Carolina are in Boston as the series shifts ahead of game three

After their successful defense of home ice, Carolina travels up to Boston for games three and four in this series as they seek to push the Bruins to the brink of elimination. After two physical games at PNC Arena went the way of the Hurricanes, both teams suffered some injuries and with the comical display of officiating that was game two, it’s the Bostonians who will be at home this time looking for better results.

We know two things about the Boston Bruins going into this game. Jeremy Swayman will start in place of Linus Ullmark. Ullmark wasn’t bad, but something needs to change, so they’re going to the kid. The other major news for the Bruins is that Hampus Lindholm won’t be in the lineup. He was knocked out of game two after a perfect hit from Andrei Svechnikov left him wobbly on his feet.

As for Carolina, we know it is going to opt for its own rookie netminder in Pyotr Kochetkov. It is going to be the second time in this playoff series that the two teams will pit two netminders making their first playoff starts against each other. We know the two are capable netminders and the two will be vying to either get their series back in the game or prepare to help deal the final blow.

Carolina will hold the series lead after this game. Nothing can change that. Whether they lead 3-0 or 2-1 is what they’re fighting for. Boston needs to win tonight if they’re going to win the 4 out of 5 they need against this Hurricanes roster. As for the Canes, they could break the Bruins tonight. A 3-0 series lead is so rarely overcome that it could make the Bruins’ belief fade and destroy any resistance that they might have and make this series a lot easier on the body.