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

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

Freddie has been the clear #1 all year and has been phenomenal. He got hurt a few weeks ago and is day to day. Doesn’t seem like he’s expected to be ready for game 1, maybe later in this series.

Raanta has been the clear back up all year and has been solid, not great but still a reliable backup. He had cramps that got him pulled mid game about a week ago but he was backing up in the next game and started the final game of the season so he’s healthy.

The #3 is Russian prospect Pyotr Kochetkov, who just came to NA in the last few months (largely due to COVID and the war impacting the KHL season). Has been great in the KHL and AHL this year. Started 2 games for the Canes after Freddie got hurt and came in relief for 1 when Raanta had cramps. Undefeated and has passed the eye test though his save% isn’t good on paper. He really was a large reason the Canes secured the division ultimately, had some incredible saves vs the Rangers.

Best guess is Raanta starts game 1 although it’s not impossible Rod decides to go with Pyotr. Raanta higher floor lower ceiling, Pyotr lower floor higher ceiling.

Freddie will almost certainly step in once he’s back, only way he wouldn’t is if whoever starts is absolutely dominating and we decide to ride that momentum.

One thing I've learned is never bet* against a rookie goalie in the playoffs

 

[wintersej]

Keys to the series for Boston:

McAvoy, Gryz, Lindholm and Clifton can move the puck fast enough against the Carolina forecheck (and cover for Carlo and Forbort in the process). Gryz has played his best playoff hockey against the Canes as they play to his strengths. Lindholm is a huge addition to the Bruins blueline. But, Forbort and Carlo are the kind of D that the Canes feast on.

Haula and DeBrusk continue their success since Boston made its new lines. The big turning point in Boston’s season was when they changed their lines to Marchand/Bergeron/DeBrusk and Hall/Haula/Pastrnak. Since then, Haula has scored at a 26 goal pace and DeBrusk at a 30 goal pace. It has completely changed the team for the better and given then a pair of #1 lines.

One of Ullmark or Swayman thrives in the playoffs. The Bruins are the best defensive team in hockey. Even better than the Canes. But, the goalies have each had stretches of good and not so good play. And neither of them have started a playoff game.

The Bruins team that the Canes dominated in the regular season was either starting a broken Rask, was short Bergeron, or was short Marchand. And in none of those games did they have Lindholm. The Canes just have not played the real Bruins. We will see what happens!

 

[BruinLVGA]

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.

Do you realize that the Leafs could be on the brink of making history these playoffs: if they can‘t win a series with a 115 points season and a 60 goals scorer, they‘ll become the biggest joke in hockey. You and the rest of the usual suspects might have to build a spaceship and emigrate to another star system, because the embarrassment would be too toxic even for the like of you guys.

 

[Ivo]

Do you realize that the Leafs could be on the brink of making history these playoffs: if they can‘t win a series with a 115 points season and a 60 goals scorer, they‘ll become the biggest joke in hockey. You and the rest of the usual suspects might have to build a spaceship and emigrate to another star system, because the embarrassment would be too toxic even for the like of you guys.

I don’t know, losing to the team that won the last two Stanley Cups would not be an embarrassment. Tampa is the favorite here, despite Toronto having home ice. Of course, losing to the Habs last year, that was an embarrassment.

Back on topic: I think this should be a pretty evenly matched series, will probably be decided by goaltending which is a question mark for both teams.

 

[BB88]

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

Canes lack of superstars will really hurt them

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

One thing I've learned is never better against a rookie goalie in the playoffs

“There are three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body. Now you stick to that, and everything else is cream cheese.”

- Coach Bobby Finstock

 

[Ladyfan]

Bruins in 6 (I want to see handshakes on ice because the Bs are moving on). I would be OK with Bs in 4 also.

I have no idea who will win.

My Bruins have been playing some pretty good hockey since Jan. They have at least 2 scoring lines finally.

GO BRUINS !!!

 

[57special]

Is Lindholm going to be that underrated, but super important addition for BOS that allows them to compete with an excellent team like CAR?
Is Charlie Coyle healthy, and awake? To me, he is one of the most interesting players in the league - you never know what you are going to get. Mr. Invisible, Mr. Puck Dominator, Mr. Passive, the Beast, or ?

 

[Ladyfan]

It's weird seeing Boston this healthy going into the playoffs. Normally much more banged up. Nice change. B's in 7.

I believe some are banged up, but they aren't going to announce it.

 

[BTO]

Boston is certainly in tough against Carolina's unrelenting forecheck, but this is also a different Boston team since Jan. 1 (2nd-best record in the NHL since then, I believe) when they juggled the lines and Pasta remembered how to shoot. Both teams are in tough methinks.

 

[Matty Sundin]

Canes in 6. The Bruins aren’t the big bad bruins anymore. Haven’t for a few seasons.

 

[mjhfb]

0 Cup wins as #1 center Bergeron?

Come on. That's as ridiculous as saying 0 cups for Gretzky as a non Oiler.

 

[kdog82]

This is a different Bruins team than the last time these two met. It will be a battle. Boston in 7.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

It is absolutely fair to say that the Bruins have changed things up since the last time they played the Canes. Lindholm wasnt on the team at the time, however we do have to take a closer look at the other claims

Game 1 - CAR 3 - BOS 0
- Appeared to be a healthy B’s roster (maybe minor injury to someone?)
- Bergeron, Marchand, Pasta, Hall, etc played
- Swayman was in net

Game 2 - CAR 7 - BOS 1
- Appeared to be a completely healthy B’s roster (maybe minor injury to someone?)
- Bergeron, Marchand, Pasta, Hall, etc played
- Rask started and got torched… Ullmark came in part way through and gave up 2 goals

Game 3 - CAR 6 - BOS 0
- Bergeron and Marchand didn’t play
- Ullmark got the start and gave up 6

So, yes, Bruins fans are correct in saying that this team in the playoffs is different than the one earlier in the season but to be fair, they scored 1 goal against the Canes all season… Ullmark, Swayman, Rask all played a game each and other than Swayman in game 1 who gave up 2 (+ ENG) Ullmark and Rask got lit up… Bergy and Lamboman didn’t play in the 3rd game but in games 1&2 they did and B’s had a fully heathy roster with all of their big guns.

Does it mean anything? No, because the playoffs are a clean slate but I don’t think we should be going off some narrative that the Canes beat up on Bruins this year because old man Rask played poorly and the Bruins big guys didn’t play. It was pretty fair in terms of the personnel on the ice.

 

[M2Beezy]

Really like Aho, Necas and a lot of the Canes but cant bring myself to cheer for a team with someone like Tony DeAngelo on the team. Scummy person (but maybe theres others out there but theyre not as revealing). Anyways think they take on the older core Bruins and win the series in 5 or 6. I will predict 5 tho the Bruins have proved me wrong quite a bit this year and keep coming back with a solid fight. But the Canes are built pretty deep, I will stick with Canes in 5

 

[Karl Eriksson]

Canes in 6

 

[rocketdan9]

Bruins in 7

Andersen loss probably the key for the Bruins

 

[BlueBaron]

I am hoping the Canes sweep the Bruins but the goaltending situation is making that pretty unlikely.

 

[Shroud of Orrin]

I want Brind’Amour to go full constipation face.

 

[Number8]

Reading through this thread I come away with a few things:

Lots of agreement that Goalie situation is interesting on both sides and unknowns will play a big factor.

Like the oddsmakers, many think this will be tight.

Some Leafs fans can’t help themselves, and instead of worrying about their own tough series are thinking they have a moral victory in that Bruins above all else are worried about the mighty Leafs. Too funny. And soooooo predictable.

 

[wintersej]

It is absolutely fair to say that the Bruins have changed things up since the last time they played the Canes. Lindholm wasnt on the team at the time, however we do have to take a closer look at the other claims

Game 1 - CAR 3 - BOS 0
- Appeared to be a healthy B’s roster (maybe minor injury to someone?)
- Bergeron, Marchand, Pasta, Hall, etc played
- Swayman was in net

Game 2 - CAR 7 - BOS 1
- Appeared to be a completely healthy B’s roster (maybe minor injury to someone?)
- Bergeron, Marchand, Pasta, Hall, etc played
- Rask started and got torched… Ullmark came in part way through and gave up 2 goals

Game 3 - CAR 6 - BOS 0
- Bergeron and Marchand didn’t play
- Ullmark got the start and gave up 6

So, yes, Bruins fans are correct in saying that this team in the playoffs is different than the one earlier in the season but to be fair, they scored 1 goal against the Canes all season… Ullmark, Swayman, Rask all played a game each and other than Swayman in game 1 who gave up 2 (+ ENG) Ullmark and Rask got lit up… Bergy and Lamboman didn’t play in the 3rd game but in games 1&2 they did and B’s had a fully heathy roster with all of their big guns.

Does it mean anything? No, because the playoffs are a clean slate but I don’t think we should be going off some narrative that the Canes beat up on Bruins this year because old man Rask played poorly and the Bruins big guys didn’t play. It was pretty fair in terms of the personnel on the ice.

Your point that the Bruins had a full roster on October 28th was worth this long post.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Your point that the Bruins had a full roster on October 28th was worth this long post.

Seemed to have a full roster in game 2 as well. Sure Rask started but Ullmark came in and gave up goals as well. Full roster couldn’t muster more than a goal.

Your post did well to be short in words as well as solid content

 

[rocketdan9]

Seemed to have a full roster in game 2 as well. Sure Rask started but Ullmark came in and gave up goals as well. Full roster couldn’t muster more than a goal.

Your post did well to be short in words as well as solid content

Maybe lay off the overconfident kool aid..

 

[bukwas]

I’m picking Boston in 6.
And in case anyone is curious, no I’m not interested in betting on it.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Maybe lay off the overconfident kool aid..

Stating what happened in the games that took place isn’t being overconfident. It’s reporting the news.

I also said the reg season games don’t matter in the playoffs because the slate is clean… however it doesn’t mean those games didn’t happen 2/3 games the Bruins were fully healthy. 3/3 games they couldn’t muster any offense. Maybe that changes in the playoffs, we won’t know until the series starts, but it’s foolish to pretend the games didn’t happen and can’t be talked about.