Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour on Game 6 against Bruins: 'This is as big a game as we've had all year'
Posted May 12, 2022 12:51 p.m. EDT
Updated May 12, 2022 1:26 p.m. EDT
Boston — The Carolina Hurricanes are a win away from advancing to the second round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Hurricanes lead the Boston Bruins 3-2 ahead of Game 6 on Thursday night at TD Garden in Boston. The home team has won every game so far in the first-round series.
“We want to win every game we play,” Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour said. “Obviously, this is as big a game as we’ve had all year.”
Brind'Amour does not plan any lineup changes for Thursday night’s game, which means Antti Raanta is expected to start in goal.
Ahead of Game 6 on Thursday, defenseman Ian Cole discussed the importance of closing out the series. Cole recalled the 2007 NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey tournament when his Notre Dame team got knocked out in a one-and-done game against Michigan State.
“A series is, I think, a really great way to figure out who the better team is,” Cole said. “I think, usually, the better team comes out on top.
“When it's a one-and-done situation, anything can happen. And, I think that we believe were the better team, and you know we want to win this game [Thursday night], and not give that Game 7 crapshoot an opportunity to take place.”
It is important for the Hurricanes to stay out of the penalty box. The Hurricanes have outscored the Bruins 12-6 when playing at even strength this series.
Center Martin Necas said he plans to eat lunch, stretch his legs, call his friends, “chill” and take a nap before Thursday night’s game.
“The routine is basically all season long the same thing, so you’re kind of used to doing the same thing all the time,” Necas said.
Brind'Amour said he plans to get food and “wait” for Thursday night’s game.
“That’s the one part of this job I don’t like is the downtime in between … just waiting,” Brind'Amour said. “The afternoon games are great. [I] love those. Just get ‘em on.”
The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET Thursday.
