’CANES WIN TESTY GAME 2 VS. BRUINS
The Carolina Hurricanes didn’t flinch after losing yet another goaltender. Instead, they responded with a physical and even confrontational edge against a team that has twice bullied them out of recent NHL playoffs.
And now, they’re up 2-0 on the Boston Bruins in their first-round series.
Sebastian Aho and Nino Niederreiter each scored twice and the Hurricanes overcame the early loss of goalie Antti Raanta to beat the Bruins 5-2 on Wednesday night.
Jesper Fast had the game’s first goal for Carolina in another strong offensive showing to start this series. Rookie goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov came on in relief of Raanta to finish with 30 saves.
Perhaps just as importantly, the Hurricanes looked ready for a fight at every moment as the Bruins racked up penalties and time in the box while facing yet another uphill climb.
“We’re not going to get pushed around, I guarantee you that,” said Carolina defenseman Tony DeAngelo, who had three assists.
Game 3 is Friday night in Boston.
This game quickly went from competitive to feisty and downright ornery in quick fashion — namely after Boston’s David Pastrnak knocked Raanta from the game midway through the first period when he struck the goaltender in the head with a gloved hand as he tried to skate past him.
Already down injured No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen to start the playoffs, Carolina turned to Kochetkov as Raanta exited while bleeding from an apparent mouth injury.
Hurricanes 5, Bruins 2
After Raanta’s exit, the teams constantly traded words and hits, along with repeatedly tussling after the whistle. Notably, there was the jarring shoulder-to-chest blast by Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov that leveled Hampus Lindholm and left him wobbly as he was helped to the locker room late in the second.
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said he thought Svechnikov’s hit was “on time certainly but it looked high.”
“You never want to see guys get hurt,” Carolina coach Rob Brind’Amour said. “I don’t like seeing our goalie get taken out either. But one was legal, one was not, if you really want to break it down.”
Lightnining 5, Maple Leafs 3: Victor Hedman had a goal and three assists for his first four-point playoff game and visiting Tampa Bay beat Toronto in Game 2 to even the first-round series.
Wild 6, Blues 2: Kirill Kaprizov had a hat trick, Joel Eriksson Ek scored twice and host Minnesota beat St. Louis to tie the series 1-1.
Oilers 6, Kings 0: Host Edmonton scored three times in the second period and coasted from there to tie the series 1-1. Evander Kane scored twice in the third period.
Tuesday’s late games
Penguins 4, Rangers 3 (3OT): Evgeni Malkin scored on a deflection 5:58 into the third overtime, giving visiting Pittsburgh a victory over New York in three overtimes in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
Flames 1, Stars 0: Host Calgary got a first-period goal from Elias Lindholm and hung on behind goalie Jacob Markstrom (16 saves).