Bruins Force Game 7 With Another Win in Boston

BOSTON - Bruce Cassidy wanted to go with what had worked.
Despite some home-ice success earlier in the series with Boston's No. 1 line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak reunited, the B's bench boss opted to shuffle up his lineup for a do-or-die Game 6 on Thursday night.

Instead of once again stacking his top trio, Cassidy bumped Pastrnak down with Taylor Hall and Erik Haula, while shifting Jake DeBrusk back up to play alongside Marchand and Bergeron. He also reinserted Trent Frederic into the lineup in his familiar third-line, left-wing spot with Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith. Tomas Nosek, meanwhile, returned to his fourth-line center spot between Nick Foligno and Curtis Lazar.
It was the forward formation that helped the Bruins go on a torrid stretch over the season's final two months and one Cassidy had the utmost faith in with the club's season on the line.
"Today was more about how we'd been successful earlier in the year," said Cassidy. "We'd got ourselves back in the series, it didn't go as well for us up there in Carolina. So, let's get back to the group, including Frederic. [Hampus] Lindholm coming in helps, but that was the main reason. This is what we had success with fellas…
"You change lines for a reason through the course of the playoffs. You hope you make the right call for the right reasons, and tonight it worked out for us."
It sure did. Boston got five goals from five different players and had a far more balanced attack in what turned out to be a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes to knot the series at three games apiece.
"I think a lot of the lines that were there tonight, we've played together a good chunk of this year," said Coyle, who was one of the B's five goal scorers. "We're more familiar with each other, but whatever he puts up on that board as far as lines - I think I've already touched on it - you've just got to do your job no matter who you're playing with and try to create something and do it the right way no matter what.
"I think having that lineup that we had, we're more familiar with one another, I think each line, and you can tell. We got contributions from a lot of different guys tonight, and that could play into how the lines were and guys more familiar and having that chemistry already, but we're just glad we got the job done."
Now, the Bruins will head back to Raleigh on Saturday for what will be the franchise's 29th all-time Game 7, the most in NHL history.
"I love it. This is what you play for," said Cassidy. "Guys should be excited. Game 7 Stanley Cup Playoffs... home or road. I'd rather be at home, but we play where we play. I'd play on Mars if we had to. I think right now, we just want to get after it and that's what it's all about. I'm sure they'd say the same thing. I know they're disappointed now, but Game 7, they're going to wake up tomorrow morning and be excited to play as they should be. It's going to be a great game."

Striking First

The Bruins struck first for the first time in the series. In eight games against Carolina this season (including the three regular-season matchups), Boston had failed to score the game's opening goal - a streak that was finally broken on Thursday night when Brad Marchand notched his fourth of the series with a beautiful near-side wrister over the glove of Antti Raanta just 46 seconds into the second.
Coyle then doubled the lead late in the frame when he broke through traffic and deposited a Pastrnak rebound on the power play with 1:56 to go in the second. The tally put Boston, ahead, 2-0 after 40 minutes.
"We were ready to go from the start," said Coyle. "We've had some pretty decent starts in the series. I thought we were on top of them, neutral zone, D zone, all three zones really, not a lot of time and space for them. Our D were pinching up, good reloads from our forwards, give our D time to do that, and it's hard to play. They do it pretty well too on their end, and it's tough to play against…pretty stingy. So, a lot of talk, lot of support, close support, be in tight, everyone on the same page, and we were able to feed off each other that way."

Adding Some Insurance

The Bruins' old but new line combinations paid off on what turned to be the eventual winner as Haula notched his first of the series when he redirected a Charlie McAvoy feed by Raanta 7:08 of the third. Haula's goal put Boston ahead, 3-1, and came just under four minutes after Carolina had halved the B's lead on a marker from Andrei Svechnikov.
"Haula's goal, puck recovery, work to get a puck back, it gets moved around, low to high, presenting yourself in the slot," said Cassidy. "Haula had a good tip in the second period that we almost scored on. Some goals like that, not just a 2-on-1 or a 3-on-2, when the game opens up a bit, those tight-checking games. You've got to be able to do that, work to get a puck back, create a turnover on the forecheck, hang onto it, support each other. That's playoff hockey.
"So, they recognized it and they came through tonight in that regard. Had some looks earlier in the series, we just didn't finish. That's part of it, right? When you finish better, things get glossed over. Tonight, we finished better and that's what we needed. Eventually you need some guys to step up and score.
"I'm glad they scored that way. It'll make them feel better about their game and build their confidence so they can do it again on Saturday."
Boston added another insurance marker just 3:35 later when Derek Forbort capped off a monster shift from the B's fourth line with a wrister that sailed through traffic and a Lazar screen to give the Black & Gold a 4-1 lead. It was Forbort's first goal since a two-goal showing in Philadelphia on Nov. 20.
"He's really stepped up," said Cassidy. "It's been a series where we've been killing a lot of penalties…he's been excellent in shooting lanes. Clears were real good…I liked Derek's game, he's been really good with Cliffy. They've solidified themselves as a pair, that's why they predominantly stayed in. I think they're playing to their strengths, they're keeping it simple with their puck movement and they're physical.
"They've each scored a goal in the last two games, which is a nice bonus. But defending well against whatever line they're assigned against. Tonight, it was [Jordan] Staal's line - they're a big line, they've been doing a lot of scoring for them. So, credit to them."

Making the Kills

While Carolina scored a late goal on the power play with the game out of reach, the Bruins put forth another terrific penalty killing effort on home ice. The Hurricanes went just 1 for 6 on the man advantage and squandered an extended 5-on-3 opportunity midway through the second period.
"When you win, it's normally good, and it was very good for us tonight," Cassidy said of the PK. "We got very important kills in the second period. So, that special teams flip has certainly been something that has tilted this series on home ice for both teams. We need to make sure we stay out of the box up there so that doesn't become a factor, play the game 5-on-5 as much as possible. Other than that, we had some puck luck tonight.
"I think in the second period, they had a couple of crossbars. Other nights, those go in. So that comes into play too. We had some puck luck around the front of the net on the second goal and they had some up there at times. Some of that just happens in this series where the home team's getting a few breaks as well."

Lindholm Returns

After missing the last three-plus games with an upper-body suffered on a hit from Andrei Svechnikov in the second period of Game 2, Hampus Lindholm was back in the lineup and paired with McAvoy. Lindholm's impact was obvious as he helped lead Boston's breakout on numerous occasions and broke up a 2-on-1 with a stellar stick in the first period. The blue liner played a team-high 24:48.
"It was great to be out there," said Lindholm. "Like I said this morning, watching hockey is not something I've ever been good at. Super happy to be out there with the boys and a big win tonight."