Morphinity 2.0 Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 (1M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (1W) Boston Bruins REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Hurricanes: 54-20-8, 116 points Bruins: 51-26-5, 107 points SEASON SERIES: EDM 3-0-0; BOS 0-3-0 GAME BREAKERS: Hurricanes: Forward Sebastian Aho has become a certified star, a player who can do it all and often does. He is a speedy scoring threat with defensive ability and leadership, and he can break open a game and a series. The 24-year-old led the Hurricanes with 81 points (37 goals, 44 assists) in 79 games this season, just missing his NHL career high of 83 points set in 2018-19. But the way he has taken to the playoffs has been even more impressive, averaging more than a point per game, with 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 34 career games, and consistently coming through -- regular season and postseason -- when the Hurricanes need a boost. Bruins: Forward David Pastrnak is all flash, from the suits he wears to how he can rip the puck, and when that flash is on, there's almost no stopping him. Pastrnak didn't approach the heights of two seasons ago, when he had 95 points and co-won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL's top goal-scorer with 48 goals, but he did finish with 77 points (40 goals, 37 assists) in 72 games and hit the 40-goal mark for the second time in his career. GOALTENDING: Hurricanes: With Andersen unavailable to start the series, Raanta could get the nod. He was 15-5-4 with a 2.45 GAA, .912 save percentage and two shutouts in 28 games (26 starts) this season, and has played in five career playoff games, all in relief. Kochetkov, who was recalled from Chicago of the American Hockey League on April 18, made his NHL debut five days later and went 3-0-0, with a 2.42 GAA and .902 save percentage in three games (two starts). Bruins: For the past decade, the Bruins have gone into the playoffs with one name written in permanent marker on the lineup card: Tuukka Rask. This season, Cassidy will be using pencil as he is expected to rely on his two goalies, Ullmark and Swayman. The goalies split starts this season, and performed nearly equally, leading to a postseason in which the net may be a game-to-game decision. Ullmark was 26-10-2 with a 2.45 GAA and .917 save percentage in 41 games (39 starts). Swayman was 23-14-3 with a 2.41 GAA and .914 save percentage in 41 games (39 starts). X FACTORS: Hurricanes: Tony DeAngelo has been a perfect fit with the Hurricanes. The defenseman tied forward Vincent Trocheck for the fourth-most points on the team with 51 (10 goals, 41 assists) and even teammate Brendan Smith, who also played with DeAngelo for the New York Rangers, said recently, "He's been our X-factor." That should continue into the playoffs. Bruins: Cassidy took a risk when he broke up his top line in January, moving Pastrnak down and searching for a right wing to fit with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. He found that player in Jake DeBrusk, who has a chance to be a real presence in the postseason. DeBrusk is getting the significant role he's been dreaming of in Boston and has the results to back it up with 42 points (25 goals, 17 assists) in 77 games and finished tied with Bergeron for the third-most goals on the team. If he continues the way he's been playing since February, he could be a major driver for the Bruins success. WILL WIN IF: Hurricanes: Their goaltending holds up. Whether Andersen makes it back in the first round or Carolina is forced to rely on the combination of Raanta and Kochetkov, goaltending will be key to whether Carolina can finally overcome the Bruins and advance into the second round. Bruins: The Bruins offense can breakthrough. Boston is middle-of-the-pack when it comes to production, sitting 15th in the NHL at 3.09 goals per game. But they have the potential to go off, with a top-six that can make some noise in a playoff series. Should they get hot -- especially on the power play -- all bets are off. MORE: https://www.nhl.com/news/carolina-hurricanes-boston-bruins-first-round-playoff-series-preview/c-333638344?tid=333422918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 More hope than strategy, but I'm gonna say Bs in seven because Andersen is hurt and I think if anyone can pull off the upset, it's Boston given how battle-tested their best players are (and how battle-tested Carolina's best players aren't). 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 15 minutes ago, Phil said: More hope than strategy, but I'm gonna say Bs in seven because Andersen is hurt and I think if anyone can pull off the upset, it's Boston given how battle-tested their best players are (and how battle-tested Carolina's best players aren't). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooksBurner Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Boston scares me to be honest. Boston in 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletch Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Carolina needs to hope Anderson is back sooner rather than later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bieser Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 11 hours ago, rmc51 said: Boston scares me to be honest. Boston in 6. They're playing well. I hope these two teams wear each other out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Canes in 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 CAR in 6, even without Andersen. Once they shutdown BOS top line, their depth and relentless attack will be the difference in this series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Skjei off to a great start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Auntie looking good so far. Not physical enough though. Need to see these teams trying to dismember each other. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Bs are just dominating. 9-1 in shots already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Raanta is really sharp. Boston has something like 14 shots already including some high quality scoring chances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Wow, ref showed some balls. Fuck the Canes. Lets go Boston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 Man I can't believe the Rangers game within 4 goals of winning the William Jennings Trophy, even with Georgie lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 Fuck. Good tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 Flood gates are opening. Carolina got a huge jump of energy after scoring. 2-0 now. Boston back on their heels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 Boston PP really not up to playoff caliber yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaveByRichter35 Posted May 4, 2022 Share Posted May 4, 2022 Idc who wins as long as it goes 7 and they beat the fucking shit out of each other. Kinda prefer Boston only because we would have home ice. Kinda prefer Carolina because we know more what to expect from them. Either way its not going to be easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJWantsTheCup Posted May 4, 2022 Share Posted May 4, 2022 Have to worry about beating the Pens before we worry about the next round opponent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaveByRichter35 Posted May 4, 2022 Share Posted May 4, 2022 45 minutes ago, RJWantsTheCup said: Have to worry about beating the Pens before we worry about the next round opponent. No shit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 4, 2022 Share Posted May 4, 2022 Damn, Pastrnak heavily bowls over Raanta...series changer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieNextel305 Posted May 4, 2022 Share Posted May 4, 2022 Most of the time I would say yes, but the way this Carolina team plays, I’m not sure it’s going to matter much. They are so, so good at just clamping down and forcing the opposition into making mistakes. I can’t stress enough how impressed I was by that team all season. And plus, this Russian kid looked pretty good. Obviously very little experience. But has talent, for sure. Just like that, Jesper Fast with a snipe. Christ, when did he turn into Ilya Kovalchuk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 4, 2022 Share Posted May 4, 2022 CAR completely unfazed, 2-0 now. Damn this is the type of energy and response I would've expected from the Rangers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieNextel305 Posted May 4, 2022 Share Posted May 4, 2022 Boston is battled tested, but Carolina has romped them all season. Carolina has now outscored them 22-2 so far this season. Personally, I’m pulling for Boston because unlike some here, I’m really not afraid of them at all. I think the Rangers can beat them in a 7-game series. Carolina? I really don’t think so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 5, 2022 Share Posted May 5, 2022 Damn, CAR is just rolling now 3-0. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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