The Boston Bruins convert on two power-plays to win Game five 2-1 over the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference First Round series at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Wednesday.
After being down 1-0 the President Trophy winning Bruins were able to capitalize on two power-plays late in the second. David Krejci extended his point streak to six games when he tied the game 1-1 at 15:20 in the second period. With four seconds to spare in the second, Patrice Bergeron clinched the series when his shot deflected in net off of Carolina goalie Petr Mrazek’s left skate. Haydn Fleury scored the lone goal for Carolina.
“We obviously wanted to finish it off today,” Krejci said. “Those are the hardest ones to get. We knew we didn’t want to come back here tomorrow and play back to back. So we had a great response after the first period. Power play was big.”
The Bruins took advantage of their strong power-play (2-for-4) to close out the Canes. Boston’s Power play was second in the NHL this season (25.2 percent) under the Edmonton Oilers (29.5).
“Obviously, their power play is one of the best in the League,” Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin said. “They’ve got a lot of set plays that they run. They’re good at those plays. So I think, for the most part as a kill, we did a pretty good job this series. I think both their goals tonight are kind of fluky power-play goals.”
Carolina has now lost eight of their last nine Stanley Cup Playoff games to Boston. In the 2019 Eastern Conference Final Carolina lost in a four-game sweep by Boston.
“I think we played at a level to beat them,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I’m really proud of this team. They do it right. We responded, which is the best thing. We walk out of here, I think, with our heads high with the effort we put out there, especially tonight. I thought we were the better team.”
After sitting out the past three games because he was deemed unfit to play, David Pastrnak returned to the lineup with two assists in the Bruins victory over the Hurricanes.
“Obviously, felt a bit better every shift,” Pastrnak said. “It was good to be back with the guys. Obviously, anytime you’re watching the game from the stands, it’s tough. So really happy I was back and important win, and great series.”
The Bruins Eastern Conference Second Round opponent is still undetermined. They are waiting on the results of the Washington Capitals vs New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers vs Montreal Canadiens.
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