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

By Tony Trotmann

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 6: Riley Nash #20 and David Backes #42 of the Boston Bruins fight for the puck against Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes at the TD Garden on January 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 6: Riley Nash #20 and David Backes #42 of the Boston Bruins fight for the puck against Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes at the TD Garden on January 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MARCH 05: Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) sets up in front of Boston Bruins goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on March 5, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 05: Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) sets up in front of Boston Bruins goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on March 5, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Break Rask’s Confidence

Tuukka Rask has been solid in net for the Bruins so far this season and he has only been heating up in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, especially in the ending pages of the Columbus series. In Game 4, Rask saved 39 of 40 shots and was the first star of the game in Columbus, allowing Boston to take a safe 4-1 win in Columbus.

Rask saved 33 of 36 shots in Game 5 and was one of the three stars for the Bruins, allowing the Bruins to secure a 4-3 win in Boston. In Game 6, Rask also registered a shutout with 39 saves, boosting his confidence even into this series and the Hurricanes should be aware of that.

They will be taking on a confident Tuukka Rask in net and they’ll need to rattle his confidence early and continue to crush it consistently throughout the game.

The Islanders’ defense was known to be trustworthy and satisfactory, the Hurricanes’ forwards were able to breach them and they’ll have a slightly easier time to breach through the Bruins’ defense, and score on Rask. The Hurricanes showed us all they only get more offensive through the duration of a series.

Other than the Bruins having their top-line, one of their best players is their goaltender, and if the Hurricanes can solve Rask, they’ll see early success in the Conference Finals. They solved Braden Holtby, they solved Robin Lehner, they solved Thomas Greiss, and they can solve Tuukka Rask.

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