Hurricanes vs Bruins : The Carolina Hurricanes will attempt to play both ends of the “rest versus rust” spectrum in consecutive series, hoping to follow up their sweep of the Islanders by punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins. The Bruins reeled off three consecutive wins against the Blue Jackets to overcome a 2-1 series deficit and take down Columbus in six games. Below is a look at how each of the major units for each team stacks up against the group they will be facing.
Canes Attack vs. Bruins Defense
It´s a time for the Eastern Conference final. It’ll be the Boston Bruins vs Carolina Hurricanes. in a matchup not expected by many hockey fans. Not only is it a reality, but it’s also about the dream for one team. Both teams are four games away from a berth in the Stanley Cup Final. It has come down to just two teams from the 16-team Eastern Conference. Here’s a look at it in our series preview.
Boston Bruins vs Carolina Hurricanes Series Preview
Battle Of The Experience Edges
At first glance, Boston should have more experience. However, this is the furthest they’ve been in six years. The Hurricanes on the other side haven’t made it to the playoffs for 10 straight years. They have returned to the Eastern Conference final in their first post-season appearance in a decade. The Hurricanes ended up getting swept in four games by the Pittsburgh Penguins in that round.
In the second round in 2009, the Hurricanes beat the Bruins. Only David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, and Zdeno Chara remember the moment when Scott Walker broke the Bruins hearts in overtime of Game 7 at TD Garden. Tuukka Rask was at the bench that night. No current player on the Hurricanes team remembers that night. Well, of course, current Head coach Rod Brind’Amour does.
It’s no surprise that a team from the Atlantic Division is in the Eastern Conference Finals, though not many thought it would be the Bruins. Writers and fans who favor analytics raved about the Carolina Hurricanes for years. Yet, even the most devout fans have to be surprised with this year’s team.
We predicted Boston would lose to Toronto. We predicted they would lose to Columbus. Both predictions were incorrect, and it’s safe to say that we were wrong to doubt them. The same can be said about Carolina, who defeated both Washington and New York despite our doubts. The team we predict to lose this series might as well consider their ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals booked.
This is Boston’s first trip to the Conference Finals since 2013. The core of that team is mostly still in tact. On the other side, this is Carolina’s first trip to the postseason AND the Conference Finals since 2009. Needless to say, this year’s squad is much different from 10 years ago. It’s a series of veterans versus the fresh faces. Who will come out ahead?
Maybe the timing is right for the Carolina Hurricanes.
The team that knocked out the defending Stanley Cup champions in the playoffs has a decent track record since 2013. The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the 2011-12 winners in the Los Angeles Kings in the 2013 West final and then went on to win the championship.
Stanley Cup playoffs conference finals schedule and TV info
The Kings returned the favour to eliminate Chicago in a conference final rematch the following spring. Last year, the Washington Capitals took care of the defending-champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round and then outlasted the competition to win the Stanley Cup.
The Hurricanes defeated the Capitals in the first round this spring, and here they are in the East final. Could Don Cherry's "bunch of jerks" continue this trend? Or will it be the Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues or San Jose Sharks?
Here is a glance at the conference-final matchups in the East and West:
Boston Bruins vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Regular-season records:
Boston 49-24-9 (107 points)
Carolina 46-29-7 (99 points)
Season series: Bruins won 2-1-0 (Hurricanes 1-1-1)
Oct. 30 @ Carolina — Bruins 3-2
Dec. 23 @ Carolina — Hurricanes 5-3
Mar. 5 @ Boston — Bruins 4-3 (OT)
The skinny: The Bruins and Hurricanes meet for the fifth time in the playoffs and third time since the old Whalers franchise moved from Hartford down to Carolina in 1997. The Bruins hold a 3-1 edge.
