TD Gardens in Boston was the scene for game two of the Eastern Conference finals between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes, with Boston having taken the first game in this best of seven series.
From the off, it was evident this was going to be a physical game, Carolina making their presence felt on the ice with some big, solid hits. Boston soon fell into the tempo of the game, and literally put their shoulders in to the job to hit back.
Just over half way through the first period, Andrei Svechnikov was making his way down the wing but was tripped by Zdeno Chara. Chara went to the penalty box, and with the Hurricanes on the powerplay, the visitors were moving the puck around the Boston zone. Despite the puck not leaving the Boston zone for the first minute of the penalty, the Hurricanes never looked dangerous, and only managed one shot on goal before the Bruins knocked it out and went on a short handed rush – although this didn’t result in anything. Chara returned to the ice with the score still 0-0.
Matt Grzelcyk opened the scoring at 16:12 after Charlie Coyle dug the puck out of the corner to Marcus Johansson in centre. Johansson’s pass to Grezlcyk was fired at Petr Mrazek, and the puck slipped out from under Mrazek’s arm and just had enough momentum to carry it across the goal line.
With less than two left in the first period, Justin Williams tripped Danton Heinen giving the Bruins a powerplay. Patrice Bergeron took the face off, sending the puck back to Tory Krug who passed to David Pastrnak. Pastrnak shot from range, but it was knocked back by Mrazek with Jake DeBrusk there to pick up the rebound, although Mrazek knocked back the second shot too. DeBrusk though, didn’t give in, and picked up the rebound once more, showing delicate patience as he managed to move the puck around and flick it over the outstretched netminder’s leg, bringing the score to 2-0 just six seconds into the powerplay.
After the second period began, the Hurricanes were still playing a fast and physical game, but still failing to look dangerous, even when given another powerplay early in the period after Bergeron tripped Lucas Wallmark.
After Bergeron returned to the ice, Connor Clifton picked up the puck by the centre line, taking it on a run deep into the Hurricanes zone, passing back to Heinen, who slipped the puck on to Johansson. Johansson held the puck, pulling Mrazek towards him, giving Clifton time to get into space on the far side of the goal. Despite the pass from Johansson taking a deflection, Clifton still picked up the puck and was presented with the open goal, leaving him time to knock it in, putting the home side three goals in the lead.
At almost exactly halfway through the game though, something changed and the Hurricanes started to look dangerous, even generating some shots on goal after Boston gave up another penalty – Chris Wagner holding Justin Williams.
Minutes later though, and Boston had a powerplay of their own after Williams was holding Brad Marchand following a small disagreement between the two players. Krug sent a long pass out of the Bruins zone to Coyle, Coyle headed fast at the goal, taking the defence with him and slipped a pass to Grzelcyk following down the slot. Grzelcyk held the puck until he saw a nice gap and then put the puck through it, bringing the score to 4-0 in time for the second break.
Just over a minute after the break, Krug earned another assist with David Krejci after Krug shot it in from the point and Krejci helped Grzelcyk dig it out from the scrabbling efforts of Mrazek, with Grezlcyk managing to knock the puck over the line.
Bergeron gave up another penalty (tripping Williams), and while Carolina continued to look dangerous, they couldn’t convert.
Coyle and Bergeron helped Heinen to make it 6-0 a short while later, and had the fans on their feet chanting “We want the cup!”.
With just over eight minutes left in the game, Williams finally managed to break through for the Hurricanes, the dismay at losing the shut out on Tuukka Rask’s face showing through his mask. Sebastian and Justin Faulk earning assists on the goal.
Teuvo Teravainen earned an unassisted goal at 17:32 with Rask well out of his crease trying to clear the puck but sending it right in to Teravainen’s path, bringing the game to an end 6-2 to the home side.
“I think we were just managing the puck well early,” said Grzelcyk, “obviously it was nice to get a few goals in early in the first period, I think it kind of forced them to play more aggressive after that, you know, we played well defensively, we were able to capitalise on opportunities in the second and third.
Mrazek stopped just 17 shots out of the 23 he faced. Rask faced 25, stopping 23.
Game three will be played on Tuesday evening at the PNC Arena.
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