Carolina at Boston

  • Game info: 8:00 pm EDT Thu May 14, 2009
  • TV: TSN, RIS

By HOWARD ULMAN, AP Sports Writer May 13, 8:58 pm EDT

Preview | Box Score | Recap | Series Breakdown
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BOSTON (AP)—Claude Julien has a score to settle—with himself.

Five years ago, he coached the Montreal Canadiens to a Game 7 win after they’d trailed the Boston Bruins 3-1. Now he’s on the verge of a similar comeback as coach of the Bruins.

“I’d love to be able to return that favor,” Julien said Wednesday.

He gets his chance Thursday night when the Bruins hope their revitalized game and their raucous fans will overwhelm and unnerve the Carolina Hurricanes, who failed to wrap up the series on their own ice in a 4-2 loss Tuesday night.

“If you said at the start of the series that we had one chance to win one game to go on, we’d have said, ‘Let’s take it,”’ Hurricanes captain Rod Brind’Amour(notes) said before his team flew to Boston. “What’s done is done. This team has been resilient.”

Carolina overcame a 3-2 deficit in the first round and beat New Jersey, scoring twice in the last 80 seconds of Game 7 to take the series.

The Bruins won the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinal 4-1. Then the Hurricanes outscored Boston 10-3 in taking the next three games. Faced with a clear choice, play better or get eliminated, the Bruins rallied with a 4-0 win in Game 5 and a 2-0 lead in the first 5:04 of Game 6.

“This series has (had) more momentum swings during games than any series I’ve probably been involved with,” Boston goalie Tim Thomas(notes) said. “So it’s crucial to try to keep that momentum.”

The Bruins entered the playoffs as the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference and played like it in a four-game sweep of the Montreal Canadiens. Now they have a chance to reach the conference finals for the first time since 1992.

The Hurricanes were seeded sixth but finished the season strong and then eliminated the Devils, winning Game 7 on the road. They have a shot at their second Stanley Cup championship in four years.

“Yes, we’re home, but they’re a good team on the road as well,” Boston’s Patrice Bergeron(notes) said. “So we have to feed off the crowd.”

The Hurricanes have to give goalie Cam Ward(notes), the 2006 Stanley Cup MVP, more help.

“We forced our goaltender to go post-to-post three times on 15 even-strength shots” Tuesday, Carolina coach Paul Maurice said. “You have to give your guy that chance to be the difference, especially when you’ve got a goaltender like Cam that’s capable of doing that.”

The Hurricanes played well for much of Game 6 and outshot the Bruins 22-10 in the last two periods.

They cut the lead to 2-1 on Matt Cullen’s(notes) second-period goal, but Boston’s Marc Savard(notes) scored six minutes later. Julien said Savard, who left in the third period as a precaution after injuring his knee, is expected to play Thursday.

Scoring first may bring momentum but it doesn’t guarantee victory. The Bruins gave up the first goal in the last two games against Montreal. The team that has scored first in the Carolina series has lost two of the six games.

Still, “you’ve got to show the other team that you’re in control,” Julien said. “That was part of our game plan (Tuesday). Don’t wait and see what they’re going to throw at you. Go out there and show them what you’re going to throw at them.”

Last year the eighth-seeded Bruins came back from another 3-1 deficit and tied top-seeded Montreal before losing Game 7. But those Bruins were tired from a late-season surge they needed just to make the playoffs.

Then they went 4-0 in the regular season against Carolina but such dominance has disappeared in the playoffs.

The Bruins have lost all 20 series in which they trailed 3-1. But they never made it to a seventh game in the first 19 and won only one game in 18 of them.

Now they just have to win one game to advance.

So forget about history.

“I don’t think any of us (gives) any weight to that,” said Steve Montador(notes), who scored Boston’s second goal Tuesday. “We really don’t have any more to control than what we do today and how we prepare for tomorrow.”

The Hurricanes’ win over New Jersey was their third straight in a Game 7. The Bruins haven’t played one this year.

“Yeah, we might feel a little bit more comfortable in Game 7, but … nothing can prepare you for that,” Carolina’s Sergei Samsonov(notes) said. “The more you think about it, you just have to treat it like one game. Not a Game 7. One game.”

Updated May 13, 8:58 pm EDT
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Team Comparison

Team G W L OTL Pts Standings GF GA Road/Home
Carolina 82 45 30 7 97 2nd, Southeast 239 226 19-16-6 Road
Boston 82 53 19 10 116 1st, Northeast 274 196 29-6-6 Home

Injuries

Michael Ryan LW, Cam Ward G

Levi Nelson C

Notes

The Hurricanes rallied for two goals in the final 80 seconds of the third period to eliminate the Devils. The victory marked the first time in the series a team won consecutive games. ... Five of the seven games were decided by one goal, including two that needed overtime. ... D Tim Gleason was the lone Hurricane not to register a shot on goal. ... C Eric Staal scored the game-winning goal with 31.7 seconds remaining, his team-leading fifth tally of the series. ... The line of Staal (five goals, two assists), LW Ray Whitney (three goals, four assists) and RW Chad LaRose (two goals, five assists) combined for 21 points.

Apr 28, 11:50 pm EDT

The Bruins won the Eastern Conference quarterfinal for their first playoff series win in 10 years. ... RW Michael Ryder, who signed as a free agent after he was a healthy scratch for all but four of the Montreal Canadiens' 12 playoff games last season, scored twice on Wednesday. He recorded 27 goals in 74 regular-season contests. ... LW Milan Lucic returned to the Bruins' lineup after serving a one-game league suspension Monday and fought with Mike Komisarek late in the second period. ... RW Byron Bitz was left out of the lineup. Bitz replaced Lucic in the lineup Monday and recorded an assist in his playoff debut.

Apr 23, 12:02 am EDT
NHL

179 Comments

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  1. JOHN R
    179. Posted by JOHN R Fri May 15 11:20pm EDT

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    Hey Sean M sorry I didn't respond to you right away but let me do my imitation of a Bruins fan.....WAAAAAAHHHHHH WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH WAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH WAHHHHHHHHHHH WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    do you need a nook.......go home to the city of losers.....at least here in Jersey we know we got beat by a better team.....the Canes are good.....good luck to the Canes from the Garden State...
  2. Mike
    178. Posted by Mike Fri May 15 7:26pm EDT

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    http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AicvQqjx6YPGOOqNLCWXu.p7vLYF?slug=ap-hurricanesadvance&prov=ap&type=lgns

    Take a look at all the smug arrogant comments by Bruins fans on April 30th.

    How do you like them apples?

    Get over the Scott Walker punch. Look at the video. Ward turned, punched him and got tagged. Next time dont pick on a non-fighter that has concussion issues when a fighter (also with concussion issues and is sensitive to that stuff) is right next to you. Ward never fights but he LOVES to mix it up with non fighters.

    I like Aaron Ward but he should know better. Take a look in the mirror, Boston, your chippy play outnumbered the Canes by like 4-1.

    FORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  3. dan p
    177. Posted by dan p Fri May 15 5:23pm EDT

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    Your Daddy- or is it Mr. Daddy or can i just call you your - anyway, I think its great that they allow inmates like yourself to come online and post your frustrations. What a great country. I hope you get a good meal in the jail house / your knowledge is refreshing. I will take what you say to heart. Keep up the post. Your da man.
  4. ScottT
    176. Posted by ScottT Fri May 15 5:13pm EDT

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    And Walker is a total scumbag @#$% for his complete SUCKER PUNCH on ward. Colin Campbell has no cojones!!!! And Trip Tracy sucks a bag of D#cks
  5. ScottT
    175. Posted by ScottT Fri May 15 5:10pm EDT

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    Trip Tracy is biggest 3-dollar bill ignorant homer idiot i have ever heard. What frosted hair moronic Clown in the first degree. I really dont know how he calls a game with Cam Ward;s D#ck in his mouth the entire time. And screw Dirty south hockey and the "caniacs". This team is a joke and a farse and the fact the entire NHL is forced to watch their terrible excuse for a game is completely brutal. Regardless it will be Detroit winning the cup again this year over yes you guessed it, the penguins in a complete retread of last year. YAWN!!! And please FIRE Bettman already for ruining our sport
  6. Brian P
    174. Posted by Brian P Fri May 15 3:43pm EDT

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    Scott Walker knocked Aaron Ward out in game 5 and the rest of the Bruins in game 7.Kind of funny when you think about it
  7. Rick
    173. Posted by Rick Fri May 15 3:25pm EDT

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    @mjhst...the canes arent a #4 seed....try #6 and come back when you grow a new brain
  8. C
    172. Posted by C Fri May 15 3:24pm EDT

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    Finally we get to the eastern conference finals! We beat the best team left to make it. Lets go canes
  9. JP
    171. Posted by JP Fri May 15 2:46pm EDT

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    I went to bed very dissapointed but in the end Carolina was the better team and found a way to beat Boston. i am very proud of my Bruins and we will triumph next year. . Congrats to Carolina. I wanna see Eric drop gloves with Jordan LOL.
  10. JP
    170. Posted by JP Fri May 15 2:45pm EDT

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    I went to bed very dissapointed but in the end Carolina was the better team and found a way to beat Boston. i am very proud of my Bruins and we will triumph next year. . Congrats to Carolina. I wanna see Eric drop gloves with Jordan LOL.
  11. Cuda
    169. Posted by Cuda Fri May 15 2:23pm EDT

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    "And by the way, you guys had a 3-1 series lead, so how did Boston choke? "

    Being Boston was #1 seed that would be considered a CHOKE
  12. dan p
    168. Posted by dan p Fri May 15 2:16pm EDT

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    Hoplite- excellent post my good man - I cant believe the coverage or lack there of that the canes are getting. It could be a good thing as long as we win. These other fans act surprised when we extend the series to 7 games. Hockey does in fact sell itself but like every other sport on tv / the networks feel they have to autobiography everything - watch the masters golf tournament - the announcers talk for about 40 minutes and every year and go through the history of the sport. True fans just want to watch golf. Without straying from hockey - NBC and ESPN dropped the ball by not covering the series. Versus last night after game 7 in detroit went off -showed boxing / thank goodness for Fox Sport South. Go Canes
  13. SEAN M
    167. Posted by SEAN M Fri May 15 1:58pm EDT

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    I applaud the Bruins for their effort, but recent history will show you that they're just not a good team in overtime during the playoffs. I had a bad feeling about this game even after Lucic scored that tying goal. The Bruins lost two OTs in this series alone. They lost one in OT to the Canadiens last year. I also specifically remember the Capitals knocking them out of the playoffs in '98 with a sudden death goal. Then who can forget Brad May in the '93 series against the Sabres. I think the last time the Bruins won a game in OT that meant anything was Anson Carter against Carolina in '99.
  14. Hoplite
    166. Posted by Hoplite Fri May 15 1:40pm EDT

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    To Bruins fans - Great series, you have alot to look forward to. Not only do you have great young players, but they are well-suited to the playoffs in my opinion, not just regular-season performers. If the Bruins advanced, I would be rooting for them. I'm sure you have years of deep playoff-runs ahead of you. Lucic is a beast, Thomas (altough not young) is a battler, and you have a good mix of talent and grit. I think all that is missing is some playoff experience (this series will serve you well in the long run), and maybe a little more mobility on defense. Anyway, good luck in the future, great to see hockey back in Boston (used to go to games at the Garden when they played the Whalers, awesome building, right on top of the players, great memories).

    To fellow Caniacs - LET'S GO CANES!......Just wanted to say, as a long time Whaler-Cane fan, THANKS for creating such an awesome atmosphere at the RBC center, I can't tell you how proud I am to be a fan of the team with the "loudest house in the NHL", and a team that shows so much heart.

    To the NHL - STOP THE MEDIA FAVORITISM! It is disheartening to watch a team like the Canes battle their asses off, only to hear "The Bruins are doing ....., The Bruins aren't doing..., The Bruins need to...." It gets old. Obviously this has nothing to do with the Bruins or their fans, its the media. Pierre McGuire's obvious disappointement last night when the Canes won was disgraceful, and bad for the NHL. The fact that Pitkinin wasn't the first star makes you wonder what monkeys are watching and reporting on the game. No update on our captains injury after taking a puck to the face and being rushed to the locker room. Limited television coverage of the small market teams is not a good long term solution either. Anyway, start treating the teams as equals, and stop with the tabloid like BS, generating stories and hyping this and that. Just make it about the great sport of hockey, the game is good enough on its own to sell itself given the opportunity.
  15. dan p
    165. Posted by dan p Fri May 15 1:27pm EDT

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    To those who dont know - we dont let fat ladys sing in our building until game seven (7) Just so ya knoooo0.
    Then they are singing for us.....Ta Dow.
  16. dan p
    164. Posted by dan p Fri May 15 1:23pm EDT

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    Hey, my friend use to tell me he was a scratch golfer because he worked at Pinehurst # 2 / I would say I beat him in golf about 70 % of the time. To here my friend tell it / he is the chosen one - I like the fact that he talks smack but dont tell me what you can do - show me. I realize Pittsburgh will be the favorite in the series - hell I might put money on them (not). But thats why we play the games. You sound like a true fan who loves and supports his team - I can respect that and you have kept the chat above the class line... I like that too. If your team wins - look for Dan P to be the first one to say congrats - but lets not fool ourselves - any team left can win the stanley cup and I like our chances. Your new best friend.
  17. <i>mjhst67</i>
    163. Posted by mjhst67 Fri May 15 1:05pm EDT

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    DAN P - The regular season does not matter, but we did win the series. The reason why we are a number 4 seed is because we had to go 18-3-1 in the last 22 games just to get into the playoffs. Not bad going from 10th place to 4th place in 22 games. New coach, new role players, and better attitude.

    GO PENS
  18. SEAN M
    162. Posted by SEAN M Fri May 15 12:57pm EDT

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    Bruins fan here. Sh-- happens. But what really disappoints me isn't so much that my team lost, but that there's no other teams remaining for me to root for. Other than maybe the Blackhawks, but you just know they're gonna lose to the Red Wings. It's human nature to pull for the underdog, but the only teams I see now are the same teams that are in it year after year after year: Detroit, Carolina, Pittsburgh. Take nothing away from the Hurricanes, but I already watched them win a Stanley Cup 3 years ago. Hockey is becoming such a boring sport to watch because it's always the same teams and same faces.
  19. Mr.Finksta
    161. Posted by Mr.Finksta Fri May 15 12:53pm EDT

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    Ahhhh Michael, as I suspected someone would defend the COWARD act. Congrats. By the way I made no reference to the better team, just that Walkers actions on Ward overshadowed his timely goal. Kinda Bittersweet, ..... Don't get too riled up, it's just a game that you nor I were playing.
  20. <i>humbird123@...</i>
    160. Posted by humbird123@... Fri May 15 12:38pm EDT

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    Overtime in Game #7 is always great, no matter who you root for. (I'm a Canes fan.) I would love to see teams not be so tight, trying not to make a mistake. It seems like a typical OT goal in a critical game - throw the puck on net, perhaps getting a rebound by being in the right place, right time, and knocking in a "garbage" goal. Still a great game AND nothing beats overtime with NO TV timeouts!
  21. Chad
    159. Posted by Chad Fri May 15 12:37pm EDT

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    Congrats Canes fans. Have fun dealing with the stupid Pens fans on here. Your in for a real treat.
  22. raiderman
    158. Posted by raiderman Fri May 15 12:32pm EDT

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    Hey....Congrats to the Canes and their fans. I'm a big Ranger fan and the NHL. I've had a feeling
    in 1st game in this series that Carolina were going to win.
  23. dan p
    157. Posted by dan p Fri May 15 12:28pm EDT

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    mjhs - allow me to elaborate- if your so much better - explain to me why your not a 1 seed - not that it matters , I believe we split the regular season series. The canes are a better team than when we played. not that it matters. as for as your rotation being better - so was the nj devils and the bruins but thats why we play the game there # 4 seed. I here what your saying but I seriously doubt you beat us in 5. Who knows- The team simply cant stop playing because you find yourself in the unique position that you "think" your team has better players. Your new best friend.
  24. Ray L
    156. Posted by Ray L Fri May 15 12:25pm EDT

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    Go Canes!
  25. MARIA D
    155. Posted by MARIA D Fri May 15 12:13pm EDT

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    Thnaks It56_71 for the update...getting news on NHL channel (unless it's about Wings/Ana) is almost impossible to get! Or maybe I just didn't watch long enough. Hopefully, Roddy will be good to go Monday night. It should be an incredible series. I'm not much of a Pens fan (I'm a transplanted Philadelphian**GO FLYERS next year** in Florida) so I'll just say Go Canes! for now....
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