Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 6-2 win over the Hurricanes in Game 2, with BSJ insight and analysis:
Box Score
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Don Sweeney looks like a genius: Remember the good ol' days back in early March when Ryan Donato was lighting up the box score in Minnesota? Seems like a distant memory at this point, because Don Sweeney’s deadline acquisitions in Charlie Coyle and Marcus Johansson have continued to impose their will against the competition. Boston’s third line was fantastic once again in Game 2, combining for seven points in what was a convincing 6-2 victory for the B’s on Sunday afternoon. Even off the stat sheet, both Coyle and Johansson dictated puck possession thanks to some smooth skating and — in Coyle’s case — creating space in high-danger areas by using his frame to drag skaters along with him.
While only Heinen lit the lamp — off an odd-man rush with Patrice Bergeron at 4:32 in the second — that third line has served as far more than just another bottom-six option this postseason — as the Johansson-Coyle-Heinen line generated a 63.64 Corsi For Percentage and were out for a pair of 5v5 goals scored. During this Bruins’ Cup run, both Coyle and Johansson have combined for nine goals, 12 goals and 21 total points — to go along with 25 combined individual high-danger scoring chances. What a pair of pick-ups.
Canes might want to make a switch in net: Petr Mrazek was far from the only problem on the evening for the Hurricanes, but he certainly didn’t help their cause in what was a miserable night for Rod Brind’Amour’s team.
With a 19-of-25 showing in net, Mrazek’s save percentage this postseason sits at .894 over 11 games — with Matt Grzelcyk’s opening tally at 15:22 standing as one play that he’d like to get back.
While Mrazek helped the Canes outlast the Capitals in a seven-game series last month, his numbers have been a bit suspect when it comes to opposing shot quantity and quality, with the netminder entering Game 2 with a goals saved above average mark of -0.23. In other words, he’s allowing more goals than an average netminder would during the postseason.
Perhaps
Curtis McElhinney
and his 1.97 goals allowed above average would be a better solution. At this point, what does Carolina have to lose?
Carolina had no answer in O-zone:
The Bruins took care of business down one end of the ice against Mrazek, with five different players lighting the lamp for Boston in a good old butt whipping. But don’t let the team’s offensive outburst distract from what was a dominant defensive effort against a Hurricanes team that has regularly dominated at 5v5 play.
Even if Boston’s top line only combined for a pair of assists in the victory, it more than did its job in the D zone. In the 6:22 of 5v5 TOI in which Bergeron matched up against Carolina’s top center in
Sebastian Aho
, Boston had a 5-0 edge in shot attempts and 4-0 advantage in shots on goal. Domination. So long as Boston continues to get scoring throughout the lineup — with 11 different players recording a point in Sunday’s win — Boston can afford to have Bergeron and Co. focus most of their efforts on shutting down the opposition. If Aho can’t get going, the Canes are in trouble.
FIVE UP
Matt Grzelcyk:
After getting trucked over by
Micheal Ferland
in the opening minutes of the night, the Charlestown native rebounded by recording his first multi-goal game as a member of the Bruins. While his first tally squeaked past Mrazek, there was no doubting the second — with Grzelcyk flipping one past Mrazek off a backhand shot as Coyle cleared space in front. Add some extended reps (18:21 of ice time, including 2:28 of shorthanded TOI), and it was a pretty special night for the local kid.
Torey Krug:
Bruins defensemen finished the night with three goals and six total points on the night — with Krug leading the way with three helpers. Limited to just 16:29 of ice time, Krug still matched his previous postseason high in assists — with two of the apples coming on the power play, which went 2-for-2 on the night. Krug is one of just five Bruins defensemen to record multiple three-assist games in the postseason, joining
Ray Bourque, Bobby Orr, Brad Park
and
Carol Vadnais
.
Penalty kill:
After firing eight shots on goal against
Tuukka Rask
in Game 1, Carolina’s power play stalled on Sunday — failing to cash in on all four of its opportunities while landing five shots on goal in eight minutes of 5v4 TOI. Through 13 playoff games, Carolina’s power play now stands at 11.1 percent — good for 14th among all playoff clubs.
Connor Clifton:
Pretty good night to tally your first career NHL goal, eh? The Bruins might miss
Kevan Miller
, but man, Clifton (19:28 TOI, on ice for three goals scored) has been a revelation.
Third Line:
Another dominant showing from the Johansson-Coyle-Heinen line, which only surrendered one shot on goal to the Hurricanes in 11:25 of 5v5 TOI. In 59:43 of 5v5 TOI so far this postseason, that trio has been out on the ice for five goals for — and just the one tally against. The production from that group is causing a whole slew of problems for the opposition — and I’m not sure Carolina has the personnel in its bottom six to answer.
ONE DOWN
Carolina’s PK:
An 0-for-2 showing from the Canes’ penalty kill on Sunday — not what you want to see from a group that’s matched up against a Bruins’ man advantage cashing in on 33.3 percent of all of its opportunities.
TURNING POINT
For most of the first period, Carolina went toe to toe with the Bruins — landing 20 hits in what was a physical stanza of hockey. But when the Canes needed a save, Mrazek was not able to stop Grzelcyk’s snapshot that snuck through his armpit — opening the floodgates on the night.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Sweet finish from Grzelcyk — and great job of Coyle to clear space in front.
PARTING THOUGHT
How do you outdo having
Ray Bourque
in the building for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final? Well …
Meanwhile,
Brad Marchand
continues to be the best pest in the NHL:
LOOKING AHEAD
The Eastern Conference Final will now head south, with Game 3 set to take place on Tuesday night down at PNC Arena in Raleigh. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m.
