The Bruins Rally With 4 Goals In The Third To Take Game 1 Of The ECF
After getting completely outplayed (and trailing 2-1) in the second, the Bruins rattled off four goals in the 3rd to win Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, 5-2. The B’s scored two power play goals in a span of 28 seconds at the start of the final frame to completely flip the game on it’s head.
Torey Krug looked to get banged up early in the 1st after a weird hold/slewfoot combo from Warren Foegele. Went to the locker room midway through the period but would return.
Marcus Johansson with a good stick at the B’s blue line pushed the play the other way, Danton Heinen went to the net, allowing Steven Kampfer to skate in, receive the pass and bury a wrister. 1-0 Bruins.
Sean Kuraly went to the box with a suspect roughing call and Carolina made them pay. Just three seconds in Aho tied things up. Carlo and Marchand went to the puck carrier and left Aho all alone to tip one in past Tuukka Rask. 1-1.
This wasn’t called, probably because it was on Marchand.
Sloppy second period gets worst for the Bruins after Greg McKegg beats David Krejci and sneaks one past Tuukka Rask before colliding with him. 2-1 Hurricanes.
The Bruins PP once again failed to cash in in the second, the best chance was a shorthanded 3 on 2 for the Hurricanes, McGinn nearly made it a two goal game. Sloppy turnovers from Marchand. SOG: 25-17 in favor of Carolina.
The Bruins flipped the switch in the 3rd, scoring two power play goals in 28 seconds to take the 3-2 lead.
Jordan Staal boarded Chris Wagner in the corner to start the third and the Bruins were off to the man advantage. After a dud from PP1, Marcus Johansson cashed in for PP2, cleaning up a feed from Brad Marchand. Tie game 2-2.
28 seconds later Patrice Bergeron cashed in after two outstanding plays from Jake DeBrusk, first keeping the play alive, and then feeding to Brad Marchand who then found Bergeron. Dougie Hamilton was in the box with a suspect roughing penalty. We’ll take it. 3-2 Bruins.
A funky empty netter from Sean Kuraly made it 4-2 Bruins.
Chris Wagner added a beauty goal of his own to extend the lead to three late in the 3rd. 5-2 Bruins.
Final: Boston 5, Carolina 2
News, notes and quotes:
– Kuraly took a shoulder to the face but was the one who ended up in the box after giving Foegele a face wash. Tough game for Sean who took two penalties, one leading to a Canes PPG to tie the game at 1. He didn’t let that stop him though, he added an empty net goal to seal the deal for the B’s.
– No Charlie McAvoy? No problem. Steven Kampfer in just his 2nd career playoff game lit the lamp in the first. Connor Clifton was up to the task playing with Zdeno Chara. McAvoy served his one game suspension tonight and will be back Sunday afternoon.
- Sebastian Aho is pretty fucking good. He was buzzing all over the ice, his PPG tied things up in the first and he had a few other scoring chances. Wonder if Bruce Cassidy is gonna give him the Carlo treatment and have Brandon shadow him. He’s by far and away Carolina’s best player. Niederreiter was all over the ice as well.
– Zdeno Chara took a puck to the ankle at the end of the first period and went to the locker room. He returned for the 2nd but wonder if he’s 100%. Big scare for the B’s as Z limped all the way to the dressing room.
– Credit to the Hurricanes, their forecheck was as advertised, heavy, heavy, heavy. They were hungry for the puck even when they didn’t have it. Smothered the Bruins in the second. If McGinn buried that shorthanded chance the Bruins would’ve been toast. Can not sleep on Carolina going into Game 2.
– The Perfection Line had their legs and jump from the start of the game. Marchand recovered after making two brutal turnovers in the second and added two assists on the power play. It was an uncharacteristic night for Patrice Bergeron at the dot.
– Special teams was the name of tonight’s game after a brutal game from the officials. Soft calls left and right, missed calls, you name it. The Bruins won the special teams battle tonight, cashing in on 2 of 5 power plays. I still think they can be better with the puck on the man up. Refs were atrocious on both sides.
– The bottom six showed up once again, with goals from Johansson (to tie), Kuraly (ENG) and Wagner (to put B’s by 3). Thought Marshmellow Soft Marcus Johansson had a real good game.
– Tuukka Rask played like Tuukka Rask. Another solid showing from No. 40. 29 saves.
There’s one. Back at it on Sunday afternoon. Charlie McAvoy returns. Puck drops at 3 pm.
It was a great night to win a hockey game.