If you ask any Bruin, they’ll inform you that what occurred within the common season doesn’t matter. The playoffs are a model new season. Wipe the slate clear.
They would say that, in fact. In three conferences in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes this yr, the B’s went 0-3 and had been outscored 16-1.
But the discuss of clean-slatin’ it from the B’s is not only wishful pondering. The Canes haven’t performed the B’s as they’re presently constituted. The final time they performed, Brad Marchand was suspended and Patrice Bergeron was injured. And Hampus Lindholm was not but a Bruin earlier than the season collection was concluded. The Canes will probably be seeing a a lot totally different Bruins workforce.
On prime of that, the standing of the Canes’ Vezina Trophy candidate Frederik Andersen is up within the air.
Is all that sufficient to tip the scales all the way in which within the Bruins’ favor? Who is aware of. But these components make this collection much more fascinating than the common season would point out.
FORWARDS
BRUINS
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Jake DeBrusk
Taylor Hall-Erik Haula-David Pastrnak
Trent Frederic-Charlie Coyle-Craig Smith
Nick Foligno-Tomas Nosek-Curtis Lazar
HURRICANES
Andrei Svechnikov-Sebastian Aho-Seth Jarvis
Max Domi-Vincent Trocheck-Teuvo Teravainen
Nino Neiderreiter-Jordan Staal-Jesper Fast
Jordan Martinook-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Martin Necas
THE SKINNY—The Bruins have improved their depth scoring. They’ve bought 9 gamers in double figures in goal-scoring, eight of whom are forwards. The B’s even have the most effective pure goal-scorer within the collection in David Pastrnak. But the Canes take a again seat to nobody in depth scoring. They have 11 gamers in double digits in scoring, 10 of whom are forwards. The B’s have completed a reasonably good job of bottling up Aho and Teravainen within the earlier two playoff matchups however there are actually weapons with which to be involved. Svechnikov, now 22, is all grown up and could be a beast within the offensive zone.
The B’s have created a bodily third line that may management the puck within the offensive zone when it’s on. But the Staal line, which may draw the task in opposition to the Bergeron line, has been an excellent two-way pressure and it additionally boasts a 24-goal scorer in Neiderreiter. The B’s have gotten strong testing of their fourth line however not a lot offensive manufacturing. Kotkaniemi, pilfered from the Canadiens final summer season, may very well be a wild card.
THE EDGE — Carolina
DEFENSE
BRUINS
Hampus Lindholm-Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk-Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort-Connor Clifton
HURRICANES
Jaccob Slavin-Tony DeAngelo
Brady Skjei-Brett Pesce
Ian Cole-Brendan Smith
THE SKINNY—The Bruins not solely have the most effective defenseman within the collection, McAvoy might proceed to get higher earlier than our eyes with what Lindholm can do for and with him. But it’s onerous to disregard what the Canes have completed defensively. They have the league’s lowest targets in opposition to common (2.44) and pictures in opposition to common (28.2). The B’s completed fourth and third in these classes respectively. Slavin is certainly one of greatest shutdown D-men whereas nonetheless contributing on the different finish (38 assists). The offensive minded DeAngelo’s 51 factors in 64 video games is one thing few persons are speaking about. Skjei and Pesce are a formidable second pairing whereas Grzelcyk and Carlo, a little bit inconsistent as of late, may be very efficient if they’ll get some optimistic momentum. Cole is a veteran of a pair Cup runs in Pittsburgh. In earlier conferences this yr, the Canes have completed a very good job of conserving the B’s out of the soiled areas of the ice, the place playoff targets are usually scored.
THE EDGE — Carolina
GOALIES
BRUINS
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman
HURRICANES
Antti Raanta
Pyotr Kochetkov
Frederik Andersen
THE SKINNY—This would have been a slam dunk class with the way in which Andersen performed this yr. He ought to be a Vezina finalist whereas the Bruin tandem of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman have zero playoff begins on their resumes. But Andersen suffered a leg harm on April 16 in Colorado and has not performed since. Maybe he’ll make an look on this collection, possibly he received’t. Raanta has regarded superb in a back-up function (15-5-4, .912 save proportion, 2.45 GAA). But Linus Ullmark has made a marked enchancment all through the season, slicing down drastically on tender targets and giving the B’s an opportunity to win each night time.
THE EDGE — Bruins. Until additional discover.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Canes have this one locked up. They have the most effective energy play within the league (88 %) whereas the B’s have been good, not nice at ninth (81.3%). On the facility play, the B’s Sisyphean 0-for-39 skid dropped them to fifteenth within the league (21.2%) whereas the Canes are thirteenth (22%). We’ll see if the 2 PP targets the B’s scored within the house finale bought them over the hump or not.
THE EDGE — Carolina
COACHES
BRUINS — Bruce Cassidy
HURRICANES — Rod Brind’Amour
THE SKINNY—What Brind’Amour has in-built Carolina is spectacular. They’ve gotten higher yearly to the purpose the place they’re now a reliable Stanley Cup contender. But Cassidy wins the scoreboard argument for now. They’ve confronted one another twice and the B’s have received handily each occasions.
THE EDGE—Bruins.
THE PICK—Carolina in seven. B’s expertise takes it to the brink, however house ice wins out in the long run.
Source: www.bostonherald.com