Andrew Copp Praised as Rangers Take Game 4, Even Series with Hurricanes 2-2
May 25, 2022
RALEIGH, NC - MAY 18: New York Rangers Center Andrew Copp (18) warms up prior to game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the New York Rangers and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 18, 2022 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina.(Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Andrew Copp had himself a night at Madison Square Garden as the New York Rangers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 to tie their second-round series 2-2 after falling behind 0-2 with two losses at PNC Arena.
Copp, who was acquired by the Rangers at the trade deadline, tallied one goal and two assists in Tuesday's game to help lift his team to victory. After Copp scored with 8:50 remaining in the third period to put New York up 4-1, fans were quick to praise his Game 4 performance.
Three-point night for Andrew Copp. He didn't have a point in this series entering tonight. #NYR
Andrew Copp collects his first career three-point playoff game (1G-2A). Since joining the Rangers, Copp has accumulated 28 points in 27 games (8G-10A in 16 RS GP & 5G-5A in 11 PS GP).
What a pickup Copp has been for the Rangers, huge goal to likely seal it. Question is now .. can they win in Raleigh where no one has so far this postseason #CARvsNYR#StanleyCup#HockeyTwitter
Copp, 27, spent the first seven-and-a-half seasons with the Winnipeg Jets before joining the Rangers at the trade deadline. His performance this postseason doesn't necessarily come as a surprise.
The Michigan native was a natural fit in New York's lineup since making his debut with the franchise in March. He tallied eight goals and 10 assists in 16 regular-season games with the Rangers and entered Tuesday's game with four goals and three assists in seven playoff games.
If Copp and the rest of New York's depth forwards can continue to produce at a high level, the Rangers have a solid chance at beating the Hurricanes and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.
Game 5 between the Rangers and Hurricanes is set for Thursday night at PNC Arena.
Rangers' Lackluster Power Play Slammed by Fans in Game 2 Loss to Hurricanes
May 21, 2022
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 20: Frank Vatrano #77 and Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers confer during the first period in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 20, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The New York Rangers are now down 2-0 to the Carolina Hurricanes in their second-round playoff matchup following a 2-0 loss Friday at PNC Arena and face an uphill battle when the series shifts to Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
Throughout the game, the Blueshirts were slammed for their struggles on the power play. The team went 0-for-4 with a man advantage and also allowed Hurricanes defenseman Brendan Smith to score a shorthanded goal in the second period.
Smith's goal ended up being the game-winner, though Sebastian Aho added another goal with just two seconds remaining in Game 2 to seal the victory.
Rangers 0/4 & pathetic on the Power Play, and Carolina scores a shortie. And the Rangers couldnât win a face off in the offensive zone to save their lives
The Rangers had the #4 power play in the league during the regular season. They've played better at 5-on-5 in this series than on the power play. https://t.co/FclPNQM9IQ
The Rangers finished the regular season with the fourth-best power play in the NHL at 25.2 percent, and Chris Kreider led the league with 26 power-play goals. They're 5-on-5 play wasn't nearly as effective and they relied heavily on the PP.
They're still scoring 25 percent of the time on the power play this postseason, but through two games against the Hurricanes, the Blueshirts have yet to find the back of the net on the man-advantage.
With these past two games against the Hurricanes being pretty tight, the Rangers will need to find their footing on the power play when they return home to New York, otherwise they risk being swept by the team that finished first in the Metropolitan Division this season.
Rangers Ripped After Defensive Strategy 'Backfired' in Game 1 Loss vs. Hurricanes
May 19, 2022
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Teuvo Teravainen #86 of the Carolina Hurricanes is checked by Alexis Lafreniere #13 of the New York Rangers during the second period in Game One of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 18, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Following a slow start in which they failed to challenge New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Blueshirts 2-1 in overtime in Game 1 of their second-round playoff matchup at PNC Arena on Wednesday to take a 1-0 series lead.
The Rangers led the Hurricanes 1-0 for more than two-and-a-half periods thanks to an early goal from Filip Chytil, but Carolina broke through with around three minutes remaining in the third period to tie the game 1-1 on a goal from Sebastian Aho and send it to overtime.
After Hurricanes defenseman Ian Cole scored the game-winner just three minutes into overtime, the Rangers were ripped for their horrific defensive strategy in the third period as they sat back and allowed Carolina to control much of the action.
The Rangers lost that game and deserved to for how conservative they got from the 3rd period on. That is not winning hockey. In fact in no sport does it work to play prevent defense. It just prevents you from winning. They deserved that loss.
— Hot Take Johnny aka Rob (@nymoonburn1) May 19, 2022
Canes deserved that goal. Rangers with atrocious 3rd period defense
— Paul Rosenberg aka (Rosie//Glue) (@PaulsRandomness) May 19, 2022
Tough way to lose. Ranger defense got caught with under 3 minutes left and Aho had two shots to put it in. #NYR need to regroup and win Game 2. They have no choice.#NoQuitInNY
It's not hard to see why the Rangers' defensive strategy in the third period didn't work out. The Hurricanes entered averaging 3.43 goals per game in the playoffs and were bound to eventually find the back of the net.
That said, the Rangers will need to regroup for Game 2 on Friday and find a way to score more than once on Canes backup goaltender Antti Raanta. That could be difficult, though, as the veteran also stymied the Boston Bruins in their first-round series.
Bruins Ripped for 'Embarrassing' Effort in Game 7 Playoff Loss vs. Hurricanes
May 14, 2022
RALEIGH, NC - MAY 14: Max Domi #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes scores a goal and celebrates with teammate Teuvo Teravainen #86 during the second period in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins on May 14, 2022 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
The Boston Bruins are done after losing 3-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
The Bruins posted a mostly sloppy and lackluster effort Saturday at PNC Arena. The B's committed 18 giveaways to Carolina's 11 and amassed four separate first-period penalties.
Boston had no answer for Max Domi, who scored a pair of second-period goals and assisted on Teuvo Teravainen's first-period score.
Carolina also held a 3-1 lead for nearly half the game, and the B's failed to record a shot on goal in the second period's final nine minutes.
Boston scored with 22 seconds left in the third and threatened right afterward, but the 'Canes emerged victorious.
Numerous analysts noted the lethargic play during and after the game:
This third line absolutely shitting the bed in excruciating fashion
Pretty much the same things that have hurt the Bruins in the playoffs in the past came up this year. Stars were held in check. Depth players played poorly. No production from the power play.
I have absolutely no idea why the Boston Bruins did not play the entire final period (at least) the way they played the final minute. If they did, it may have been a better outcome. #NHLBruins
— CJ (On SI & Sporting News) (@CJFWrites) May 14, 2022
Jake DeBrusk and David Pastrnak scored Boston's goals.
Carolina will now advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinal to play the winner of the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers first-round matchup.
Bruins' Last Stand? Boston Faces Uncertain Future Ahead of Do-or-Die Game 6
May 12, 2022
Raleigh - May 10: Boston Bruins Patrice Bergeron walks out of the tunnel after the pre-game pre-skate. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Boston Bruins in game 5 of the NHL Playoffs at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on May 10, 2022. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Bruce Cassidy has a few lines he tends to repeat when it comes to his team.
"Frustration is a useless emotion," is one of the Boston Bruins coach's oft-repeated lines.
"We're not a team that can flip a switch," is another. "We have to build our game and play with momentum."
The second one is something the team has echoed as well. Throughout a three-day period late in April, a few members of the Bruins and their leadership core continually talked about how they are a team that needs to be playing their best hockey at the right time.
If ever there were a time to flip a switch, it would be now, as the Bruins are fighting for their lives in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes. Down 3-2 in the series, they probably find themselves fighting some "useless" emotions.
This particular team isn't just fighting to stay alive in the postseason, it's fighting to keep the window of contention open. And the Bruins aren't alone in that they're trying to give their core one last shot at a title. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings also fit that narrative with aging cores and expiring contracts on the horizon.
It wasn't that long ago that this team was in the Stanley Cup Final, losing to the St. Louis Blues in 2019. Much of the core is still intact, but for how much longer? When the Bruins take the TD Garden Ice on Thursday night, the question we'll all be asking is, is this the end of an era?
Perennial Selke Trophy candidate and captain Patrice Bergeron could retire following the conclusion of the season. Despite the fact that he is still the gold standard for two-way forwards in the game, his contract is up, he's 36 years old and there have been suggestions that he's ready to hang up the skates.
RALEIGH, NC - MAY 04: Boston Bruins Center Patrice Bergeron (37) and Boston Bruins Winger Brad Marchand (63) react to scoring during game 2 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 4, 2022 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Veteran goalie Tuukka Rask retired this season after attempting a brief comeback. Top scorer Brad Marchand is signed through the 2024-25 season but isn't getting any younger at the age of 34.
The "Perfection Line" (Bergeron, Marchand and David Pastrnak), which led the B's to the 2019 Cup Final and has been the biggest catalyst for the team's success throughout the last five seasons, was reunited over the weekend in Boston in Games 3 and 4, scoring six of the team's nine goals in those two games. Cassidy played his chess pieces masterfully in the two home games last weekend to even the series at 2-2, but Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour had last change on Tuesday night in Raleigh, and it worked out in his favor.
The problem with the Perfection Line is that the rest of the team's groupings aren't nearly as impactful. So what happens when that line is neutralized, as we saw in Game 5? Should the Bruins force a Game 7, Brind'Amour will once again have the last-change advantage.
âYou need the guys behind them, following them. Thatâs what weâre looking at,â Cassidy said after the Game 5 loss. âThe middle of the order, whatever you want to call it, they can bring more offensively. If not, theyâve got to be real tight defensively. Get the job done at the other end."
Cassidy put the lines in a blender to attempt to generate more offense in Game 5. Taylor Hall, Erik Haula, Craig Smith, Charlie Coyle and Jake DeBrusk have to drive some offense. Hall might be four years removed from his Hart Trophy campaign, but we know he is capable of doing it. DeBrusk has been good on the power play, but at 5-on-5 the Bruins are struggling to control 50 percent of the shot share with him on the ice.
Boston's depth forwards typically play a more conservative game, but they have to be more aggressive come Thursday.
The good news in the short-term is that defenseman Hampus Lindholm is set to return for Game 6. He's a strong two-way blueliner who can move the puck and jump into the play in the offensive zone, and Boston acquired him at the trade deadline with the hopes of utilizing those skills in the postseason. Derek Forbort is having a strong series, and Charlie McAvoy cleared COVID-19 protocol Tuesday and is set to play in the remainder of the series.
RALEIGH, NC - MAY 2: Charlie McAvoy #73 of the Boston Bruins skates into the corner to play the puck in Game One of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes on May 2, 2022 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
McAvoy does a lot of things well, but his most important ability is to act as a fourth forward on the ice with his offensive abilities, though he's most often deployed with the top line.
Maybe it will be enough to overwhelm the Hurricanes' attack.
The one thing the Bruins have that Carolina doesn't is an experienced leadership group. The Canes have played in one conference final since their 2009 run, falling to Boston in 2019. In 2020, Bergeron took the torch from longtime captain Zdeno Chara and continued his tradition of refusing to haze the rookies. He's still considered one of the classiest players in the game.
The captain played a Stanley Cup Final with broken ribs and a punctured lung. He played Game 4 after his eye was gashed and his vision clouded with blood. He also tied the game with an unreal backhand.
Marchand, for all of his on-ice antics like licking other players, throwing dirty hits and having some choice words for Tony DeAngelo, it's easy to see how he commands respect in the locker room. The veteran carries himself with an authoritative presence and he can be a charismatic speaker.
Last month, a media member brought his young son to practice. When the child was too shy to ask a question in a press conference, Marchand took the heat off of him by offering advice for a young hockey player. He told him to pretend it's the Stanley Cup when he plays with his buddies out in the street and, above all, to have fun.
"Every day is about enjoying the game," he said. "That's why we play itâbecause we love it."
Marchand may only have few days left with his buddy Bergeron. If the Bruins don't have enough behind the top line right now, what happens next season, and the season after that?
Boston's game should be built by now, but if that isn't the case, then maybe we'll soon be using that word in a different context.
Hurricanes' Rod Brind'Amour Rips Refs After Loss to Bruins over Failed Challenge
May 8, 2022
BUFFALO, NY - APRIL 5: Head coach Rob Brind'Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes watches the action against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game on April 5, 2022 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour thought one of the Boston Bruins' five goals should've been wiped from the record in Sunday's Stanley Cup playoff defeat.
Jake DeBrusk's tally in the second period was upheld following a challenge for possible goalie interference.
"They're too good a team to just give them goals," Brind'Amour told reporters. "We have no chance if that happens."
He added he "would have bet my life" on winning his coach's challenge:
It's clearâespecially the view that we saw afterâthat [the puck] is in between his pads and loose. But the guy came from the side, pushes his pads, squirts the puck out and puts it in. It's a little different if the guy had come in from the front and played the puck. You can't play the puck when it's in between his legs from the side and knock the goalie sideways.
There's no doubt the left pad of Hurricanes goaltender Antti Raanta moved and threw him slightly off balance. What wasn't as clear was who was responsible for the contact. The NHL addressed the play and chalked it up to "incidental contact":
Official ruling from the NHL on @Canes goalie interference challenge: âIn a rebound situation, or where a goalkeeper and attacking player(s) are simultaneously attempting to play a loose puck ⌠incidental contact will be permitted, and any goal that is scored will be allowed."
Beyond the fact the goal stood, what came next probably added to Brind'Amour's frustration.
The failed challenge meant Carolina received a two-minute penalty for delay of game, which was served by Nino Niederreiter. The Hurricanes quickly went down to three men after Sebastian Aho got a high sticking penalty.
As the Bruins' two-man advantage was ending, Brad Marchand scored to put Boston ahead 3-2.
The final score alone certainly paints a picture of a one-sided contest, but that couldn't have been further from the case. DeBrusk's goal was probably the turning point. While it didn't single-handedly cost the Hurricanes the game, it helped shift the momentum in Boston's favor.
With the series tied at 2-2, Carolina will look to rebound in Game 5 at home Tuesday.
5 Takeways from Day 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs
May 3, 2022
TORONTO, ON - MAY 2: Mitch Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning with teammate Auston Matthews #34 during the second period in Game One of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena on May 2, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
Frederik Andersen jumped on to the scene as a young goalie in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Anaheim Ducks had lost trust in their No. 1 goalie, Jonas Hiller, and instead turned to their rookie netminder.
Fast-forward to 2022, with Andersen now with the Carolina Hurricanes but injured to begin the playoffs, many wondered whether this would be the moment for another rising rookie, 22-year-old Pyotr Kochetkov. Instead, the net went to veteran goalie Antti Raanta, and he delivered in his first-ever playoff start, backstopping Carolina to a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of their first-round series.
The Carolina goaltending situation was one of the biggest storylines to come from the first night of the2022 NHL playoffs. The Toronto Maple Leafs' decisive win over the Tampa Bay Lightning was another.
Here are five takeaways from the first night of postseason action.
TORONTO, ON - May 2 Prior to the start of the game, fans begin to gather. Sher (left-no last name) and Stephanie Scott (holding a photo of Auston Matthews) give a cheer in Maple Leaf Square.
The Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Tampa Bay Lightning in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. This is the first game of the first round of playoffs
May 2 2022 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
New Year, New Narratives
It's been nearly 20 years since the Maple Leafs have won a playoff round, but a 5-0 thrashing of the reigning Stanley Cup champs twice over has the Leafs faithful eager for more. If they advance past the first round, you will likely be able to point to the five-minute power play they killed off Monday as a catalyst.
Early on, Kyle Clifford received a five-minute major and a game misconduct penalty for boarding Ross Colton, but Toronto actually generated more scoring chances than it surrendered during seven shorthanded minutes in the first period. David Kampf scored a shorthanded goal in the second period. The vaunted Tampa Bay power play went 0-for-5.
Matthews and Marner faced significant criticism last year when the Maple Leafs were eliminated in seven games by the Montreal Canadiens. Two key team leaders and two major components to the lineup, Matthews scored only a single goal and assisted on five, while Marner scored none, which was the same amount he scored in the 2019-20 postseason.
It's too early to see if the curse has been lifted, but there is such immense pressure on the Maple Leafs to get out of the first round, and yet Toronto thrived under it.
TORONTO, ON - May 2 In third period action, Morgan Rielly (44) of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jan Rutta (44) of the Tampa Bay Lightning battle it out as part of a full on melee between teams.
The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-0 in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. This is the first game of the first round of playoffs
May 2 2022 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Borderline Violence
Prior to the series starting, Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe gave us what could be the quote of the postseason:
"I expect it to be a very physical, borderline violent series in a lot of ways," he told reporters in Toronto. "And our guys will be ready for that."
A total of 122 penalty minutes were doled out in Game 1, so clearly the Leafs were, in fact, ready. A line brawl even broke out midway through the third period involving two longtime NHL tough guys in Corey Perry and Wayne Simmonds.
The ESPN2 cameras cut away for a commercial during the post-whistle scrum, but there were skirmishes in other games as well. A suspension could also be coming from the department of player safety for Clifford's hit from behind on Colton. It would be unfortunate for Toronto, who relies on Clifford, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, to bring energy on the fourth line, but the Leafs proved they could win without him on Monday.
This is the time of year when the levels of intensity and physicality go up a few notches. This is when you hear players say they need to "play between the whistles." The key is making sure the emotions don't boil over to the point that it becomes detrimental.
Speaking of whichâŚ
SAINT PAUL, MN - MAY 02: Minnesota Wild Defenceman Jared Spurgeon (46) attempts to bump St. Louis Blues Winger Pavel Buchnevich (89) off the puck during game 1 of the NHL playoffs between the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild on April May 2nd, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Un-Gentlemanly Conduct
The Minnesota Wild clinched home-ice advantage against their Central Division rivals St. Louis, but it didn't help much. David Perron scored a hat trick for the Blues in a 4-0 win, and Ville Husso became the first St. Louis goalie to record a shutout in his playoff debut, but all of that was overshadowed by a late penalty for a crosscheck by Jared Spurgeon.
With 1:34 left in the game, Spurgeon was tied up with Pavel Buchnevich. Frustrated by his inability to connect on the puck with Buchnevich upending him, he crosschecked the back of the Blues forward's legs, slamming his stick down with considerable force. It didn't really matter that the Wild was left shorthanded for the rest of the gameâit was lost well before the penaltyâbut it was a dangerous play that is going to get reviewed by the department of player safety and could land him a suspension.
It was also uncharacteristic and unbecoming of a captain. Spurgeon was a Lady Byng finalist last season and is a perennial candidate for the sportsmanship award given to the most "gentlemanly" player combined with a high standard of playing ability.
A captain goes down with the ship. He doesn't put himself in a position to sit out games.
The Blues are 13-1-1 in their last 15 games against the Wild. Ouch.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 02: Antti Raanta #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes leads his team onto the ice against the Boston Bruins during Game One of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 02, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Storm Surged
The Bruins have a relentless forecheck. Carolina did its best to stop it, but if you look at the underlying numbers, you'll see this was a pretty evenly matched game. Shot attempts at 5-on-5 were 56-48 in favor of Boston, scoring chances were 24-23 and high-danger chances were 11-11. But the power play woes resurfaced for the Bruins. Despite the fact that Boston generated chances on the first two power plays, the third didn't even yield a single shot attempt.
There was also some consternation in the Bruins net. Linus Ullmark made the start for Boston and at one point gave up a goal off his mask. Do the Bruins go with rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman in Game 2? Ullmark started because Swayman struggled down the stretch, going 4-6-0 with an .877 save percentage in the final 10 games.
It's possible he hit a wall and these last few days off have been beneficial for him. But there is no doubt a tandem that once looked strong is suddenly in doubt.
But the story today is Raanta.
"For me, it was obviously the first start in the playoffs in the NHL," Raanta said in his postgame press conference. "I was just trying to focus on the things that have (allowed me) to be successful. It was working nicely. But it's only one game, one win, and now it's just regrouping and getting ready for Wednesday."
EDMONTON, AB - MAY 2: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers stands for the singing of the national anthem prior to Game One of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings on May 2, 2022 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
One-Man Rush
Connor McDavid did very Connor McDavid-like things against the Los Angeles Kings. You can call it an odd-man rush because technically one is an odd number, but it was a 1-on-5 with McDavid as the lone man in an orange and blue jersey in the offensive zone.
With the Kings up 2-0 in the final minute of the first period, McDavid picked up the puck in the defensive zone and picked up some serious speed. He went 1-on-everyone and skated coast-to-coast, going down the boards and cutting through two defenders while another two failed to pick up his movement and another watched helplessly as he sniped one past Jonathan Quick from the edge of the right circle.
It was an absurd goal scored by one of the most elite players in the world. He just completely walked the Kings' entire five-man unit.
But when Leon Draisaitl scored around the 10-minute mark of the second period to tie the game at 3-3, it underscored the fact that McDavid and Draisaitl can put a team on their backs and win on their own. The Oilers don't have to be fantastic, but they don't completely roll over, this team will stay in games.
However, staying in games isn't good enough for McDavid, who is desperate for a championship. And that desperation may be needed after the Kings grabbed a late goal to take a 1-0 series lead.
Phillip Danault scored after an incredible sequence that saw Mike Smith turn the puck over off the back of the boards, then dive back to the crease to make a save before Danualt tipped Sean Durzi's point shot into the net.
"I was just trying to make something happen," Smith told reporters in his postgame press conference. "Obviously, just trying to do too much there. In a tight game like that, you can't afford to make mistakes like that. It ended up costing us the game."
Smith has lost his last 10 playoff games, including all six he has played for the Oilers.
Bruins Keys to Winning 2022 NHL Playoff Series vs. Hurricanes
May 1, 2022
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period at the TD Garden on February 10, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Hurricanes won 6-0. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
The Boston Bruins will meet the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons, and while the Black and Gold won each of the last two series, there's no guarantee they make it three straight in 2022.
Carolina defeated Boston in all three regular-season meetings this year, outscoring the Bruins 16-1. That said, Bruce Cassidy's side has gone through a shakeup since the last time these two teams met in February.
For one, the Bruins added veteran defenseman Hampus Lindholm, bolstering their blue line for a deep playoff run. Cassidy also shook up his top lines during the final stretch of the regular season, most notably breaking up the "Perfection Line" of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak.
Jake DeBrusk is now playing on Boston's top line alongside Marchand and Bergeron, while Pastrnak is playing on the second line with Taylor Hall and Erik Haula, who signed a two-year contract with the Bruins during the offseason.
Breaking up the top line has been somewhat of a blessing for the Bruins, who have received much more depth scoring since making the switch. Depth scoring will be a key in Boston's first-round series against Carolina. So, let's take a look at that and some other keys to the Black and Gold winning the series.
Depth Scoring
Pastrnak led the Bruins in scoring this season, notching 40 goals in 72 games. Marchand tallied 32 goals in 70 games, and Bergeron finished with 25 in 73 games. That said, Boston also had six other players who reached double digits in scoring â DeBrusk, Hall, Haula, Charlie Coyle, Craig Smith and Charlie McAvoy.
For comparison, the Bruins had just two players not named Marchand. Bergeron or Pastrnak to reach double digits in scoring during the 2020-21 seasonâSmith and Nick Ritchie.
The increase in depth scoring has taken much of the scoring load off Boston's top line. However, the Bruins' depth scoring has been inconsistent in the past, and that's why it will be an important factor in their upcoming series against the Hurricanes.
That said, it's important to note the Hurricanes will most likely be without starting goaltender Frederik Andersen for the first few games of the first round as he continues to recover from a leg injury, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.
Andersen had been in the midst of his best season in the NHL before suffering the injury, posting a 2.17 goals-against average, .922 save percentage and four shutouts in 52 games. His loss will be a tough one for Carolina.
Backup goaltender Antti Raanta is in line to get the start against Boston, with rookie Pyotr Kochetkov set to back him up. Raanta posted a 2.45 GAA, .912 save percentage and two shutouts in 28 games. Those numbers aren't bad by any means, but he's beatable.
If Andersen misses the first few games of the series, Boston's depth scoring will need to put pressure on Raanta to make big saves. If they throw pucks on net, the Bruins will be better off.
Goaltending
The biggest difference for Boston this season has been not having Tuukka Rask in the crease. The veteran netminder announced his retirement in February after attempting a comeback from hip surgery, and the Bruins have relied on rookie Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark in goal.
Swayman had an impressive rookie season, posting a 2.41 GAA, .914 save percentage and three shutouts in 41 games. Ullmark, meanwhile, recorded a 2.45 GAA, .917 save percentage and one shutout in 41 games.
Considering both goaltenders played well and split games during the regular season, it's possible both play in the first round. Cassidy has yet to name a starter for the playoffs. However, he told reporters he isn't afraid to play the hot hand.
"Will we run with one guy? Absolutely, if heâs on," Cassidy said. "If a guy is not on, weâre not afraid to go to the other guy, because weâve seen him play well."
That said, neither goaltender has played in the postseason during their careers. So, it'll be interesting to see how they handle the challenge of stopping players like Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen.
Health
The Bruins, like any team, are significantly better when fully healthy. That said, staying healthy will be a key to Boston moving on to the second round.
Later in the regular season, the Black and Gold went a period without Pastrnak or Lindholm available due to injury. Pastrnak missed eight games between April 5 and April 22nd, and the B's went 3-5 in that span. Lindholm was also absent for seven of those matchups.
Considering Pastrnak and Lindholm are two of Boston's best players, it will be important they stay healthy if the Bruins want to defeat the Hurricanes. In addition, it'll be important players like Marchand, Bergeron and McAvoy avoid injury.
Boston's depth beyond what it has on the roster is questionable, which only makes it more important that the team stays healthy. You won't want the Black and Gold picking up players from their AHL affiliate in Providence because not many of them are ready for NHL competition.
NHL Playoff Picture 2022: Kings, Predators Clinch Playoffs; Updated Standings
Apr 27, 2022
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 26: Tanner Jeannot #84 of the Nashville Predators smiles during warmups prior to an NHL game against the Calgary Flames at Bridgestone Arena on April 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
Only one playoff spot remains up for grabs in the NHL, but it took quite a few wild finishes to get there on Tuesday night.
Below, we'll break down all of the crucial happenings in the race for the postseason after a fun night of hockey.
Hurricanes Clinch Metropolitan Division with 4-3 Win Over Rangers
The Metropolitan Division has been claimed.
The Carolina Hurricanes can take it easy in their final game of the season after winning the division on Tuesday night, beating the New York Rangers 4-3.
The Rangers made a late push, but goals by Sebastian Aho, Jordan Martinook, Teuvo Teravainen and Vincent Trocheck secured the victory and first place in the Metropolitan for Carolina.
A Wild Night in the West
A whole lot was one the line in the matchup between the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights, especially after the Nashville Predators came oh-so-close to beating the Calgary Flames in regulation, only to lose in overtime.
The Nashville Predators were 0.1 seconds away from clinching a playoff berth. pic.twitter.com/K6At2IILuu
— FanDuel Sports Network South (@FanDuelSN_SO) April 27, 2022
Here were the clinching scenarios heading into Tuesday night:
It was also a big result for a Stars team trying to hold off the Golden Knights for the final wild-card berth in the West.
Playoff Picture
All eight playoff berths are locked up in the East, with the Florida Panthers (120 points), Toronto Maple Leafs (113 points) and Tampa Bay Lightning (108 points) holding the Atlantic bids, the Hurricanes (114 points), Rangers (108 points) and Pittsburgh Penguins (101 points) securing the Metro seeds, and the Boston Bruins (105 points) and Washington Capitals (100 points) as the wild cards.
All that's left to decide is whether the Bruins can catch the Lightning for the final Atlantic bid. Both teams have two games remaining.
In the West, the final wild-card berth is still up for grabs, with the Stars (95 points) and Golden Knights (91 points) duking it out. Each team has two games left.
The Colorado Avalanche (116 points) already clinched the Central Division, while the Calgary Flames (110 points) have clinched the Pacific. The St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild are fighting for the second seed in the Central, tied at 109 points, while the Edmonton Oilers (100 points) are trying to hold off the Kings (96 points) for the second seed in the Pacific.
The Predators (95 points) are locked into a wild-card position.
1 Red Flag for 8 NHL Playoff Contenders
Apr 21, 2022
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Zach Bogosian (24) looks away as the Detroit Red Wings celebrate left wing Lucas Raymond's goal (23) during the third period an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
The Florida Panthers came back to force overtime against the New York Islanders on Tuesday night at UBS Arena and needed only 20 seconds to win the game in the bonus period to record their 11th straight victory.
Captain Aleksander Barkov recorded a hat trick in the 3-2 win, and Jonathan Huberdeau moved one step closer to winning the Art Ross Trophy by taking over as the leagueâs points leader with 111.
The team talked about building up their overall game to what they want it to look like during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
"There have been some comebacks, some three- or four-goal comebacks, and thatâs not the way we want to play," Barkov said. "But weâve talked a lot about keeping games tight and not letting [opponents] score a lot. The last few games have been like that. The most weâve given up is like three goals in the last few games, so I think weâre heading in the right direction.
"We just have to keep building, and there are still a few things we need to clean up. But we will."
There isnât much for a team with a plus-100 goal differential to clean up. The Panthers and the Colorado Avalanche each have 116 points and are competing for the Presidents' Trophy.
Plus, Florida may be getting back defenseman Aaron Ekblad soon, as he skated with the team earlier in the day on Long Island. Meanwhile, Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog (knee) started skating with the team during its current road trip, as The Athletic's Peter Baugh showed.
The Avs and the Panthers are the favorites to hoist the Stanley Cup because they donât have any glaring weaknesses. But what about the teams that do?
Weâre nearing the finish line of the 2021-22 regular season. We have seen enough of the teams to be able to figure out their strengths and point out the red flags.
Letâs explore some of those red flags before the regular season concludes April 29.
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper instructs his team during the third period an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Tampa Bay Lightning: Failing to Play the Full 60 Minutes
Are the two-time defending champs slumping at the wrong time?
The lottery-bound Detroit Red Wings scored three goals against the Bolts in a span of 3:57 in the second period of their tilt Tuesday. This came after a dominant first period. Coach Jon Cooper later told reporters that he sees this as a recurring theme of sorts and wants it to end before the playoffs get underway.
"It's one of those games that we clearly beat ourselves, and it's becoming probably a little bit too much of our story in a game that I thought, after the first period, we had full control of, and we weren't satisfied and sticking with it," Cooper said. "Then you saw what happened."
In case you didn't see what happened, Cooper elaborated: "It was just odd-mans, breakaways, turnovers, and it's perplexing why some of these players that have been with us for a whileâespecially in Game 76âare continuing to do this. It's too bad."
Itâs easy to take your foot off the gas when a playoff spot has already been locked up. This is also a team that can make up a big deficit quickly, but it will get tougher to do that in the postseason.
No one knows better than the Lightning the type of mental toughness it takes to win four seven-game series, but they havenât shown a lot of that in a month wherein they have gone 4-4-2. Maybe some adversity is good for a team like this, but itâs far too late in the season to be trying to establish good habits and consistency.
ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 19: St. Louis Blues right wing Pavel Buchnevich (89) reaches in to get the puck from Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) during a NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues on April 19, 2022, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images),
Boston Bruins: A Powerless Power Play
The Boston Bruins clinched a playoff spot Saturday with a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. But this is a team that's had its lapses as well.
There was a particularly bad loss to the Ottawa Senators earlier in April that exposed the dismal state of the Bruins' power play. Boston went 0-for-5 with the man advantage in that game and havenât fared much better since, failing to score a power-play goal in their past two games. They're 0-for-27 on power play in their past eight games.
The B's are ranked 15th in overall power-play conversion (21.4 percent), so you could say it's mostly been so-so throughout the season. And missing David Pastrnak doesn't help, either. He leads the team with 38 goals, 14 of which have come on the power play. Pastrnakâs signature one-timer from the left faceoff circle is a tough shot to save for a goalie who is trying to go from post-to-post.
However, the underlying metrics arenât great: According to Natural Stat Trick Boston isnât creating a ton of scoring chances on the power play.
A good power play isnât crucial in the playoffs, but it's often the difference in close games. Facing a team like Florida, which averages more than four goals per game, will require all of the offense the Bruins can get. They need more from special teams.
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) is helped off the ice by Jesperi Kotkaniemi (82) and a trainer during the third period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Carolina Hurricanes: Injuries
Much like the Avs, Panthers and maybe even the Calgary Flames, the Carolina Hurricanes donât have any big weaknesses. They are known for their high-flying and high-volume offense, but they also limit chances on the other end effectively and have a potential Vezina Trophy candidate in net to bail them out.
However, the contender for that award, Frederik Andersen, has got hurt at the worst time. He went down with a lower-body injury against Colorado on Saturday in a game that was billed as a potential Stanley Cup Final preview.
It sounds like Andersen could be ready to return for the playoffs, with TSN and The Athletic insider Pierre LeBrun reporting that the goalie's MRI came back negative. But if Andersen is ruled out, then the team will have to go with backup Antti Raanta. No disrespect to Raanta, but there is a drop-off in quality between him and his teammate.
Captain Jordan Staal was also knocked out of that same game, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi is also out as well. Itâs not uncommon for injuries to be aggravated at this time of year, but starting the postseason without a captain and a goalie would be a big blow for a favored contender.
Minnesota Wild's Kirill Kaprizov (97) brings the puck down the ice as St. Louis Blues' Nathan Walker (26) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 16, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Minnesota Wild: 2-7-5 in Last 14 Games Against the St. Louis Blues
Looking at the standings, the likelihood that the Minnesota Wild face the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the playoffs is high. This isnât a good matchup for Minnesota, which hasnât shown that it can beat the Blues when it counts.
The best example of this might be the Winter Classic, when Jordan Kyrou spoiled a celebration of all things Minnesota with his four-point night. But the Wild were coming off of an extended COVID-19 pause, and an outdoor game is an easy one to look at as an outlier given the unusual elements teams have to deal with.
But this record of 12 losses in 14 tries dates back a few seasons. And the stakes are higher for Minnesota this year. This team has made it known that it is going for it. The Wild acquired reigning Vezina winner Marc-Andre Fleury at the trade deadline when they already had an All-Star goalie in Cam Talbot, partially because of Fleuryâs postseason prowess. They also made moves to get tougher up and down the lineup, and they want to capitalize on high-scoring wing Kirill Kaprizov's prime.
Minnesotaâs group is a little banged up as well, so health will be important, but the one thing it does have going for it is a favorable home schedule through the rest of the season.
The Wild play five of their last six regular-season games at home, and they have played well at Xcel Energy Center this season, going 27-7-2 in St. Paul.
If they continue their winning ways over the next week, they could secure home-ice advantage, which would be even more advantageous against a team they havenât fared well against in recent years, especially when you look at Minnesota's record in St. Louis: 0-4-3 in the past seven trips to Missouri.
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 18: Ilya Samsonov #30 of the Washington Capitals skates to net during a pause in play against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on April 18, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. The Capitals defeated the Avalanche 3-2. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins: Goaltending
Each of these teams has a different situation in net, but they are grouped together since they all have red flags at the position.
Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry is "week-to-week" with a lower-body injury, but he was spotted wearing a boot in the team photo and riding a scooter around PPG Paints Arena by TribLIVE.com's Chris Adamski. If he's out for an extended period, Louis Domingue and Casey DeSmith will have a large net to fill considering how well Jarry has played this season (34-18-6, .919 save percentage).
Jarryâs playoff struggles have been well-documented, but he's considerably better than either DeSmith or Domingue.
Inconsistent goaltending has plagued the Washington Capitals all season, and their .903 save percentage is the worst among all teams that occupy a playoff spot. However, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings are barely above the .900 mark as well.
Jack Campbell has returned from his rib injury in Toronto, which is promising for the Leafs if he can recapture the form he showed during the first half of the season. In Edmonton, recently appointed head coach Jay Woodcroft hasnât exactly fixed goalies Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen, but he does have the team playing much better in front of them.
All of these teams have had goaltending issues at some point throughout the season. The goaltending in Edmonton was one of the factors that led to the club dismissing coach Dave Tippett in February. Itâs been the biggest problem in Washington, and itâs held back Toronto at times throughout the season.
