:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63832534/usa_today_11559903.0.jpg)
Just the facts
When: 8:00 PM (Eastern time)
Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
How to follow: NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, SportsNet, Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub
Rival SBN site: Canes Country
Know your enemy
Goals: Teuvo Teravainen, 7
Assists: Jaccob Slavin, 11
Points: Slavin and Sebastian Aho, both with 11
Game notes
Game 1 of this series saw Boston strike first, overcome a deficit, and pour in power-play goals in the third period en route to a 5-2 victory. Game 2 of this series saw Boston strike first, pour it on, let up two preventable goals but never let up off the gas pedal in a 6-2 win. Now, with the series swinging 2-0 in favor of Boston, the B’s are looking to keep momentum on their side as everything moves to Carolina
One of the most impressive performances of Game 2 came from Matt Grzelcyk. Aside from scoring twice (his last multi-goal game at TD Garden was the 2015 Beanpot finals where he scored both the game-tying and overtime-winning goal against Northeastern), but he showed how far his development has come as a true NHL defenseman.
It’s not just Grzelcyk who’s shown how far he’s come along from his pre-NHL days. One Boston-based college has shown its true colors as a hockey development powerhouse (GO TERRIERS!) Gryz, Charlie McAvoy, Charlie Coyle, as well as assistants Joe Sacco and Jay Pandolfo are representing their former university well on the big stage. Former Terriers and current New York Rangers head coach David Quinn was quoted in The Athletic as currently rooting for his compadres despite having an NHL affiliation. Regardless, it’s bringing something massive to the table that the 2017-18 Bruins didn’t to their postseason run: depth.
If I told you readers at the end of the regular season that Charlie Coyle would tie for the team lead in goals through 2+ rounds, you’d probably earmark this website to never read again (please don’t, we love you all!). How about that Matt Grzelcyk would have 7 points? Or that Marcus Johansson would not only be healthy but actively contributing on the scoresheet? Yes, the top line of Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak have the most combined points on the team, but it speaks to either an organization depth. or mentality change, or both quite frankly, that has made this Bruins team feel more dangerous than recent iterations of the club.
One concern about tonight: the Bruins have not won either Game 3 they’ve played in this postseason. Albeit, by 1 goal margins, but it still is a point of concern for the first game on the road of a series. Granted as well, the Bruins also hadn’t had 2-0 series leads going on the road, but keep an eye to see whether they play any differently tonight.