Stanley Cup Playoff Preview - Boston vs. Carolina
BOSTON BRUINS (1st seed, East)
REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 53-19-10
2009 PLAYOFFS: Defeated Montreal 4-0 in conference quarterfinals
The Boston Bruins are heading into the second round of the postseason with a full head of steam.
Not only is the club coming off its best regular season in decades, but the Bruins were also dominant in making quick work of the rival Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
The B's swept Montreal in four games during the opening round and outscored the hated Habs by a 17-6 margin in the lopsided series.
Boston made a huge leap forward during the 2008-09 regular season, as it went from the East's eighth-seeded club last year to the current No. 1 team in the conference.
The Bruins recorded 116 points this season -- a 22-point improvement from last year -- to ensure themselves home-ice advantage through the conference playoffs. It marks the highest point total for the Original Six franchise since the Bobby Orr-led Bruins posted 119 in 1971-72. Interestingly enough, that was the last time Boston won a Stanley Cup championship.
Boston's improvement came mostly from within, as the team continued to develop under the system set in place by head coach Claude Julien, who is in his second season behind the Bruins bench.
Under Julien, the Bruins are a constantly improving club that boasts a balanced offensive attack as well as a top-to-bottom commitment to team defense.
Boston scored 270 goals this year -- a big jump from the 212 markers it had in 2007-08. The Bruins also allowed 25 fewer goals this season, surrendering an NHL-best total of 190.
The Bruins had 18 different players register a point in the opening round against Montreal. Even goaltender Tim Thomas got in on the act with an assist.
Speaking of Thomas, the 35-year-old netminder is coming off the best season of his NHL career and carried that success into the postseason. Thomas, a finalist for this year's Vezina Trophy, led the league with career bests in both goals against average (2.10) and save percentage (.933). He also posted career-highs in wins (36) and shutouts (5).
In four games against Montreal, Thomas posted a 1.50 GAA and .946 save percentage.
Often seen clearing space in front of Thomas is mammoth defenseman Zdeno Chara, who, at 6-foot-9, is one of the NHL's most imposing figures. Chara is a finalist for the Norris Trophy this year after posting 19 goals and 50 points from the blue line.
Chara had a goal and an assist against the Habs in Round 1, while Dennis Wideman led all Boston blueliners in points with four assists.
While Chara and Wideman provide most of the offense from the back end, Boston also boasts a great deal of depth on the blue line with a defensive corps that also includes stalwarts such as Steve Montador, Aaron Ward and Mark Stuart.
Leading the way on offense in the opening round for Boston was Michael Ryder, who tied Phil Kessel for the team lead with four goals while also adding a club-best seven points. Kessel was right behind Ryder with six points in the series.
Marc Savard, who led Boston with 88 points during the regular season, added two goals and three assists against the Habs. Fellow centerman David Krejci also had five points on two goals and three helpers.
Providing both offense and toughness up front for Boston is winger Milan Lucic, who recorded three assists and 31 penalty minutes in the four games against Montreal.
Mark Recchi, who came over from Tampa Bay at the trade deadline, had just one assist in the opening round and Boston will seek an improved offensive effort from the veteran in the conference semis.
Boston scored on a quarter of its opportunities with the man advantage in the opening round, converting on 4-of-16 power-play chances against the Habs. The Bruins penalty kill against Montreal was even more impressive, as Boston was a perfect 8-for-8 against the Canadiens' power-play unit.
CAROLINA HURRICANES (6th seed, East)
REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 45-30-7
2009 PLAYOFFS: Defeated New Jersey 4-3 in conference quarterfinals
(Sports Network) - While the Bruins seemed to exert little effort in their series win over Montreal, the Hurricanes were caught up in a dogfight with New Jersey in the Eastern Conference quarters.
Carolina and the Devils went the distance in their opening round series and the Hurricanes needed a late comeback in Game 7 to set up this matchup with Boston.
The Hurricanes scored twice in the final 80 seconds of the deciding game against third-seeded New Jersey, tying the contest on a goal by Jussi Jokinen before Eric Staal recorded the game-winner with 32 seconds left in the third.
The series against New Jersey marked the first appearance in the playoffs for Carolina since winning the franchise's first-ever Stanley Cup title in 2006.
Just like three years ago, the Hurricanes are relying on a stingy goaltending from Cam Ward to get the job done. Ward, the Conn Smythe winner in '06, picked up where he had left off in the playoffs, posting a 2.11 GAA and .938 save percentage while starting all seven games against the Devils.
The 25-year-old Ward was also coming off the best regular season of his young career, as he set career bests in 2008-09 with 39 wins, six shutouts, a 2.44 GAA and .916 save percentage.
While Carolina relies on Ward to keep pucks from entering the net, the club expects Staal to put them in the cage at the other end of the ice. Staal, who led the 'Canes with 40 goals during the regular season, scored five times against the Devils to tie him with Washington's Alexander Semin for the most goals in the opening round.
Staal had seven total points in the conference quarters, tying him with Chad LaRose (2 goals, 5 assists) and Ray Whitney (3g, 4a) for the team lead. Jokinen also turned in a productive series with three goals and one helper.
The Hurricanes hope captain Rod Brind'Amour will rebound from a poor series against the Devils. The veteran centerman failed to register a point and was a minus-one over the span of seven games. Brind'Amour had 12 goals and 18 points for Carolina during the team's Cup run of three years ago.
Carolina may lack a great all-around defenseman like Chara, but the 'Canes are able to generate quite a bit of offense from the blue line. The club boasted four rearguards with three or more points in the New Jersey series. Tim Gleason (1g, 3a) and Joni Pitkanen (4a) led the way with four points apiece, while Joe Corvo and Dennis Seidenberg added three points each.
The Hurricanes struggled on the power play in the opening round, as they converted on just 2-of-29 chances with the man advantage. However, Carolina excelled on the penalty kill against the Devils, surrendering just three goals on New Jersey's 27 power plays.
MATCHUP
Boston has a great deal going for it in this matchup, including the fact that the Bruins are undefeated all-time against the Hurricanes in the postseason.
The Bruins have faced the Carolina/Hartford franchise three times in the playoffs and have won 12 out of 19 postseason contests in the series.
This will be just the second time the teams are meeting in the playoffs since the club moved to Carolina prior to the 1997-98 campaign. Boston ousted the Hurricanes in six games during the opening round of the 1999 playoffs.
Boston also dominated the regular season series against the 'Canes this year, as it took all four meetings and outscored Carolina by an 18-6 margin in the process.
Krejci was a beast against the Hurricanes during the regular season, posting seven points (3g, 4a) and a plus-seven rating in the four matchups.
Thomas also gave Carolina's offense fits as he went 3-0 with a 1.33 GAA against the 'Canes. On the other hand, Ward was 0-4 with a 3.90 GAA against Boston.
The Bruins appear to be the much deeper team in this series, as the club boasts a balanced squad with offensive firepower, steady defense and a top- notch goaltender. Because of that, Boston will pose a much greater threat to the Hurricanes than New Jersey did and the B's should use that superiority to record another quick series win.
Predicted outcome: Bruins in 5
BOSTON BRUINS (1st seed, East)
REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 53-19-10
2009 PLAYOFFS: Defeated Montreal 4-0 in conference quarterfinals
The Boston Bruins are heading into the second round of the postseason with a full head of steam.
Not only is the club coming off its best regular season in decades, but the Bruins were also dominant in making quick work of the rival Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
The B's swept Montreal in four games during the opening round and outscored the hated Habs by a 17-6 margin in the lopsided series.
Boston made a huge leap forward during the 2008-09 regular season, as it went from the East's eighth-seeded club last year to the current No. 1 team in the conference.
The Bruins recorded 116 points this season -- a 22-point improvement from last year -- to ensure themselves home-ice advantage through the conference playoffs. It marks the highest point total for the Original Six franchise since the Bobby Orr-led Bruins posted 119 in 1971-72. Interestingly enough, that was the last time Boston won a Stanley Cup championship.
Boston's improvement came mostly from within, as the team continued to develop under the system set in place by head coach Claude Julien, who is in his second season behind the Bruins bench.
Under Julien, the Bruins are a constantly improving club that boasts a balanced offensive attack as well as a top-to-bottom commitment to team defense.
Boston scored 270 goals this year -- a big jump from the 212 markers it had in 2007-08. The Bruins also allowed 25 fewer goals this season, surrendering an NHL-best total of 190.
The Bruins had 18 different players register a point in the opening round against Montreal. Even goaltender Tim Thomas got in on the act with an assist.
Speaking of Thomas, the 35-year-old netminder is coming off the best season of his NHL career and carried that success into the postseason. Thomas, a finalist for this year's Vezina Trophy, led the league with career bests in both goals against average (2.10) and save percentage (.933). He also posted career-highs in wins (36) and shutouts (5).
In four games against Montreal, Thomas posted a 1.50 GAA and .946 save percentage.
Often seen clearing space in front of Thomas is mammoth defenseman Zdeno Chara, who, at 6-foot-9, is one of the NHL's most imposing figures. Chara is a finalist for the Norris Trophy this year after posting 19 goals and 50 points from the blue line.
Chara had a goal and an assist against the Habs in Round 1, while Dennis Wideman led all Boston blueliners in points with four assists.
While Chara and Wideman provide most of the offense from the back end, Boston also boasts a great deal of depth on the blue line with a defensive corps that also includes stalwarts such as Steve Montador, Aaron Ward and Mark Stuart.
Leading the way on offense in the opening round for Boston was Michael Ryder, who tied Phil Kessel for the team lead with four goals while also adding a club-best seven points. Kessel was right behind Ryder with six points in the series.
Marc Savard, who led Boston with 88 points during the regular season, added two goals and three assists against the Habs. Fellow centerman David Krejci also had five points on two goals and three helpers.
Providing both offense and toughness up front for Boston is winger Milan Lucic, who recorded three assists and 31 penalty minutes in the four games against Montreal.
Mark Recchi, who came over from Tampa Bay at the trade deadline, had just one assist in the opening round and Boston will seek an improved offensive effort from the veteran in the conference semis.
Boston scored on a quarter of its opportunities with the man advantage in the opening round, converting on 4-of-16 power-play chances against the Habs. The Bruins penalty kill against Montreal was even more impressive, as Boston was a perfect 8-for-8 against the Canadiens' power-play unit.
CAROLINA HURRICANES (6th seed, East)
REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 45-30-7
2009 PLAYOFFS: Defeated New Jersey 4-3 in conference quarterfinals
(Sports Network) - While the Bruins seemed to exert little effort in their series win over Montreal, the Hurricanes were caught up in a dogfight with New Jersey in the Eastern Conference quarters.
Carolina and the Devils went the distance in their opening round series and the Hurricanes needed a late comeback in Game 7 to set up this matchup with Boston.
The Hurricanes scored twice in the final 80 seconds of the deciding game against third-seeded New Jersey, tying the contest on a goal by Jussi Jokinen before Eric Staal recorded the game-winner with 32 seconds left in the third.
The series against New Jersey marked the first appearance in the playoffs for Carolina since winning the franchise's first-ever Stanley Cup title in 2006.
Just like three years ago, the Hurricanes are relying on a stingy goaltending from Cam Ward to get the job done. Ward, the Conn Smythe winner in '06, picked up where he had left off in the playoffs, posting a 2.11 GAA and .938 save percentage while starting all seven games against the Devils.
The 25-year-old Ward was also coming off the best regular season of his young career, as he set career bests in 2008-09 with 39 wins, six shutouts, a 2.44 GAA and .916 save percentage.
While Carolina relies on Ward to keep pucks from entering the net, the club expects Staal to put them in the cage at the other end of the ice. Staal, who led the 'Canes with 40 goals during the regular season, scored five times against the Devils to tie him with Washington's Alexander Semin for the most goals in the opening round.
Staal had seven total points in the conference quarters, tying him with Chad LaRose (2 goals, 5 assists) and Ray Whitney (3g, 4a) for the team lead. Jokinen also turned in a productive series with three goals and one helper.
The Hurricanes hope captain Rod Brind'Amour will rebound from a poor series against the Devils. The veteran centerman failed to register a point and was a minus-one over the span of seven games. Brind'Amour had 12 goals and 18 points for Carolina during the team's Cup run of three years ago.
Carolina may lack a great all-around defenseman like Chara, but the 'Canes are able to generate quite a bit of offense from the blue line. The club boasted four rearguards with three or more points in the New Jersey series. Tim Gleason (1g, 3a) and Joni Pitkanen (4a) led the way with four points apiece, while Joe Corvo and Dennis Seidenberg added three points each.
The Hurricanes struggled on the power play in the opening round, as they converted on just 2-of-29 chances with the man advantage. However, Carolina excelled on the penalty kill against the Devils, surrendering just three goals on New Jersey's 27 power plays.
MATCHUP
Boston has a great deal going for it in this matchup, including the fact that the Bruins are undefeated all-time against the Hurricanes in the postseason.
The Bruins have faced the Carolina/Hartford franchise three times in the playoffs and have won 12 out of 19 postseason contests in the series.
This will be just the second time the teams are meeting in the playoffs since the club moved to Carolina prior to the 1997-98 campaign. Boston ousted the Hurricanes in six games during the opening round of the 1999 playoffs.
Boston also dominated the regular season series against the 'Canes this year, as it took all four meetings and outscored Carolina by an 18-6 margin in the process.
Krejci was a beast against the Hurricanes during the regular season, posting seven points (3g, 4a) and a plus-seven rating in the four matchups.
Thomas also gave Carolina's offense fits as he went 3-0 with a 1.33 GAA against the 'Canes. On the other hand, Ward was 0-4 with a 3.90 GAA against Boston.
The Bruins appear to be the much deeper team in this series, as the club boasts a balanced squad with offensive firepower, steady defense and a top- notch goaltender. Because of that, Boston will pose a much greater threat to the Hurricanes than New Jersey did and the B's should use that superiority to record another quick series win.
Predicted outcome: Bruins in 5
