Round One Preview: Canes vs. Bruins
Taking an in-depth look at the first round Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup
Carolina: 54-20-8
Boston: 51-26-5
The Canes beat Boston decisively in all three meetings this season, outscoring them 16-1.
For as dangerous and skilled of a team as Boston is, Carolina handled business and flexed their muscles along the way.
The Canes biggest strong suit all year was their ability to keep the puck out of the back of their net. Finishing with a league-low 202 goals against, one key reasoning for that was allowing a league-low 28.2 shots against per game.
However, although they only recorded one goal in three games, Boston still found a way to get an average of 33 shots on goal in their three meetings with the Canes this season. Their high volume was not just for their contests against Carolina though, their 36.1 shots-per-night over the course of 82 games ranks second in the league - only behind Florida.
From the above we can infer that while Carolina's goal scoring was an imperative factor in the team's success against Boston, the goaltending was almost equally as important.
Where the problem lies is that the goalie who started all three games for the Canes this season, Frederik Andersen, will not be available, at least for Game One. While his status for the rest of the series remains unknown, the team will have to go with one of either Antti Raanta or Pyotr Kochetkov, at least to start.
Of the Hurricanes 16 goals against Boston this season, seven came in the first period of games. In all three contests they took the game's first lead.
Why does this matter?
The Canes went 39-4-6 when scoring first this year. Only the Colorado Avalanche had more wins (43) when getting the first goal in a game.
Video: CAR@BOS: Trocheck deposits rebound for opening PPG
Given the previous playoff history between the Canes and Bruins, it's hard not to feel threatened by Boston's power play.
Over 82 games they finished with a success rate of 21.2%, tied for 15th in the league.
Since April 1? Just 9.1%, ranking 28th.
While the Hurricanes have struggled themselves on the power play to start the final 30 days of the regular season, they were able to gain some momentum within the last two weeks. This will be an important area to keep an eye on because the Canes scored on the man advantage in all three games against Boston this season, multiple times in two of the contests.
On the defensive side of things, Carolina will be bringing the league's best kill to the table, having killed off 88% of attempts this season. Boston had an 81.3% success rate, good for ninth in the league.
Carolina: Seth Jarvis
The gifted rookie enters the Stanley Cup Playoffs on a seven-game point streak, the longest of his professional career to date.
Finding a home on the top line alongside Sebastian Aho, the 20-year-old finished the regular season with the most points by a rookie since March 6, publishing 21 points in 24 games.
Boston:Patrice Bergeron
Already known as one of, if not the best defensive forwards in the last 15 years, Bergeron is going into postseason play with nine points in his last three outings.
#37 etched a hat trick (and an assist for good measure) Thursday against Buffalo, a pair of assists against Florida before that, and then a three-point outing in a 5-3 win over Montreal.
Video: CAR@NYI: Jarvis shows excellent skill with PPG
Rod Brind'Amouron preparing to take on Boston...
"We've played them enough this year and I don't know how much they're going to be changing what they do. They're pretty successful. Both teams are going to come in here knowing what the other is doing and it comes down to executing what you want to do."
Sebastian Ahodescribing how he sees the Bruins...
"They've got some experienced, big-time players. They've done this for a long time. They've got a good power play and overall they're a very good team. They execute their system pretty well and it's going to be a hard battle. They've got some good individuals, but so do we."
Jaccob Slavinacknowledging the importance of special teams and how important it's been in the past postseasons...
"It's huge. Every series it's huge. If you look back at our last three years of playoffs, it all comes down to special teams and that's why we've been knocked out before we'd like. Going into this one it's especially huge and throughout the whole playoffs it will be]. It's something we've honed on a lot this year and I hope we have better success this go-around."
**Carolina:** As touched on above, Frederik Andersen's health will continue to be monitored on a day-to-day basis.
Although Antti Raanta and Pyotr Kochetkov have split the wins on the Canes current six-game win streak, the availability of an All-Star and Jennings Trophy-winning netminder of course is going to be a topic of discussion.
Andersen went down with under five minutes to go in the third period during the team's 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, April 16 and has not played since. The All-Star played 52 of Carolina's 82 games this season, but Rod Brind'Amour's club will be starting their postseason run without him.
**Boston:** David Pastrnak
The dynamic, high-scoring forward returned from a core injury just a week ago, but questions remain on if he is 100% healthy. While he may not be fully himself, he is still a threat when he is in the lineup.
After being out from April 5-22, Pastrnak played in three games last week for the Bruins, recording two points in each one.
With 77 points in 72 games on the season as a whole, #88 is going to be one of many players that Carolina will have to keep an eye on at all times.
**Worth A Click:**
[Canes Surge Into Playoffs As A Model Of Consistency
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Andersen, Raanta Win Jennings Trophy
Canes Practice Rink Officially Named Invisalign Arena
CanesCast Episode 210: As One Race Ends, Another Begins
Canes Clinch Division Title For Second Consecutive Year
Canes 2022 Playoffs Merch
Round One Tickets On Sale Now
