2. Discipline or Fold
If it wasn’t so much more abundantly clear in Games 1 and 2, the Hurricanes will need to be disciplined and avoid being baited every single time to take avoidable penalties. This is the Bruins roster’s forte, they bait opponents and draw penalties and strike with their league-high 31.9% powerplay.
In Game 3, it seemed like the Hurricanes didn’t change much when it came to avoiding penalties. Although, their penalty-kill improved slightly, killing four penalties out of five, it’s not enough. The Hurricanes will find a more difficult time to keep momentum going their forecheck slows down, every time they take a penalty.
Justin Williams took three penalties. An elbow, holding the stick, and roughing. The Hurricanes have looked to their captain, Justin Williams all season as a leader and as their captain and Williams will need to set an example and show self-control and discipline to his team.
Reporter: "You said you had to know better about Brad Marchand and getting involved in that [in Game 2]. Did you feel like you got a little tied up with Krug tonight?"
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) May 15, 2019
Justin Williams: "No. Nope."
Williams took three minor penalties in the first period, all drawn by Krug. pic.twitter.com/id6TKVpSTp
Either the Hurricanes go find a way to somehow score goals shorthanded and kill off every penalty they take while continuing momentum while being undisciplined or they can avoid the penalty box and continue a forecheck that has suffocated the Bruins…. speaking of which.