Hurricanes’ penalty troubles sink them in game four

In a game where the Hurricanes were clearly better during the five-on-five phases of play, the Hurricanes lost their discipline, their penalty kill might be the league’s best but it was not able to rescue them as the Bruins take game 4 5-2, and tie this series up at two as we head back to Raleigh for game five. Not to take either of the games in Boston will hurt, given the commanding position the team left to go to Beantown in.

With Carolina’s unacceptable amount of penalties, they continued to stifle any momentum that the team was able to build up despite largely outplaying the Boston Bruins when the game was five against five. The Hurricanes continued to be their own worst enemy despite being the better team in the game. This is a game that got away from them and they need to win game five in Raleigh now.

The big news coming into this game was the Charlie McAvoy would be unavailable for the Bruins as the defender entered COVID-19 protocol. This left the Bruins without their two best defensemen and there’s no certainty that the Bruins will be in this position with the blueline again this series. They were completely behind the eight-ball and the Canes failed to press home the advantage they had.

One of the big talking points coming out of this game was the awful challenge the team made on the goal that left the game tied at two. Carolina challenged the goal despite having started a parade to the penalty box and it was never going to be overturned. A poor decision from the coaching staff put the team behind the play and they were never able to regain control of the game they once led.

In the end, nothing mattered. The team was poor, and the lose both games in Boston despite continuing to press home their advantage as the better team during the five-on-five play. Carolina will be the home team for game five and a possible game seven.