Cardiac Cane
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Carolina Hurricanes: Three Keys to Stealing Game One From Boston

By Omar Abdelgawad

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 03: Jaroslav Halak #41 of the Boston Bruins saves a shot on goal from Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at TD Garden on December 03, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 03: Jaroslav Halak #41 of the Boston Bruins saves a shot on goal from Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at TD Garden on December 03, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins makes a glove save shot by Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins makes a glove save shot by Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. Dance the Puck Past Tuukka

Tuukka Rask was a huge part of the reason the Carolina Hurricanes got swept last season. His ability to mend the net well during clutch games has elevated the Bruins all year. But he isn’t unbeatable.

In fact, he is only the 29th best goalie in save percentage during the qualifying round coming in behind both Petr Mrazek and James Reimer. But do not forget that during the season he was the sixth-best, boasting a .929 save percentage and a slim 2.12 Goals allowed average. His history against Carolina has been excellent as of late too.

But just like Henrik Lundqvist, Igor Shestyorkin, and any of the past goalies we have met in the playoffs that had good records with the Hurricanes before, they can and will be beaten. That means that Rask is also due to be beaten as well.

The Hurricanes will have to respond the same way they did before, with the first goal nice and early to build momentum off of. If they can achieve that, they can achieve success against this Boston team and perhaps force them to turn to a less lethal Jaroslav Halak to try and force a shift in momentum.

But just like Igor didn’t get anything to work for the Rangers, don’t expect a team that can beat Rask to not have an answer for Halak. Let the young guns rip it and continue to utilize the powerplay to generate the high danger chances that guys like Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho seem to love to create in the most inopportune times for the opposition.

Do that and Rask will be nothing more than a speed bump on the way to the second round.

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