In Raleigh, the Boston Bruins could not continue the the boost they got from their Game 6 win on Thursday on home ice.
On Saturday, May Domi hot for his first two goals of the playoffs, and the Carolina Hurricanes downed the Bruins, 3-2, in Game 7.
“Our top guys played really noticeably well,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It was the right way. Everything was right, from the start to the last 20 seconds when it got a little hairy. A solid, solid game.”
Antti Raanta made 27 saves in the Hurricanes win.
“When one of the best goalies in the League goes down with an injury, obviously it’s going to sting a little bit, but like we’ve been playing the whole year, the team in front of me is doing a great job,” Raanta said. “I just tried to do my job and help the guys to get the win.”
Carolina now awaits the start of their second round series.
Teuvo Teravainen scored in the opening period for a 1-0 lad to Carolina.
“Everyone was engaged, involved, winning battles, doing whatever they could to chip in for a win,” Carolina’s Jordan Staal said. “Some big individual efforts. You need that as well, but everyone was involved. It was a big win.”
Domi scored his first of the game early in the middle frame to push the lead to 2-0.
Jake DeBrusk got Boston on the board less than two minutes later to cut the Carolina lead in half.
“We ended up having some breakdowns,” Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We pride ourselves in D-zone coverage, stuff we’ve done really well all year. Yeah, they make plays, but [it’s] more on us to get the job done defensively. That’s probably where I’m most disappointed that’s how it ends up.”
With the Bruins pressing, Domi scored midway through the second period for a 3-1 lead heading to the third period.
“At that point, you’re a shot away,” Boston’s Patrice Bergeron said. “I thought we got some jump out of it and took the momentum back. We had a couple good looks in the first as well. Those bounces, if they go your way, it’s a different game. It’s easy to say that now. Kudos to them. They played a great series, a great game.”
Carolina will play the winner of the New York Rangers/Pittsburgh Penguins first round series. Game 7 of that set is on Sunday.
David Pastrnak scored for the Bruins with an extra attacker to get within one goal, but the strike came with 22 seconds left on the clock in the third.
Boston ran out of time.
“Every year you go to the playoffs, you hope you make a long, deep run and you get a good opportunity to play for that Cup,” the Bruins’ Brad Marchand said. “We knew we were going to have our hands full with this team. I think it’s probably the toughest group to come out of the East. It always hurts, it always will.”
Jeremy Swayman made 29 saves in the Bruins loss.
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