Domi helps ’Canes get past Bruins

RALEIGH, N.C. Twice before, the Carolina Hurricanes had reached the playoffs only to see their ascent to becoming a serious Stanley Cup contender blocked by the Boston Bruins.

Two newcomers helped the Hurricanes finally push past their playoff bully — and in a Game 7, at that.

Mid-season acquisition Max Domi scored twice in the second period and Antti Raanta made 27 saves to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 on Saturday to win their first-round playoff series.

Teuvo Teravainen also scored for the Hurricanes, who finally put away a team that swept them in the 2019 Eastern Conference final, then took a five-game first-round series a year later.

“It’s such a different feeling coming into this one,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said.

“I think back in the other ones, if we would’ve won, you guys might have been a little surprised. This time around, I felt like it was our time.”

Carolina moves on to the second round to face the winner of Sunday’s Game 7 between the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

One thing is certain: winning the Metropolitan Division title paved the way by securing home-ice advantage. This was a series in which neither team could manage a road win.

Domi was an unlikely star in this one. Carolina acquired him ahead of the March trade deadline, and he rewarded them with his first career post-season goals. He also assisted on Teravainen’s goal with a perfect pass to the top of the crease for the first-period putaway.

“Obviously I was pretty lucky to come to a team like this,” Domi said.