Carolina Hurricanes: 3 Keys to Stay Alive in Game 4 vs. Bruins

The Carolina Hurricanes are sitting on the brink of being swept by the Boston Bruins after the Bruins came to PNC Arena and gave the Hurricanes their first home postseason loss in a 2-1 game. The Hurricanes have to win or the time of looking at the offseason begins. What do they need to do to stay alive?

The Hurricanes actually played a pretty good game. They played their best game of the series, with a vicious forecheck that brought them many chances, but few goals. In the first period, it was all Hurricanes, they were buzzing in the Bruins’ zone and choking them, but Tuukka Rask stood tall in net and the Hurricanes didn’t take full advantage of their forecheck.

Despite leading 20-6 in shots on goal in the first period, the Hurricanes failed to put one into the back of the net. When the Hurricanes would have room to cut in on Rask, they failed to elevate the puck over Rask’s quick pads and failed to screen Rask efficiently enough, when they took shots from a distance.

Calvin de Haan would finally get the Hurricanes on the board, but it was too little, too late. The Bruins woke up and potted two goals in, with Chris Wagner and Brad Marchand getting the goals.

There are some chances where the Hurricanes would just miss the net, even empty nets, that can be groaned over. Chances like Brock McGinn missing on a 3-on-2 great shorthanded passing rush in Game 1 or Teuvo Teravainen missing an empty net on a one-timer in Game 3.

That’s the past now and the Hurricanes have to forget those mistakes and succeed in Game 4 to live another day. What do they need to do?