Carolina Hurricanes: Three Keys to Starting Conference Final vs. Bruins

The  Carolina Hurricanes can proclaim themselves as Kings of the East, if they can dispatch the Boston Bruins. What do they need to do in Game 1 to set the tone?

The Carolina Hurricanes have had a long rest after sweeping the New York Islanders in the second round. The Boston Bruins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets in six games, securing their spot in the Eastern Conference Finals with the Hurricanes. The Boston Bruins closed the book on the second round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a decisive 3-0 victory in Game 6 in Columbus.

Despite the initial wrong call from the Charlie McAvoy illegal check on Josh Anderson in the second period, the Bruins stood strong and still secured a shutout for Tuukka Rask, who had 39 saves. McAvoy is suspended for Game 1 of the series against the Hurricanes, as result for the illegal check.

The Carolina Hurricanes, who have not had a lot of work against actual competitive teams other than themselves in practice, look to pull another, what analysts would once again call an “upset”.

The Hurricanes dispatched the Stanley Cup champions from last season in a Game 7 double overtime. They displayed a decisive series sweep against the New York Islanders, finishing the series in Raleigh, which should have boosted team morale.

The Bruins and Hurricanes have playoff experience against each other, with the Bruins taking three-of-four series between the two franchises. In the 1990 Division Semifinal, the Bruins eliminated the Hartford Whalers with a 3-1 victory in Game 7.

In the 1991 Division Semifinal rematch, the Bruins finished off the Whalers in six games. In the 1999 East Quarterfinal, the newly relocated Hurricanes were eliminated in six games by the Bruins.

It took until the 2009 East Semifinal, with the Carolina Hurricanes eliminating the Boston Bruins to secure a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals, by a Scott Walker overtime goal, with a stellar performance of Cam Ward in net.

The Hurricanes were swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals. Set aside, it took ten years for the Hurricanes and Bruins to meet again from 1999 to 2009. The Hurricanes and the Bruins meet again, ten years later, from 2009 to 2019. Is this fate? It may be, if they follow the keys to Game 1.