RALEIGH, NC ( Associated Press) — The Carolina Hurricanes didn’t budge after losing another goalie. Instead, he responded with a physical and even confrontational lead against a team that has twice threatened him with the most recent NHL playoffs.
And now, they lead the Boston Bruins 2-0 in their first-round series.
Sebastian Aho and Nino Niedreiter scored two goals each as the Hurricanes beat the Bruins 5-2 on Wednesday night to beat goalkeeper Antti Ranta’s opening defeat.
The first goal of the game was scored by Jesper Fast for Carolina in another strong offensive to start the series. Rookie goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov came to the relief of Ranta to finish with 30 saves.
Perhaps just as important, the Hurricanes looked ready for a fight every moment as the Bruins faced another climb, racking up penalties and time in the box.
“We’re not going to push around, I guarantee you that,” said Carolina defenseman Tony DeAngelo, who had three assists.
Game 3 is Friday night in Boston.
The game went from increasingly competitive to flamboyant and downright ornately quick fashion—namely David Pasternak of Boston knocked out Ranta in the middle of the game during the first period when he hit the goalkeeper in the head with a gloved hand as he hit him in the head. Tried to skate.
1 goalkeeper Frederick Anderson, Carolina turned to Kochetkov to start the playoffs as Ranta was bleeding from an apparent mouth injury.
After Ranta’s exit, the teams continued to trade words and hits, with repeated fights after whistle. Notably, there was a loud bang from the shoulder by Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov that leveled Hamps Lindholm and left him to wobble as he was helped into the locker room late in the second.
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said he thought Svechnikov’s hit was “definitely timely, but it sounded high.” Carolina’s coach, Rod Brind’Amour, became enraged over Pasternak’s hit on Ranta.
“You never want to see people get hurt,” said Brind’Amour. “I don’t even like seeing my goalkeeper get out. But there was a legal one, not one, if you really want to break it.”
Patrice Bergeron scored both Boston goals, first on a loose rebound in the second and then on a redirection near the crease in the third. Linus Ullmark scored four goals and 29 saves for the second straight game.
“We need savings on time, no doubt about it,” Cassidy said. “We got better. We’re close to scoring, we scored two. I thought (Kochetkov) did a really good job. We could have had more than two.”
Well, after the whistle blowing the game ended with the teams separating once again.
“There wasn’t a dull moment, that’s for sure,” said Brind’Amour.
the problem of punishment
In a post-whistle exchange there was one between Kochetkov and Boston’s Brad Marchand, who pushed Kochetkov from behind as he tried to play a puck.
The goaltender protested with a jab of his stick, then pushed his own after the play, only to see Marchand immediately swing his stick and pop Kochetkov in the right hand. The duo ended up with a slashing penalty, which was part of a busy night in the box for the Bruins, with 13 penalties for 28 minutes.
“You want to play between the whistles,” said Bergeron. “You want to play physical and hard. But you want to make sure it’s the right way because obviously tonight he scored some goals on the power play and it basically hurt us.
lose heart
In his first career playoff start in Game 1, Ranta made 35 saves and was injured after clearing the puck. Cassidy called it “a whimsical play”.
“His foot caught his pad, he’s trying to block the clear, but got out of the way,” Cassidy said. “I don’t think there was any intention.”
Brind’Amour didn’t see it that way. Asked later whether he thought the Bruins were deliberately targeting their goalscorers, he said: “Well, what do you think? Couldn’t be more clear.”
injuries
Neither team had an update after the game on the status of either Ranta or Lindholm.
“He didn’t see me,” said Svechnikov, “of course, I feel bad and sorry for him.”
aggressive defender
Carolina received offensive output from its defensemen beyond DeAngelo.
Jacob Slavin also assisted in Carolina’s first two goals. He also earned style points for getting out of the way for Aho’s redirection tip, which sent the puck between Slavin’s legs before hitting Ullmark at an earlier 15:30.
one sided number
Carolina has won all five matches this season with a combined score of 26-4. It was 16–1 in three regular season meetings and 5–1 in Game 1 here.
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