RALLY, North Carolina (AP) – Twice before, the Carolina Hurricanes reached the playoffs only to see their ascent to a serious contender for the Stanley Cup, blocked by the Boston Bruins.
Two newcomers helped the Hurricanes finally overcome their bully in the playoffs – in match 7.
The mid-season acquisition of Max Domi scored twice in the second period, while Anti Raanta had 27 saves to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 on Saturday to win their playoff series in the first round.
Teuvo Teravainen also scored for the Hurricanes, who finally removed the team that defeated them in the 2019 Eastern Conference finals, then took a five-game streak from the first round of the Toronto Balloon a year later.
“It’s such a different feeling to get into it,” said Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour. “I think in the others, if we were going to win, you might be a little surprised.
“It simply came to our notice then. Our boys are mature. I think they felt that too. “
Carolina advanced to the second round to face the winner of Sunday’s Game 7 between the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
One thing is for sure: winning the title in the Metropolitan Division paved the way, securing an advantage on the home ice. It was a series in which none of the teams managed to win on the road, and in the end the Hurricanes received the last word, supported by another boisterous audience.
“Obviously we needed one on the road and we couldn’t do it,” said Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron.
Carolina held on after squandering a 2-0 lead in the series and then a failed performance in Thursday’s 6-game loss with a chance to move on.
“Game 7, game 4, 5, 6 – whatever it is, you progress, which is the best thing,” said defender Jakob Slavin.
Domi was an unlikely star in this one. Carolina acquired him before the March trading deadline and he rewarded them with his first career goals since the season. He also assisted on Teravainen’s goal with a perfect pass to the top of the fold for the first period.
“Obviously I was very lucky to come to such a team,” said Domi.
Then there was Raanta, who joined Frederic Andersen in reviewing the team’s goalkeeper position. But with Andersen’s injury at the end of the regular season, Raanta took the lead in the race, although he has never started a match after the season.
He was stable in the net again. His biggest stop came early with a full save to reject Taylor Hall near the left post with a 2 on 1 chance in the first period of the game with no result.
David Pastrnak scored one 21.7 seconds to go, with Boston pulling out Jeremy Swiman for the extra striker. From there, the Hurricanes had to endure an intense clock shift before they could celebrate.
“When I got the second one, it was probably the longest 20 seconds of my life for sure,” Raanta said.
Jake DeBrusk scored in the second period for the Bruins, while Swiman finished with 28 saves. But the Bruins found themselves catching up after Domi’s first goal, which caused him to skate on the left side to bury an attempt to divert Jordan Staal at 3:14 from the second.
Later, after DeBrusk beat Raanta from the top of the fold, Teravainen made a pass to Domi for a single shot. The puck passed Suyman in 10:33 of the second for a 3-1 lead and another goal that came a few feet from the crease.
“We are proud of the coverage of the D-zone, things we have done very well throughout the year,” said Boston coach Bruce Cassidy. “Two crashes that, yes, they made games, but more than us, so as not to do the work in defense – be in the right places, good sticks.”
SIX RIGHTS
The Hurricanes improved to 6-0 in Game 7 since the former Hartford Whalers moved to North Carolina in 1997. This includes the Stanley Cup final against Edmonton in 2006, as well as a second-round victory for Boston in 2009. – which came 13 years earlier in the day.
EARLY EXIT
The Bruins were in their sixth straight playoff. But this is the first time Boston has left without winning a series after falling in a six-game series from Ottawa in 2017.
BERGERON’S FUTURE
Bergeron, the longtime No. 1 center, could become an unlimited free agent after 18 seasons with the team. He declined to talk about a new contract during the year, creating an opportunity to leave or retire.
Then he wasn’t ready to think about what was next.
“It’s too fresh right now,” Bergeron said. “It simply came to our notice then. It was short, so obviously I’ll have to think about it. But I’m not there right now.
DUCK HOUSE
The Hurricanes had the largest domestic audience in the history of the franchise with a attendance of 19,513 people. This surpassed the previous estimate of 19,495 during the final victory in the second round of the New York Islanders in 2019.
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