Game On – Hurricanes at Bruins - Series Preview
Will the Boston Bruins continue their 2008-09 dominance over the Carolina Hurricanes in their initial game of their Easter Conference Semi-final series tonight? Boston outscored the Canes 18-6 in 4 blowouts. The Bruins had the best record in the East basically all season and finished with 116 pts with 53- 19-10. They had the best defense in the league giving up only 196 goals and scored the 2nd most in the league with 274 (Det was first). However that was then and this is now. The Canes finished with a 12-3-2 record to get into the 6th spot in the Eastern Conference. They outlasted a very good New Jersey team in dramatic fashion 4-3. It was a well played series that came down to Carolina tying game 7 in the final moments and then Eric Staal coming through in the clutch with 31 seconds left to win the series. The Bruins throughly dominated the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 and outscored them 17-5.
This series also has some history as the Hartford Whalers played the Bruins in 1990 and 1991 with Boston winning two tightly contested series. After the Whale moved to North Carolina in 1997 they played another series vs Boston, losing 4-2. Ironically the Canes were coached by new/old coach Paul Maruice. Maurice took over the Canes in December and they looked dead. Maurice along with assistant coach Ron Francis helped the Canes realize that if they were going to get back to the playoffs, they would need to be better defensively. Maurice also challenged Cam Ward, the former Conn Smyhe winner to play better. Ward after struggling early in the season, responded and played his best hockey since 2006 when the Canes won the Cup over the Oilers He finished with a GAA of 2.44, 39 wins and save percentage of .916. His counterpart, Tim Thomas has been outstanding all season long with a GAA of 2.10 and a save percentage of .933. Thomas is a finalist for the Vezina trophy, handed to the top goalie in the NHL and I believe he will win it, rightly so. Both have played even better in the playoffs, Thomas has a GAA of 1.50 and save percentage of .946. Ward has a GAA of 2.11 with a save percentage of .933. This is the most tightly contested matchup in the series. I will say that this is even. Both are capable goalies and can steal a game at any time.
Offensively the Bruins have more depth up front over the Canes. They had 7 guys score more than 20 this year and their best overall talent on offense, Marc Savard who had 88 pts. He is supported by David Krejci 73 pts, Phil Kessel, 36 goals and Michael Ryder. 27 goals. Also offensive minded defensemen in Zedeno Chara 19 goals, 50 pts and Dennis Wideman 13 goals and 50 pts, make this a very very potent offense to stop for the Canes. Ryder and Kessel both had outstanding offensive series vs Montreal as well. The Bruins have a phenomenal power play and the Canes would be wise to stay of of the box as much as possible against this very explosive unit.
The Canes are led by superstar Eric Staal, 40 goals, 75 pts, linemate Ray “the Wizard” Whitney, 24 goals and 77 pts, Tuomo Ruutu, 26 goals 54 pts and the very underrated Chad Larose, who scored 19 goals but in the playoffs he has move up to Eric Staals line and really played well contributing 7 pts in 7 games. Antone Babchuck scored 16 goals from the point and along with Joni Pitkanen, add to the power play. Jussi Jokinen as a role player added 4 pts in the playoffs but one was a game winner with .03 seconds left in game 4 and then scored the game typing goal in game 7 as it appeared the Devils were going to win the series.
Coaching, I will say is pretty even, with a slight edge to Boston. Both teams have been well prepared and can play both styles of play, either wide open or a 1-0 game. Claude Julien has done stupendous job and should win the coach of the year I do believe. In 2 years he has taken a bad soft team and made them a Stanley Cup contender. Physically the Bruins are tougher and led by overall power winger in Milan Lucic (17 goals and 136 PIMS) can be very intimidating for an opponent. Tim Gleason who had a wonderful series vs NJ is the Canes toughest player.
My overall prediction for this series is Boston in 6 games. Yes I am a huge Hurricanes fan and hope they win, I won't lie, but I have also followed the B's all season long (I like them as 2nd fav) and this team is very very resilient team. They are just deeper in all areas with the exception of goaltending. If Cam Ward stands on his head, then the Canes have a punchers chance. I just hope for all hockey fans that we are entertained and see at least one overtime game and lots of close matchups. I do believe that will be the case as these teams will be well prepared and both of them do not ever quit. I hope they you have as much fun reading this as I do writing this.
No comments:
Post a Comment