assist

Missing the Washington game has done wonders for Svechnikov's game over the last two contests. Along with his goal 17 seconds into Sunday's win, Svechnikov turned in one of his best performances of the season tonight. His points came across a 2:10 stretch of the second period. The lacrosse goal is going to be on repeat for the next few days, but his pass to set up Teravainen's goal was arguably more consequential for the final result tonight.

Postseason Watch- The Islanders helped the Canes out a little tonight, beating the Rangers 4-2 on Long Island to help shrink the deficit in the division to three points with three games left. It helped the Islanders keep their hold on the third spot in the Metro, leading the Capitals by two points after they beat the Red Wings 2-1 in a big Wild Card battle. The Islanders' lead is just two points on Washington, three points on Pittsburgh, and four points on Philadelphia, who were destroyed 9-3 by the Canadiens tonight.

Up Next- The Hurricanes will get a couple of days before hitting the ice again on Friday in St. Louis against the Blues. They'll have another meeting with Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks on Sunday before finishing the season the regular season next Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.