Sweeping the Storm: Bruins Versus Hurricanes

The past two times the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes faced off, the Bruins offense was at it’s peak outscoring the Canes 11-5. Tonight they look for a threepeat and a series sweep, but they look to do it without offensive weapons Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins played Thursday without either player and ended up losing to the New York Islanders and falling to second in the Northeast division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. With just eight games remaining, the Bruins are only one point behind Montreal for first in the the Northeast.

(Credit: Flickr/Slidingsideways)

Canes Out of Contention:
While the Bruins are looking to climb to the top, the Hurricanes are just looking for a win. Despite being at the top of the Southeast division once upon a March, the Canes now find themselves 14th in the Eastern Conference and basically out of the playoffs. They dropped their seventh straight in a 3-1 road loss to the Capitals on Thursday and are now 16-22-2. The Hurricanes have struggled being outscored 59-24 over their last 15 contests. Justin Peters could get the nod in net tonight depending on Dan Ellis‘s health (he missed Thursdays game due to a sore knee).

Bruins Battle for First:
Like I said before, with so few games remaining, the Bruins need to pick up wins where ever they can get them. Based on the Hurricanes track record, this would appear to be a seemingly easy game. But in order for the Bruins to get the two points, they will have to produce goals and provide solid defense for either Tuukka Rask or Anton Khudobin. Rask won Monday night against the Canes and improved to 3-2-0 with a 2.60 GAA in five career starts against the Hurricanes. However, with playoffs right around the corner, it’s possible Dobby will get the nod giving Rask some well needed prep time. Honestly both have played fantastic this season so either in net would be fine. Also, it should be noted that Nathan Horton has scored in the first two games against the Canes this season so lets see if he makes it three for three!

Puck drops tonight at 7 and you can check out the action on NESN!

Bruins Blow By Hurricanes

 

After losing to rival Montreal, the Boston Bruins knew they would have to come out on top against the Carolina Hurricanes. With so few games remaining in the season, the B’s are so close to clinching the playoff’s but to do so they need wins. Chris Kelly would return to the lineup the featured some player swapping. Tyler Seguin would move to the third line with Kelly while Gregory Campbell would center the second line.

Tuukka Rask would get the start opposite the Canes Jusitn Peters.

Two goals tonight for Marchand! (Credit: Flickr/ Slidingsideways)

The first period would kick off with Rich Peverley ending his 10-game goalless streak with a goal at 3:51. Pevs was able to get passed Peters with the wraparound goal with the assists going to Dennis Seidenberg and Andrew Ference. Four minutes later Brad Marchand would notch his 15th goal of the season thanks to a perfect set up from his linemates Campbell and Jaromir Jagr. With that Justin Peters would be pulled after allowing two goals on four shots and  Dan Ellias would step up in net. Marchy wasn’t done for the period  because with 2:40 to go in the period he would score. Jagr and Seidenberg would each get assists on that. This is Marchand’s 8th career two goal game.

Second period would start just like the first did with a Bruins goal! This time it was Andrew Ference with his third of season. Seids and Soupy would get the assists on that review goal. This would be the third assist for Seidenberg and his first three point game as a Bruin. Just so we’re keeping track the Bruins are now up 4-0 against Carolina. Halfway through the second, Jordan Caron would make it a five goal lead with his first goal of the season. Caron’s liney’s Peverley and Shawn Thornton would get the assists for that beauty of a goal. With 21 shots on goal thus far, the B’s have scored five. Carolina has 30 shots on net but none managed to get past Rask. Tonight marks first four-goal and five-goal leads this season for Boston.

Third period wasn’t as exciting. In fact it dragged quite a bit. It dragged just like Eric Staal’s skate when he tried to kick in a goal with 10ish minutes remaining. Pretty sure that just added to the Canes frustrations BUT they would score at 10:03 thanks to a goal from Patrick Dwyer, his seventh of the season. So it wouldn’t be a shutout for Rask. 45 seconds later Drayson Bowman would score making this a 5-2 game. With 3:04 remaining, the Bruins would find the back of the net yet again with Dougie Hamilton setting up Nathan Horton for his 13th of the season. The Bruins now have six goals and this is the most they’ve scored in a game all season. Milan Lucic would also get an assist on that.

Now the Bruins won and that’s great but there are a few things that they need to work on. Rask may have stopped 40-of-42 shots but he shouldn’t have to face that many if the defense was doing their job. And I think it’s best that I don’t speak of our ever terrible power play.

Hey a win is a win and the Bruins have proved that on home ice they do pretty well. The boys are back in action Wednesday in New Jersey to take on the Devils.