Gold: Raanta gets the nod for Game 1 of Canes-Bruins
Posted May 1, 2022 12:04 p.m. EDT
Updated May 2, 2022 1:44 p.m. EDT
Raleigh, N.C. — For the 5th time in Carolina Hurricanes history – and the 3rd in the last four years – the Boston Bruins stand in the way of advancing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s a rivalry that dates back to the franchise’s roots in Hartford, but even without their shared New England residence this matchup would resonate based on playoff meetings.
The first two happened in a different lifetime, the first in 1998, with Boston winning in 6 games in the opening round. 11 years later, the Hurricanes stunned the Bruins in the conference semi finals on a Game 7 overtime rebound goal from Scott Walker.
It was the ultimate insult to injury for the Boston faithful as Walker would become notorious in Boston for more than just the goal.
The last two meetings have appeared one-sided. And, in terms of the scoreboard, there’s no denying that fact. In 2019, in the Eastern Conference Finals, Boston swept the Hurricanes in a series that might be remembered for Brad Marchand’s mocking of Canes captain Justin Williams.
But, that series might have gone in a different direction had the Canes finished the job in a Game 1 in which they held the lead in the 3rd period. Alas, they didn’t and the Bruins ultimately won the series thanks to a 7-1 edge in power play goals. The following season, in the Toronto bubble, it was a more evenly played series albeit with the same result. The Bruins advanced in five games.
Two years later, separated by a pandemic season in which the two teams never played, the Hurricanes got the better of the Bruins in a big way. Carolina swept the season series 3-0-0, outscoring Boston 15-1 (5-1 on the power play) in the process. Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrei Svechnikov combined for 16 points (6g, 10a) in the sweep while Frederik Andersen stopped 98 of the 99 shots he saw.
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour announced Antti Raanta will get the start at goalie for Game 1.
"He's been here all year and that's why we brought him in," Brind’Amour said. "If Fredi went down, he's the next guy there. He had a good year for us and that's pretty much it."
Carolina’s top goaltender is not expected back until the latter portion of this series, if that. Andersen still has not skated since suffering a lower body injury three weeks ago in Colorado forcing Brind’Amour to decide between veteran backup Raanta and precocious rookie Pyotr Kochetkov for Game 1.
In net for the Bruins will either be Linus Ullmark or Jeremy Swayman. Statistically speaking, there is little difference between the two as they’re both more than capable goaltenders backing up one of the best defensive teams in the league. Each has started 39 games this year with Ullmark having a slight edge in save percentage (.917 to .914) and Goals Saved Above Average (a metric that judges how many goals you prevent over an the NHL average) at 10.8.
The difference in this series is likely going to be determined down the middle. These are two of the best face off teams in the league. Boston was 3rd best this year at 54.2% with the Hurricanes next best at 53.9%. Patrice Bergeron was the best in the league in the circle, winning more than 900 draws and 61.9% overall. Jordan Staal was comfortably in the top 10 at 57.3%.
After Bergeron, Erik Haula (53.9%), Charlie Coyle (49.1%) and Thomas Nosek (53.8%) should line up behind Bergeron, while Vincent Trocheck (54.6), Sebastian Aho (52.4) and Jesperi Kotkaniemi (51.2) follow their captain.
The Bruins are still led by Bergeron, Brad Marchand (32 goals and 80 points in 70 games) and David Pastrnak, who led the team with 40 goals in 72 games this year. Jake DeBrusk went from asking for a trade to scoring 18 goals in his final 34 games. He ended the year with 25 goals and has been “a first line player every night” according to his head coach, Bruce Cassidy.
Maybe that’s what you get when you play with Bergeron and Marchand every night. Or, maybe Martin Necas should demand a trade.
Worth watching is that Necas has not practiced since the season finale. Brind'Amour called it rest, as Svechnikov and Max Domi were also on that same "rest" list. But, the Hurricanes have forward depth to cover the absense of Necas if he's unable to get to the post for the opener. That isn't to say that he's disposable. Martin has become one of the Canes' top penalty killing forwards, plays on the second power play unit and has game-changing speed and skill. Plus, paired with Kotkaniemi on a 4th linehe should pose problems for against bottom pair six forwards and the last two defensemen.
Series line: Carolina -115/Boston -105. Game 1: Carolina -120/Boston Even. O/U: 5.5 goals.
Game 1 is Monday at 7:00 with coverage starting on 99.9 the Fan at 6:00 with a special, 1-hour edition of Storm Watch w/Dennis Cox. All postseason games will be preceded by a 1-hour pregame show and the first three games are all scheduled for a 7:00 start. Game 2 will be Wednesday at PNC Arena with the series shifting to Boston for games 3 and 4, Friday and Sunday.
Sunday’s game is set for a 12:30 face off. If necessary, games 5-7 are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Follow the Canes Corner Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. There’s a new episode that drops the #MorningAfter every Hurricanes game.
