ECQF: (WC1) Boston Bruins @ (M1) Carolina Hurricanes | Series tied 3-3

[Bizz]

Boston in 4. GGez.

 

[BB88]

Canes in 5 or 6. The better team from top to bottom.

Weakest Bruins team I've seen in a long time.

Bostons high end talent for sure is better.
At the top you have Pasta, Marchand, Bergeron and on the blueline McAvoy& Lindholm.

It will be a helluva challenge for Aho to shine against Bergeron in this series

I’ll say Boston in 6, Carolinas lack of superstars will be the difference maker

 

[Fenway]

The Canes have seen 2 of their last 3 seasons end with Boston beating them - they will be extra motivated.

This will come down to the Bruins needing to win 2 in Raleigh as the Canes will win at least one in Boston.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Bruins pull an upset in six games.

 

[TomppaKoo]

Marchand gets suspended for licking everyone on the ice - Jerks in six

 

[quietbruinfan]

Canes in six or fewer. Canes are faster and Bruins are weaker than they have been since about 2009. Bruins coach and gm could be gone after this series. Lots of pressure and possibility for a quick knockout here, but do not think it will happen.

 

[Johnny Tomala]

Hurricanes in 6.

 

[ECanuck]

Bruins sat 8 regulars in a meaningful game …Big bad Bruins scared to plat the Leafs …cowards

They have had a harder time with the canes this season.

 

[burstnbloom]

Obvious Big Bad Bruins wanted no part of playing Leafs Round 1 ……they played for 4 th place by sitting 8 regulars …..if u can’t see that your Jack Edwards …a fool.

*you’re

 

[Shroud of Orrin]

The Bruins will never be given credit for re-inventing themselves.

Krug, Chara, Rask and Krejci were replaced by Lindholm, Forbert, Ullmark and Haula. Most would consider that a major downgrade but they add Hall in the process and the team gels to remain a top 10 team in the league. A lot of former power house teams like the Hawks have struggled in that transition to maintain their place.

A lot of credit has to be given to Bergy for leading those players and forcing them to be winners along with JDB for that matter. The team will rally for him now. There is a lot of positive energy and pride flowing.

Bruins in six or less.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

If a 3rd line hadn't emerged plus no trade for Lindholm, along with Haula, Hall and DeBrusk waking up - would have said Canes sweep.

Add Goaltending woes for Carolina. Bruins in six.

 

[HF007]

Canes in 6, I think it’s their year to make it out the east

 

[burstnbloom]

I legit have no idea what happens in this series.

Bruins current 4 lines have over 150m together and consistently win their matchups. The top line is the best line in hockey by xG%, even better than the legacy top line. All four lines are excellent defensively.

The Canes change lines a lot more than the bruins and I don't watch them as much so it's hard to be accurate, but as a team, they have an xG% of 55.68%. That's just short of the bruins xG% of 56.87%. You cant get much closer than that.

The Bruins have the best defense in the NHL this season by xG but the Canes gave up 3 fewer actual goals against. They were 2nd and 4th in the nhl respectively. TL;DR, they are the two best defensive teams in the Eastern Conference.

McSpeaking of defense, the d pairs here are all very good. Lindholm-Mcavoy is the best pair by a pretty significant margin but Slavin-Proud Boy are no slouches. McAvoy is the best defender in this series but Slavin is also excellent. The Bruins current pairs are #3, #5 and #8 on this list. All three are playing very good hockey.

Im excited about that d core against most opponents. Against the canes it kinda feels like a coin toss (canes fans can chime in on current pairs. RBA appears to be kinda fickle moving dudes around);

So the lines are pretty even. The D is pretty even. What about the goalies?

This is a big win for Carolina. Freddy has been vezina finalist level all year, but hes hurt now. If he comes back and plays at the level he's played all season, this is a big advantage. but that's the question. Ullmark has been really good lately (he's 5th in the NHL since March 1st in GSAA). He's been middling for most of the year, though.

So all those charts and words to say that these are two really good teams that are really evenly matched. They are d first teams that thrive on dominating possession over their opponents. I'm hopeful but concerned. I would think any rational Canes fan feels the same. Can't wait to get started.

 

[loosemoose]

Canes having home ice is pretty useful, as it gives them a better chance to get Aho away from Bergeron.

On paper I'd say Bruins in 6 or 7. As ever, it comes to goaltending. Bruins goaltending has been uneven all year and currently both Canes tenders are fighting injuries.

 

[Mick Riddleton]

Bruins have played well lately and seem to be peaking at the right time. Chemistry on all lines, 2 good goalies and that playoff experience you cannot downplay. It will be a good series to watch, plus they can still be in Freddies head from his time with the Leafs.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Canes in six or fewer. Canes are faster and Bruins are weaker than they have been since about 2009. Bruins coach and gm could be gone after this series. Lots of pressure and possibility for a quick knockout here, but do not think it will happen.

Bruins have the 3rd most wins in the NHL after Jan 1. 107 points. And they’re weaker than the years they missed the playoffs. Ok.

And no one is getting fired regardless. This is crazy even by your standards.

 

[quietbruinfan]

Bruins have the 3rd most wins in the NHL after Jan 1. 107 points. And they’re weaker than the years they missed the playoffs. Ok.

And no one is getting fired regardless. This is crazy even by your standards.

Keep on homering, it suits you. Sweeney has not been re-signed and everyone is sick of Cassidy-and I love Cassidy.

 

[quietbruinfan]

The Bruins will never be given credit for re-inventing themselves.

Krug, Chara, Rask and Krejci were replaced by Lindholm, Forbert, Ullmark and Haula. Most would consider that a major downgrade but they add Hall in the process and the team gels to remain a top 10 team in the league. A lot of former power house teams like the Hawks have struggled in that transition to maintain their place.

A lot of credit has to be given to Bergy for leading those players and forcing them to be winners along with JDB for that matter. The team will rally for him now. There is a lot of positive energy and pride flowing.

Bruins in six or less.

Krug was never replaced. Forbort is barely serviceable. Haula while a decent placeholder, is no Krejci.

 

[Kaner9]

Canes in 7 after Boston leads most of series

 

[northeastern]

Bruins sat 8 regulars in a meaningful game …Big bad Bruins scared to plat the Leafs …cowards

They were resting those players regardless. Leafs scare no one in the playoffs lol go back to being afraid of the lightning.


This series can't start soon enough

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Canes in 6

 

[HockeyMomx2]

They were resting those players regardless. Leafs scare no one in the playoffs lol go back to being afraid of the lightning.


This series can't start soon enough

No kidding.

 

[Power Surge]

Canes in 4 Bye Boston

 

[Shroud of Orrin]

Krug was never replaced. Forbort is barely serviceable. Haula while a decent placeholder, is no Krejci.

I don’t disagree. Not suggesting otherwise just saying this is the lot we were served.

Forbert only had 22 less hits than McAvoy and he was third in blocks behind him and Carlo. He did what he does as advertised. Barely serviceable might be a bit too harsh. Haula was better in the second half.

Krug and Krejci were part of a more feared offensive attack. No question. But the team has gelled as best we could really expect. The goaltending was the biggest question and may still be but it got us to the 4th best GA in the league. I did not expect that. Canes were first so both teams can play a shut down game. I’ll take Pasta all day long over Aho or Svechnikov as a game breaker.

Bruins in 6 or less.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Canes in 4 because that is what I want to happen and me writing it here will help towards that.

Canes fans were worried the last 6 weeks that the team was backing into the playoffs but have now won 6 straight to close out the year.

Would love to have a healthy Freddy in net but we know we can win games without him. The team is used to that mentality with their goalies.

Forwards and D are all healthy. Koko had a huge game for his first back after injury to close out the series.

Canes Ned to exercise some demons this year and take out the Bruins… but Boston is a great team in their own right. Cane easily see this going 6 or 7 and won’t be surprised with whichever team wins it