Three Stars of the Cup Qualifiers

TORONTO - Five days after becoming the first team to advance from the Cup Qualifiers into the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes finally know their opponent.

In a rematch of the 2019 Eastern Conference Final, the Canes will square off with the Boston Bruins, who claimed the 2019-20 Presidents' Trophy with 100 points in 70 regular-season games (44-14-12).

We'll dive deeper into the match-up tomorrow, but before then, let's get reacquainted with what happened in three games against the New York Rangers with a look at the three stars of the series.

Third Star(s): Petr Mrazek and James Reimer

How confident are the Canes in both Petr Mrazek and James Reimer? Look no further than how head coach Rod Brind'Amour and his coaching staff utilized their goaltending tandem in the series sweep.

Prior to the Qualifiers, Brind'Amour was asked about his starting goaltender, and though he didn't tip his hand, he did say that "both guys will probably get action," considering the compressed schedule and the fact that "both guys look really good and feel good about their game."

After Mrazek made a combined 47 saves on 50 shots (.940 save percentage) in Games 1 and 2 to turn back to him, even in a back-to-back situation in Game 3.

Instead, the Canes stuck with the plan and started Reimer, who turned in a Video: NYR@CAR, Gm2: Mrazek robs Howden in close.

"We knew going in this was the plan. Both guys were dialed in right from the start of training camp," Brind'Amour said after Game 3. "We knew we were going to get both guys in. … That was an incredible performance, really all three games, by our goalies."

Reimer, whose last postseason start on May 13, 2013, had ended in heartbreaking fashion in Boston, was the best player on the ice for the Canes for much of the night, especially in the first 40 minutes. His best save came at the tail end of a scrambly sequence late in the second period, when he made a diving stick stop on Filip Chytil, preventing what should have been a sure goal.

"I know we talk about the goalies all the time, but players trust both guys. They're not worrying about who's in net. They've got to worry about their own game," Brind'Amour said after the series. "Players don't care. They know they have two guys they trust, and coaches feel the same way. ... We're right either way we go is how we feel."

Second Star: Andrei Svechnikov

In Game 1 of the First Round in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Andrei Svechnikov - then, just the fourth teenager in franchise history to play in the postseason - netted two goals in the third period to turn a 3-0 deficit into a one-goal game for the Canes.

Though the Canes couldn't complete the comeback, Svechnikov's performance was more that of a skillful, mature veteran than a 19-year-old rookie. That's just how talented he is.

He again made his presence felt in Video: NYR@CAR, Gm2: Mrazek robs Howden in close, as he netted the first hat trick of his career and the first for the franchise in its 144-game postseason history.

He scored his first goal of the afternoon in transition, snapping a shot that slid through Henrik Lundqvist's blocker-side arm 4:32 into the first period. On the power play early in the second period, an offensive-zone faceoff win led Sami Vatanen to set Svechnikov up for a one-time blast from the top of the right circle. Then, with about six minutes left in regulation, Svechnikov scored on an odd-man rush, burying his shot over Lundqvist's diving save attempt to complete the hat trick.

"I'm excited to score my first hat trick, especially on a superstar goalie," Svechnikov said after the game. "I wouldn't do that without my partners. Thanks for that. I think we played a really great game."

"I think he'll get a few more [hat tricks] before time's over in his career," Brind'Amour said. "He's a gamer."

Svechnikov finished the series with five points (3g, 2a), and he now has recorded 10 points (6g, 4a) through 12 career postseason games.

First Star: Sebastian Aho

Sebastian Aho's campaign for the Conn Smythe Trophy got off to a strong start in the Cup Qualifiers. Of those moving on to the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Aho leads the league in points with eight in just three games.

Aho began the series by scoring a power-play goal and notching an assist in a Video: NYR@CAR, Gm2: Mrazek robs Howden in close. Aho assisted on each of Svechnikov's three goals in Game 2 and followed up that performance with another three-point effort (2g, 1a) in Game 3, becoming the first player in franchise postseason history to record back-to-back three-point games.

Aho's highlight of the series came in the third period of Game 3 when he scored a beautiful goal off a talented invidivual effort. The sequence started when he bullied Jacob Trouba off the puck along the far wall. Aho then dangled around Tony DeAngelo and roofed a backhander from his knees.

Aho's eight points set a franchise record for the most points in a best-of-five series. He now owns 20 points (8g, 12a) through 18 career postseason games, tying him with Eric Staal and Kevin Dineen for the most points by a skater through their first 18 games in franchise postseason history.

And, not only did Teuvo Teravainen, Svechnikov and Aho drive the Canes' offense, but they also helped to shut down the Rangers' top threats, including Hart Trophy finalist Artemi Panarin.

"Great players rise to the occasion," Brind'Amour said.