Consider the Boston Bruins’ 3–0 setback to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night if you have doubts about their chances of winning numerous rounds in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
To their credit, the Bruins, who had been thoroughly outplayed in the second period and had gone 0-for-4 on the power play, showed incredible tenacity and desire to rally from a 2-0 hole and tie the game in the third. However, against a squad like the Hurricanes, they were unable to seal the deal once more.
With 2:27 left, the Hurricanes took a 3-2 lead thanks to a poor pinch by Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm, who let the Hurricanes’ Jordan Martinook go on a breakaway and beat goaltender Linus Ullmark. The Canes held onto that lead to keep the Bruins from scoring in this game.
“At the end of the game, there was poor game management. In his news conference following the game, Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery stated, “That’s what cost us the game.”
Though he did not specifically identify Lindholm, he did attribute the scoring opportunity that resulted in Carolina’s winning goal to the seasoned defenseman’s foolish pinch.
Montgomery remarked, “The defensemen shouldn’t be pinching in.” “The score is 2-2. A shot is on the net. It is imperative that we prioritize the needs of others. Before it turned into a breakaway, it appeared to be a 2-on-1.”
“The game management bothers me at the end,” Montgomery stated later. You must realize how well you performed. We are level, 2-2. Nothing needs to be forced on us. Points have value. We can learn a lot from that as we approach the postseason. We have the momentum now. The score is 2-2. The throng is engaged. The Garden is in a buzz. However, you cannot forfeit a breakaway and lose our position.
This game served as yet another illustration of the Bruins’ inability to close games against well-coached, defensively organized opponents who don’t allow much time and space, can kill penalties, and play with a relentless forecheck that puts a ton of pressure on the opposition.
Using this strategy, the New York Islanders defeated the Boston Bruins in six games during the second round of the 2021 playoffs. In the 2022 playoffs, the Hurricanes defeated the Bruins in seven games by employing this strategy. And in a spectacular Game 7 upset of the Bruins in the first round of the previous season, we witnessed the Florida Panthers’ rugged style and hard forechecking wear them down.
It’s not like the Bruins are losing these games handily. At some time during the third period, they usually have the lead or the score is tied. The difficult part has been getting the task done. They fell in overtime of last year’s playoffs after tying the score in the third quarter of Game 5 against the Panthers. In the third frame of Game 6 of the series, they led twice and lost. In Game 7, they likewise gained the lead in the third frame but were unable to finish it in overtime.
The Bruins have struggled mightily in recent seasons against teams that resemble the Hurricanes, whether it’s due to careless puck management (turnovers), poor decision-making (like Lindholm’s pinch), failing to handle the pressure of the approaching forecheck, or failing to make a couple of critical saves.
The Bruins are a formidable team. It’s important to remember that. They are two points behind the Vancouver Canucks in the Presidents’ Trophy race, but they have the best record in the Eastern Conference (29-9-9). This club has many positive aspects, and the two greatest ones that emerged from Wednesday’s defeat were Charlie Coyle’s best season to date and Trent Frederic’s progress.
However, until the Bruins demonstrate that they can defeat teams such as the Hurricanes on a regular basis, it’s difficult to blame anyone for doubting this team’s ability to play well into May and June. The Bruins will probably need to defeat two or three teams that play the Hurricanes’ style, or a very comparable one, if they are to advance to the Stanley Cup Final and win it.