BSJ Game Report: Bruins 5, Hurricanes 2 - Shorthanded Bruins capitalize against undisciplined Canes, knot series at 2-2

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 5-2 win in Game 4, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES 

Shorthanded Bruins tie series at 2-2: Just ahead of puck drop, all of the momentum that Boston appeared to seize following Friday’s home victory over the Hurricanes appeared to dissipate — and for good reason. 

Already without Hampus Lindholm for the second-straight game, the B’s were dealt a devastating blow with Charlie McAvoy placed in COVID-19 protocols. Granted, the B’s have been adept all season long when it comes to trudging through adversity, but losing your top pairing and the transition talents both provide against a furious forechecking team like Carolina would seem to spell doom.

But once again, the Bruins took an early punch from the Hurricanes and delivered a wallop of a haymaker in response — taking their first lead of the evening just 44 seconds into the third period and holding on for an eventual 5-2 win in Game 4 at TD Garden. 

With Sunday’s victory, the Bruins and Hurricanes will return to PNC Arena for a pivotal Game 5 on Tuesday night with the series knotted at 2-2. 

Once again, Boston’s big guns delivered for Boston — with Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand (two goals, five points) and David Pastrnak all lighting the lamp in the victory. But following a familiar script from Friday night, just about every B’s player pulled on the rope in some capacity to help stymie a Hurricanes team that only managed to land 16 total shots on goal over the final two periods of play.

Granted, the Hurricanes deserve plenty of credit for this win, as they committed seven straight penalties at one point to make things easy for a B’s team in desperate need of a life ring — but Boston still managed to finally break through against an elite Carolina PK, with both Jake DeBrusk and Marchand burying chances on the man advantage.

The writing might have been on the wall for a long afternoon at TD Garden given McAvoy’s status, but Boston capitalized against an undisciplined, out-of-sync Carolina team. We suddenly have a series. 

Bruins still facing question marks on defense: The Bruins might be rolling going back down to North Carolina, but they still have a few things up in the air regarding their D corps.  Given that the NHL/NHLPA’s revised protocols earlier this season decreed that asymptomatic players do not need to be tested, it’s clear that McAvoy is clearly under the weather and showing symptoms. 

And per these guidelines, players in COVID-19 protocols must remain in isolation for at least five days — which would likely mean that McAvoy will also not be available for Game 5. Give plenty of credit to Boston’s defense for standing tall on Sunday, but this B’s team would obviously much rather have McAvoy anchoring that top pairing. 

However, there stands a chance that Lindholm could be in play for Tuesday night, with Cassidy noting that “he’s coming along.” Boston will take any and all good news at this point when it comes to this D corps. 

FIVE UP

Brad Marchand: A master-class performance from Marchand in this one. Five points and enough post-whistle antics to make Tony DeAngelo blow a gasket. A signature performance from a star winger who finally seems to have found his game once again. 

Bergeron Line: We’ll see what happens when this trio gets back down to Raleigh (with Rod Brind’Amour likely sticking the Staal line on them all night long), but this reunited top line has been consistently landing punches over these last few games. Boston’s best players are stepping up when they need it — with Boston outscoring Carolina, 4-0, in this unit’s 18:44 of 5v5 ice time since Game 2.

Jake DeBrusk: Very, very encouraging to see DeBeusk continue to be engaged and effective with netfront drives and a willingness to muck things up — even when he’s no longer on that top line. That late second-period goal finally stunted what momentum Carolina was generating. 

Clifton-Forbort pairing: Along with adding some expected physicality, this pairing was surprisingly crisp and effective with their breakout passes — limiting the amount of time that Boston was hemmed in its own zone. Clifton led all B’s blueliners in ice time today at 20:16. 

Penalty kill: Carolina’s power play seems to be in a rough state when it comes to unforced errors and entry issues, but the B’s penalty kill has also continued to do a good job at limiting the number of quality chances generated in front of Jeremy Swayman (24 saves).

ONE DOWN

Josh Brown: I will note, Brown did redeem himself a bit later in the game with some much-needed minutes in crunch time as Carolina made its final push. Still, the depth defenseman was exposed a bit earlier in the contest, especially when getting caught in a spin cycle on Jordan Staal’s second-period goal. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

LOOSE PUCKS

 Count Tony DeAngelo among the countless other NHLers who have simply lost it when going up against Brad Marchand. 

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will look to take their first lead of the series on Tuesday when they battle the Hurricanes down in Raleigh in Game 5. Puck drop from PNC Arena is set for 7 p.m.