Tonight marks Game 3 of the series between the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes. The series has been full of physicality and goal scoring, but from the wrong side of the ice.
The Hurricanes have a commanding 2-0 lead so far in the series, putting up 5 goals a game against Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark, who is sitting at a meager .860 save percentage this series. Ullmark was the slight better of the B's two goalies between him and Swayman, and was given the nod for the series earlier this week in a move Bruce Cassidy may be regretting so far. The Bruins attack has not done much to help him out either, losing the battle on penalties in Game 2 13-8, and in Game 1 4-3. The Hurricanes were able to score 2 power play goals in Game 2 on their way to a second dominant performance.
The good news is the Bruins come back to the Garden for Games 3 and 4. There is no excuse for the Bruins to come out as flat as they did in PNC Arena, they have a clean bill of health and after being embarrassed two games in a row should come out looking for a fight.
The biggest difference in the series could be made by David Pastrnak. So far Pasta has been dead quiet aside from his hit on Hurricanes goalie Antti Raanta in Game 2 which caused the netminder to leave the game and be questionable for tonight's game. Pastrnak has combined for 37 and a half minutes in the two games with 13 shots on goal and nothing to show for it. Bergeron's 2 goals in Game 2 are the only points put up by the Bruins starting forwards, a line that Boston counts on to set the tone for scoring.
So Game 3 starts tonight and one thing is for sure, TD Garden will be booming. The Bruins have had disappointing exits in the playoffs each of the last three years, but have managed to at least win one round. In 2020 they even beat the Hurricanes in the first round and in 2019 they bet them to make the Stanley Cup final. Each time the B's meet the Hurricanes the series seems to get more and more physical and with the Raanta hit on Wednesday this series seems to be ramping up exponentially with each game.
Expect fireworks tonight when the B's meet the Canes in the Garden in a must-win game for the home team.
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Make sure to stay tuned as we continue coverage of the Boston Bruins and the NHL Playoffs all the way through to the Stanley Cup Finals.
-Z.D.
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