Round 1: Storm Surge

cshea

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Games start to count for real tomorrow night as we begin with a rematch of last years ECF.

Carolina Lineup:

Svechnikov - Aho - Teravainen
Niederreiter - Trochek - Necas
Foegele - Staal - Williams
McGinn - Geekie - Martinook
Dzingel

Slavin - Vatanen
Skjei - Edmundson
Gardiner - Fleury

Mrazek
Reimer

They made a lot of blue line moves, and I think it is still their strength with full health. They are without Hamilton and Pesce on the back end, but Hamilton is with them and will play this series. As far as I can tell, Pesce is not in the bubble.

They are all about puck possession. Up front, they’be got a bit more scoring this season. The top line is up there as one of the best in the league. Svechnikov took a big step forward, putting up 61 points and 24 goals in 61 games. He had 5 points in the 3 games against NYR. Martin Necas is a rookie who has given them some more depth, and they added veteran Vinny Trochek at the deadline.

They are still a bit weak in net. Mrazek played 2 of the 3 games against the Rangers so I think he will be their starter tomorrow.

I think the Bruins are deeper and better but I expect a closer series this time.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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Well, prior to the round robin I was not nervous about whomever they played in round 1 ... now, I feel very different, although I am not sure that is 100% warranted.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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What do we know about having Home Ice in these series? Other than last change, is there a better locker room the 'Canes will have the first two games? Better located bench? I assume with all those games going on that teams have to totally empty the locker room after each game, yes?
 

RedOctober3829

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What do we know about having Home Ice in these series? Other than last change, is there a better locker room the 'Canes will have the first two games? Better located bench? I assume with all those games going on that teams have to totally empty the locker room after each game, yes?
I'm assuming home team in each game will get the Leafs locker room which is much nicer. Yes each team has to empty out the locker room after the game and they come in to clean them to COVID standards.
 

cshea

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What do we know about having Home Ice in these series? Other than last change, is there a better locker room the 'Canes will have the first two games? Better located bench? I assume with all those games going on that teams have to totally empty the locker room after each game, yes?
The Bruins have home ice this series.
 

TheRealness

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I expect a long series, but Carolina is going to struggle to keep the puck out of the net with two of their better defensemen injured, and inconsistency in net. Their forwards are very good, and can go line for line with the Bruins. The Aho line v. the Bergeron line is going to likely dictate the series. I am not particularly optimistic on the Coyle and Krejci lines, but I suppose they could balance it out. I expect the Aho line to outplay the Bergeron line this series, so without lines 2-4 contributing, it will likely be an early exit for the Bruins.

They need to be much much better than they were in the bubble "preseason" to win.
 

burstnbloom

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Carolina scares me. I don't think the have the back end of goaltending to keep up but with that top line and Slavin and Vantanen on the back, they can likely keep up with the Bergeron line even at the height of their powers. The Bruins looked terrible in the play in games and the way they are talking about it gives me some pause.

I'm nervous.
 

Red Right Ankle

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I expect a long series, but Carolina is going to struggle to keep the puck out of the net with two of their better defensemen injured, and inconsistency in net. Their forwards are very good, and can go line for line with the Bruins. The Aho line v. the Bergeron line is going to likely dictate the series. I am not particularly optimistic on the Coyle and Krejci lines, but I suppose they could balance it out. I expect the Aho line to outplay the Bergeron line this series, so without lines 2-4 contributing, it will likely be an early exit for the Bruins.

They need to be much much better than they were in the bubble "preseason" to win.
Krejci and Coyle lines, I get.

Why do you expect the Aho line to outplay the Bergeron line? Not many lines ever do that in a game let alone a whole series. Bs usually lose because they get nothing from anyone else.
 

TheRealness

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Krejci and Coyle lines, I get.

Why do you expect the Aho line to outplay the Bergeron line? Not many lines ever do that in a game let alone a whole series. Bs usually lose because they get nothing from anyone else.
I think their speed will be a problem for Bergeron, especially Acho, but mostly it’s probably recency bias. The Bergeron line looked pretty mediocre and slow during all three round robin games, while Aho’s line looked like one of the best lines in hockey.
 

Red Right Ankle

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I think their speed will be a problem for Bergeron, especially Acho, but mostly it’s probably recency bias. The Bergeron line looked pretty mediocre and slow during all three round robin games, while Aho’s line looked like one of the best lines in hockey.
Makes sense and, yeah, if they play like the did in the round robin, they're boned. Given their experience and past performances, I can see Marchand's, "games start now," attitude being something they can execute on.
 

tmracht

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I'm more concerned about the listless power play than the perfection line. It's hard to hand wave away Carlo's struggles, the PP, Chara's gaffes as the games don't matter.

We've seen teams flip the switch before. I'm just not sure how easy that is to do after an extended layoff.

Either way this should be a good series and I would guess Bruins in 6 just because I think they have a chance to roll 3 decent lines at a shaky back end and tendy even if they falter with knocking some rust off games 1/2.
 

kenneycb

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I think their speed will be a problem for Bergeron, especially Acho, but mostly it’s probably recency bias. The Bergeron line looked pretty mediocre and slow during all three round robin games, while Aho’s line looked like one of the best lines in hockey.
They looked like one of the best lines against the Rangers. They weren't exactly running the 2011 version of Chara and Seidenberg out there.
 

veritas

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This PP unit has been playing together and dominating for a few years now. As I said in the last game thread, I'm just not worried about it.
 

Red Right Ankle

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Not the cleanest game they've ever played, but they skated the 'Canes out of the building in OT. Not sure what the possession and chance stats looked like, but it felt like the Bs had the puck like 80% of the time.

Clearly the better team. If they clean up the stupid mistakes and stop taking breaks when ahead, they are going to win this in 4 or 5.
 

TheRealness

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Not the cleanest game they've ever played, but they skated the 'Canes out of the building in OT. Not sure what the possession and chance stats looked like, but it felt like the Bs had the puck like 80% of the time.

Clearly the better team. If they clean up the stupid mistakes and stop taking breaks when ahead, they are going to win this in 4 or 5.
Yeah, I withdraw my previous comments. The Bergeron line looked like they did mid-season.

I was also very impressed with Krejci's line and Coyle's line. They came to play.
 

Red Right Ankle

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Yeah, I withdraw my previous comments. The Bergeron line looked like they did mid-season.

I was also very impressed with Krejci's line and Coyle's line. They came to play.
That shifty little move by Krejci to score was very sweet.

Feels like DeBrusk is going to score some goals this post-season as well. He had a bunch of "this close" opportunities.
 

The Napkin

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Optional practice for the #NHLBruins in Toronto today:
Bjork Frederic Lindholm Pastrnak Ritchie Senyshyn Studnicka
Clifton Lauzon Vaakanainen Zboril
Lagace Vladar


Can't decide if Pasta skating is a good or a bad thing. I'm going to be optimistic and say good. Because today isn't total shit. Yet.
 

McDrew

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Good because he hasn't been practicing/playing the last few days and this gets him up to game speed quicker.
 

tmracht

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Optional practice for the #NHLBruins in Toronto today:
Bjork Frederic Lindholm Pastrnak Ritchie Senyshyn Studnicka
Clifton Lauzon Vaakanainen Zboril
Lagace Vladar


Can't decide if Pasta skating is a good or a bad thing. I'm going to be optimistic and say good. Because today isn't total shit. Yet.
Hopefully they're just testing to see if he'll be okay to go tomorrow.
 

LogansDad

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That's no surprise and is a huge loss for the Canes. I hope there's no long term issue because Svechnikov seems ticketed for stardom.
Agreed. I don't like watching the Bruins play him because he is a pain in the ass, but he looks like he is going to be a special player. 20 years old.
 

tmracht

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I never want any player injured, I hope it's something he can come back from full strength quickly. It did look horrific, as even my steely wife recoiled at the replay.
 

cshea

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It's actually the 3rd straight day he has been on the ice. He skated Sunday too. Sounds like he has a chance to play tomorrow. Cassidy says Pasta went through battle drills today which is one of their check marks, and Pasta had an outside chance to play yesterday and is "better than that" to play tomorrow. Probably have to see how he feels tomorrow morning after testing it today.
 

The Napkin

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That's a pesky little pain in the ass to play against team. Be interesting to see how they continue to develop and if they can get some steady goal-tending...
 

tims4wins

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Did the series feel, I dunno, less intense than normal to anyone else? And if so, is that a result of the bubble / no fans, or do you think the players have been impacted as well (like Tuukka but on a smaller scale). I’m not sure where I stand. The crowd really creates such an intense environment in the NHL playoffs. But I’m not sure if it was just that, or if it impacted the players too. Seemed like less big hits, less flying around, less bad blood. But it’s also only been one series between two teams that don’t have a ton of history of bad blood, despite the conference finals matchup last year.
 

Dummy Hoy

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I think a factor was that the two teams are generally hardworking but clean, and have shown a lot of respect for each other on and off the ice.
 

tims4wins

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I think a factor was that the two teams are generally hardworking but clean, and have shown a lot of respect for each other on and off the ice.
Yeah I alluded to that in my first post, it’s probably a factor. Will be interesting to see what next series looks like.
 

cshea

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No fans does have some impact on the game and players. Cassidy mentioned that part of reason they made the lineup changes after game 2 was to manufacture and some of their own energy. They don’t get there same bump or jolt of energy from a raucous crowd, especially when a series would typically shift cities.

Anyways, Carolina has a bright future. Another forward or two that can score and more reliable goaltending and rhey’ll be in business.
 

KingPK

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Did the series feel, I dunno, less intense than normal to anyone else? And if so, is that a result of the bubble / no fans, or do you think the players have been impacted as well (like Tuukka but on a smaller scale). I’m not sure where I stand. The crowd really creates such an intense environment in the NHL playoffs. But I’m not sure if it was just that, or if it impacted the players too. Seemed like less big hits, less flying around, less bad blood. But it’s also only been one series between two teams that don’t have a ton of history of bad blood, despite the conference finals matchup last year.
As I watch the Flyers and Canadiens beat the piss out of each other right now, I don't think it's the lack of fans as much as a lack of "hate" between the teams.